COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater City Council passed a resolution on Monday night which allows the city to buy two of four parcels the State of Michigan has foreclosed on in the city due to accumulated unpaid property taxes over the past three years.
The State annually makes tax foreclosed properties available to local municipal governments prior to public auction to purchase for what’s called a “public purpose”
The resolution allows the city to buy the properties at 97 Abbott Avenue and 27 Green Street for a total of just over $9,500.
Neighborhood Services Director Deb Sikorski says they targeted those two blighted properties for purchase due to their deteriorated condition and in an effort to improve the neighborhoods where they are located at.
The State has also foreclosed on properties at 103 Church Street and at 56 Elm Street. The Elm Street property is a vacant lot.
During public comment, Dan Corwin said the city should not buy those houses and leave them for developers and contractors to rehab and flip. He felt the city was buying properties before the public had a chance at them.
In other business, the Council passed a resolution which approves an application for an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Abatement for the former Gillespie Funeral Home property at 27 Marshall Street.
The Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act (OPRA) Committee reviewed a proposed rehabilitation project for the property earlier this month and determined it met the criteria as required by the City.
The committee recommend an estimated investment of just under $1.2 million for a length of 12 years. Local governmental approval is subject to State approval.
Southern Michigan Bank & Trust has owned the property and they have been working with the City of Coldwater and the State of Michigan on securing grant funding to help offset the costs of turning the building into a seven unit housing structure.
When finished, the restored building will be known as “Southern Flats.”
(Photo of the property at 27 Green Street courtesy of the City of Coldwater)
Don’t wave people off yet. The city only voted to CONCIDER buying them. There is still plenty on time for the public to put this idea on ice. When id WTVB going to learn not to take Don Reid’s word for things?