COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – There were a couple of land transactions on Monday night’s Coldwater City Council agenda.
The Council formally approved an agreement to sell ten lots the city owns on Thompson Boulevard to Westview Capital, LLC, which is an affiliate of Allen Edwin Homes of Portage.
Karen Klein of Quincy had made offer to buy one of the lots that Westview wanted to purchase in the agreement which was introduced by the Council on September 13. Mayor Tom Kramer said Westview did not want to change the original agreement they made with the city for ten lots.
Westview wants to buy the lots in order to build single family residential homes in the price range of between $250,000 and $299,000 which they would then sell.
Meanwhile, the Council introduced an agreement Monday night that would approve a request from Coach Road Capital Partners to buy about 3.7 additional acres of the property owned by the City of Coldwater near the Willowbrook water tower.
Coach Road previously purchased 15 acres of nearby property from the city as they plan to build a multi-family residential unit development on North Willowbrook just north of the NCG Cinemas.
City Manager Keith Baker said the purchase price would remain the same at $30,000 per acre. The transaction was earlier recommended by the B.P.U. Board of Directors.
Since this is an offer to purchase City owned property, the sales agreement must sit on the table for a 30 day public review period prior to final action which is scheduled to take place December 13, 2021.
For Sale: $22,000 Listed on multiple realtor sites as for sale even as of 10-26-2021.
68 Thompson Blvd, Coldwater, MI 49036 (As well as 9 other lots).
Nowhere has it been posted on the lots themselves or broadly advertised that these lots must be sold as a group, nor that private citizens are restricted from purchasing. The question remains as to whether a City Council represents the citizens of the area if offers to purchase individual lots are denied. There have been other offer(s) declined as well.
Note: Public Comment submitted by proposed purchaser was not included in Monday 10-25-2021 City Council meeting. The person making the Public Comment clearly communicated to Council members that due to direct exposure to COVID-19, she would not attend the meeting in person, for their protection. The Public Comment she submitted was not read aloud during the meeting. Therefore, a citizen’s opportunity to have a Public Comment heard was essentially denied.
Citizen’s opportunity to purchase lot on Thompson Blvd denied by Coldwater City Council.
Details: Thu, Sep 9 at 10:57 AM: The Realtor representing K.N. Klein has evidence that inquiry was made regarding the lot on Thompson Blvd. the week PRIOR to September 8th, 2021.
On Wednesday, September 8, 2021, 09:38:27 AM EDT, Team Foley via flexmls wrote to KN Klein:
“I’m going to contact THE CONTACT PERSON THAT I EMAIL LAST WEEK, since it’s now Wednesday.”
“The Council formally approved an agreement to sell ten lots the city owns on Thompson Boulevard to Westview Capital, LLC, which is an affiliate of Allen Edwin Homes of Portage.”
NOTE:
Karen N. Klein MD of Quincy had made offer ***ON SEPTEMBER 10th*** to buy one of the lots that were legally for sale. Westview also wanted to purchase lots. Both offers were received, however the Council decided to BLOCK introduction of Klein’s offer. Only the Westview offer was introduced by the Council on September 13.
NOTE: Mayor Tom Kramer and the Coldwater City Council at the Council meeting ***Nov. 8th, 2021*** essentially ADMITTED that they had agreed unanimously in AUGUST 2021 to block any offers by citizens for the lots, despite the fact that they were required to give the ILLUSION that the lots were for sale for two more months.
This is the truth. My phone # is 517-677-1881.
From Dr. Karen Klein: My offer was $20,500.00. My bid was higher. The City could certainly have required the Developer to raise their offer above Klein’s.