COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The historic Abram C. Fisk home at 867 East Chicago, which used to be the home of the Blue Hat Coffee Gallery, is on the market.
The property has a sale price of $1,650,000 and the real estate transaction is being handled by the property management company of Thomas A. Duke out of Farmington, Michigan. The Blue Hat was forced to close in March of 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and never re-opened. Owner Phillip Jewell, who has a similar business in Farmington, has had a disagreement with the City of Coldwater over his taxes in recent years. He was so upset about an increase in his property taxes following an audit by the Michigan Department of Treasury that he applied for a demolition permit in October of 2018 and was going to move his business elsewhere.
The city claimed in a press release at that time that the audit on the property tax valuation resulted in a reduction of the homestead property tax exemption from 100 percent to 50 percent. But because of that decrease, there was a corresponding tax increase.
The press release went on to state the tax increase was not initiated by the City of Coldwater and that the City was not seeking to own or demolish the property.
According to city officials, property tax valuation and assessment is strictly established by State law and conducted by local assessors in each community. There is an appeal process through the local Board of Review that is available for property owners who believe their taxable value is in error. The city claimed an appeal had not been sought for the property since the Blue Hat opened. The Abram C. Fisk home is listed with the National Register of Historic Places and with the State of Michigan Historic Register.
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