Independence Township officials are hoping a private developer will step forward to save the old McCord farmstead located on 2.23 acres on Pine Knob Road.
Currently, the home and barn are the property of Independence Township. Originally, the property belonged to the Stickney-McCord families. Janet Stickney McCord sold the property to Stonewall Farms, LLC, which then transferred the property to the township with one condition ? a PUD agreement was drafted requiring the township to restore and use the home for ‘public use or purpose.?
However, township officials were unsuccessful in finding a way to achieve the costly venture. As a result, the property sits vacant and abandoned, except for some vagrant problems and vandalism.
In order to save the home, officials took steps to alter the PUD agreement so the home and barn could be used for residential purposes.
Township Planner Richard Carlisle informed board trustees at the July 5 meeting that the planning commission held a public hearing on whether or not to change the ‘public use or purpose? wording to ‘residential use.?
Carlisle told the board no one objected to the change at that time.
At the July 5 board meeting, township board members took action to finalize the new wording.
‘While it’s an agonizing situation that we couldn’t do what we wanted for the public at large, I really think these are the best circumstances,? said Trustee Dan Travis, who motioned to change the PUD agreement language. Larry Rosso supported the motion.
Clerk Shelagh VanderVeen posed the question of whether or not the language ‘public use or purpose? could remain in the agreement. She asked whether ‘residential? could simply be added, leaving the door open for possible public development.
According to township attorney Stuart Cooney, the change is being done in this manner because of difficulties with acquiring title insurance.
‘The broader the purpose, the harder to get the title insurance or someone to cover it,? he stated. ‘It’s written this way because of this.?
A request for proposals for the sale and restoration of property was released by Independence Township this past week. The township is looking for ‘a party that is qualified and willing, as a condition and requirement of its acquisition, to commit to completing the restoration of the structures and preserving the homestead property for historical preservation and residential purposes.?
Please direct all requests for proposals to the Independence Township Supervisor’s Office located at 90 North Main Street. For more information, please call the supervisor’s office at 248-625-5111, ext. 208.