The McCord house on Pine Knob Road will soon have a new owner ? and while some celebrate the property’s new lease on life, others question the decision.
The Independence Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Sept. 6 to sell the property to township resident and planning commissioner Sam Moraco for $5 plus the cost of restoring the structure. The property is approximately 2? acres located at the corner of Pine Knob and Stickney roads.
‘We have a chance to save it and we’re going to save it,? said Trustee Dan Travis during the meeting. ‘I think we need to put it in some hands that are local, that can restore it, that can get the support of the building department ? someone who can do it.?
Five requests for proposal were collected from the township ? Sam Moraco, Ron Brock, Construction News Service, the planning room manager from Wyoming, Mich.-based company and Chris McCord. Moraco was the only individual to submit a bid.
‘The whole idea of this was just to save the house,? said Moraco, who added that getting the home restored is his priority, not creating an investment. ‘It’s an investment in the house, not in money. You’re not going to make any money on this.?
In fact, Moraco states in his bid that the project can not be done profitably: ‘The extent of restoration I propose will most certainly exhaust any equity the home will have for some time to come. Therefore, any money I would offer above a nominal fee would be deprived from the project itself.?
Moraco confirmed in an interview that the idea of allowing the home for residential use after restoration did begin with him several years ago; however, he emphasized that living in the home after the improvements is the only way to make the project feasible.
Moraco said he originally came across the house about six to seven years ago while looking for suitable land for construction in the township. He did not encounter the home again until December 2003 when he learned of the property’s condition.
‘I was shocked to see the state of the house. I made up a proposal, it was about 20 pages, and took it to Dale Stuart (former Independence Township supervisor) in March 2004,? said Moraco. ‘He took the plan to the board, but it just died again.
‘I couldn’t stand to see that home fall down. There was no plan for that home, so I created one.?
After the township decided this past July to allow the homestead for residential use, specific guidelines were established for bid requests. The township advertised for and accepted sealed bids through Aug. 10.
‘I believe when the other people realized what the (request for proposal) entailed, they realized it wasn’t a money making deal,? said Moraco.
Supervisor Dave Wagner said he was pleased Moraco is restoring the home.
‘It was a relief to see five people pick up the request for proposal,? said Wagner in an interview. ‘If it’s Sam, so be it. We had an open bid, he made the only bid and the best bid.
‘I’m happy it’s going to move forward.?
In a public comment period allowed during the agenda item, Michael McCord, an Independence Township resident and McCord family representative, read a letter into the record signed by himself and Mary Kathryn Afable. A small portion of the letter’s intro states:
‘We are the grandchildren of Mallory and Mary Kathryn Stickney who owned the Stickney/McCord homestead on Pine Knob Road? This letter is to inform you that we believe that Independence Township has violated the original agreement under which Honor Pollok and Janet McCord sold this land.?
According to McCord, the family did not realize the purpose for the property was changed from public to private use. In addition, the family did not know the land was available for purchase through a restoration bid process.
‘I didn’t even realize we had the request for proposal out,? said McCord during the meeting. ‘The bottom line is, I don’t expect you to do anything other than what you planned to do, but we need to try.?
Trustee Travis was the first to show surprise at Mr. McCord’s statements.
‘This has been a long project, a long and difficult project,? said Travis, who emphasized that public notices were advertised on the project and public meetings were held on the issue. ‘I’m at a great loss to get this information at this late date.?
‘I do feel bad about the family,? said Moraco after the board approved the sale. ‘My family and I are very sincere in restoring this home.?
When contacted later about the board’s decision, family representatives voiced varying opinions.
‘I guess I really didn’t expect the board to do much more,? said Mary Kathryn Afable. ‘I’m not surprised because I think it was a foregone conclusion even before the request for proposal went out.?
‘Personally, I feel a little uncomfortable with it,? said McCord. ‘No one in the family knew this was happening. If anyone communicated with my mother (Janet McCord), I wouldn’t know. She can’t remember one thing to the next now.
‘I just think the board may have lived up to the letter of the law, but I’m looking at the intent? It was a little bit of a surprise to hear the township was going ahead with the sale.?
Neither Afable nor McCord knew what the family’s next step would be; however, both said options are being considered.
During an interview, township attorney Kay Carouso said a development agreement is being created for the project, but as of deadline, Moraco had not received any paperwork.