Brandon Twp.- Condemnation action against three homes in the township will proceed following approval by the township board at their Feb. 5 meeting.
The vote means the township’s attorney will file a motion in circuit court for a show cause hearing, at which the homeowners must convince the judge the structures are still worthy of maintaining. If they do not show, there may be a default hearing.
The homes in question are located at 255 Hurd Road, 2330 Ortonville Road, and 1717 Woodfield Road.
Township Building Director Tim Palulian said the judge will likely order demolition of the Ortonville Road and Woodfield Road homes.
The Ortonville Road home, believed to be owned by a bank, has a failed septic system and has been abandoned for at least a year and a half. It is unsecured and has sustained extreme water damage to the walk-out basement from flooding in the backyard. A hole was also found in the roof.
The Woodfield Road home is an old cottage that has been empty for 15-20 years, with a non-functional septic system and considerable wood rot. The homeowner recently died and the heirs to the estate want the home demolished.
The Hurd Road residence, unlike the others, is in good condition. It was brought to the township about three years ago as a state-approved modular. It has passed through the hands of a few people, but has never been occupied. The interior is fine, but the exterior was never finished. The township is only requesting the outside of the home be completed. Palulian is hoping for a court order to force the mortgage company to do something, since he calls it a beautiful property and says it would be a shame to have the home, appraised at nearly $350,000, removed.
Palulian says it is not often that the township has to condemn homes.
‘We see any number of vacant houses in any year, no matter what the economic conditions,? he said. ‘If we see a vacant house, we keep an eye on it, but let it be if there is no vandalism, or real problems or complaints. But it must be finished. With a perfectly good vacant house, there is no reason for the government to be involved. These three, something needs to be done.?