Lima Township officials closed on a 16.3 acre piece of property on Jackson Road last week.
After approving the purchase at its township meeting on Aug. 13, the closing took place Sept. 6 said Supervisor Craig Maier.
The township paid $420,000 in cash from the general fund for the property that they plan as the eventual location of a new township hall. Currently, Chelsea Area Fire Authority Station No. 2 and another building that’s known as “the old charging station” are on the property.
The township bought the property at 11516 Jackson Road from the Robert VanSchoick Estate/Graceyland Properties, Inc.
When the purchase was approved by the board, Maier said, “Our goal as a township board is to construct a new facility in that area and provide more than sufficient parking for any election we might have.”
Currently, the township meetings take place in an old township hall that has a number of issues and the township is renting space for its offices in the Chelsea Area Construction Authority building. Having a new township hall that would once again place all operations under one roof, with sufficient and safe parking for elections, were among the considerations for the land purchase.
In addition, the township has assumed the remainder of the lease for the fire station, Meier said.
The next steps include engineering work on the property.
Maier said he hopes that there can be access off Jackson Road and an exit on Lima Center Road.
Just wondering about any plans for preservation of the D.U.R. substation and interurban station? This historic building should be preserved as the interurban railways were a significant part of the area’s transportation history of the early twentieth-century.
Who do I contact on the township board to get more information?
Cordially,
Bill Christen
Chelsea, Michigan
Township Supervisor Craig Maier.