The Elmdale Sub Thread

[MQT1223]

Pretty sure the county dividing line is the tree line to the east of the house. Both the road and tracks lay west of the county line. A lot of the ROW lies just west of the county line in Kent.

Somehow the parcel got on the Kent County delinquent tax sale - that should not have happened but it did. Bought by an investor in California, flipped to the property owner just to the east in Ionia County. Should never have been able to get a building permit IMHO because Bowne township should have known it was RR property. Township shouldn't have let it get sold the first time.

I have looked at he title work summary for the proposed sale from MMRR to the DNR. The original deeds for this line have lots of issues like the description of a parcel has the town and range wrong so the property described is not on the corridor.

The sale to the DNR was imminent until G&W bought RA. New lawyers, new requirements that the State could meet. (My employer was helping Kent County Parks help the DNR acquire the corridor for trail purposes)

This sounds like the most amount of truth yet. Way more believable than the local coffee shop talk. Thanks RDD. So in your opinion what should or will be the likely eventual disposition of the property?

G&W wants some type indemnification that state cannot currently give per state law. The legislature has to change the law which the DNR would like to have happen. There's room in the road ROW to get past the house.

Sounds like the G&W has interest in the line south to Elmdale if they want this or that... They wouldn't seriously be thinking about rebuilding it would they?

[J T]

Sounds like the G&W has interest in the line south to Elmdale if they want this or that... They wouldn't seriously be thinking about rebuilding it would they?

There is zero reason to even think about it being rebuilt. They already connect with CSX in Grand Rapids.

[MQT1223]

Sounds like the G&W has interest in the line south to Elmdale if they want this or that... They wouldn't seriously be thinking about rebuilding it would they?

There is zero reason to even think about it being rebuilt. They already connect with CSX in Grand Rapids.

So they are just in it for the property value when they sell it off. I didn't think they would rebuild it but crazier things have happened.

[Saturnalia]

Indemnification is protecting yourself from future loss by a 2nd party. So I'm guessing G&W doesn't want any responsibility for anything having to do with the property, from structures to pollution.

It has nothing to do with G&W wanting to rebuild...they just don't want to be on the hook for any costs they dig up years down the road. Which is good business sense.