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Lansing council rescinds demolition order for historic MLK house, tables study committee resolution
Summary
After hours of public comment, the council moved to table a resolution to form a historic‑district study committee and unanimously voted to rescind the make‑safe‑or‑demolish order for the Darius V. Moon house at 108–110 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., citing new evidence of investment, recent permits and grant funding.
Council Member Jackson moved to rescind the city’s make‑safe‑or‑demolish (MSD) order for 108–110 South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. after extensive public comment and council discussion on Nov. 10. Jackson summarized evidence supporting rescission: the property had been red‑tagged before the current owner purchased it; the owner bought the property Sept. 2019 just before the pandemic; the owner has since invested money and pulled permits; and city staff last month documented inspections and new plan submissions. Jackson said the owner has “pulled permits” and undertaken structural work including roof and beam repairs and that a grant award letter indicated substantial funding to complete rehabilitation.
City Attorney Greg Venker told the council the statutory process for creating a historic‑district study committee (Act 169 of 1970) is distinct from the emergency moratorium authority in the same statute and that the resolution to form a committee does not itself automatically halt work unless and until the council adopts additional measures. Venker characterized make‑safe decisions as "fact‑specific determinations" and said the record here contains changes in circumstances that could justify a rescission.
Council debated whether forming a study committee would prevent work or delay the rescission. After a motion to table the historic‑district study resolution (item 17) passed by a 6–2 vote, the body considered and approved the rescission (item 18). The rescind resolution (listed in the packet as resolution 205‑12025‑107) passed unanimously.
Supporters at the dais and in the public record cited roughly $80,000 invested by the owner, recent permit activity, evidence of roof and beam repairs, and an October grant award; staff confirmed inspections and plan resubmissions that are in process. Opponents at public comment had argued that a study committee could be used as a delaying tactic. The city attorney advised that council action should be grounded in the facts before it; council members who voted to rescind cited the specific, documented changes in circumstances and broad public support in the hearing record.
The council did not adopt a historic‑district ordinance at this meeting; tabling of item 17 means that question may be revisited later and would itself require further council action to create a district.
