FeedsCounty closes Sheldon Road, at last
Click image to enlarge
Wayne County contractors closed down Sheldon Road on Tuesday in preparation for the railroad underpass project, which will take place during the next 2 years. A hearing has been set for Friday on an ongoing property dispute that may impact the project.After years of delays, funding issues and resident complaints, the project to put and a railroad underpass along Sheldon Road has finally begun.
How long the project takes to complete may be settled by a judge.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Mary Beth Kelly will listen to arguments on Friday at a show cause hearing on whether to allow the sale and purchase of a 23-acre parcel of land in the middle of the construction project.
Last week, Kelly issued an injunction in favor of Wayne County, temporary nullifying the sale to Romel Casab, a real estate speculator from Commerce Township. Casab allegedly purchased the land through the tax reversion process and lawyers for the county argued that the property should have never been placed on the tax-delinquent roll, since the property was identified as an integral part of the underpass project.
Casab bought the sliver of land for $60,000 and wrote a letter to the county in December saying the underpass project would block access to his property. Casab is asking for upwards of $5 million to return the land back to the county.
This is not the first controversial land tax-reverted purchase made by Casab. In 2003, Casab bought half of a parking structure in downtown Detroit when the county mistakenly placed the property in tax-delinquent status. The Michigan State Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case.
Despite the upcoming legal battle, county officials started the underpass project on Tuesday. Both lanes of Sheldon Road from Farmer Street to the M-14 ramps are closed. Utility poles have been removed and water connections have been rerouted throughout Plymouth and Plymouth Township.
Wayne County Assistant Executive Alan Helmkamp said he is confident that the project will be completed by late 2008 and the issue with Casab will be resolved soon.
“The project is under way and we feel good about that,” he said.
