Lawsuit over Belding clock tower

BELDING, Mich. (WOOD) - Electrolux, which owns the former Belding Brothers' old silk mill factory, is taking the city of Belding to court over the property.

It filed for demolition, but the city won't grant it because Belding wants some of the buildings preserved within a historic district -- which would, for the most part, save the buildings and the clock tower from being drastically altered or demolished in the future.

"What's important to the quality of a town is its history," said Gary Rentrop, the city's attorney. "It gives people a sense of place and belonging. The history of Belding is the Belding silk mills."

The city condemned the property before Electrolux purchased it.

The company "bought the land with intentions of demolishing the buildings to reduce the potential for danger to the community," a representative with Electrolux told 24 Hour News 8.

In a statement from a company spokesperson, the factory buildings are described as "dangerous and unsafe."

"We believe the city and its representatives have exceeded their reach in keeping us from carrying out our plans," it reads. "And we have asked the court to remove the barriers to the final resolution of this issue."

The first step to the city preserving the property in a historic district is a public hearing, Rentrop said.

The company wants to stop the meeting from happening before the two sides can agree on a demolition plan, according to the lawsuit.

But a judge in Mecosta County said there are no extraordinary circumstances that would warrant a temporary restraining order against the city of Belding, resulting in the meeting to happen on July 14. There is no word if a vote will occur at the meeting of if it will be just for public input.