Here is an update on the proposed Rackham Golf Course sale, and it’s hopefully a step in the right direction. It seems that the Mayor of Huntington Woods is proposing a ballot initiative that would call for a millage so that the City could purchase the golf course from Detroit, and not let it slip into the hands of housing developers. Huntington Woods would continue to operate it as a golf course. The city would then use the operating revenue of the course to defray the tax increase necessary to secure the purchase – so in theory it’s a revenue neutral proposal for Huntington Woods. It also leaves the deed restriction problem alone for the time being – and this seems to be by … Read entire article »

Kip – I’ve been trying to get in touch with you to ask you some questions about the CFA. Your verizon.net and your yahoo.com address do not appear to be working… Sanjay – a while back you mentioned that you had some papers/data on Ethanol. I’m still interested, you said you would send them to me but never did… If you get a chance, shoot me an email doink @ blamp.com … Read entire article »

I’ve seen some off-the-wall Deed restrictions in my line of work. Notably, something along the lines of “Reserving to the grantors during their lifetime such quantity of meat, poultry, milk and eggs as may from time to time be desired of them for their sustenance.” And though this is a pretty atypical restriction, nearly every deed reserves or restricts the buyer from certain practies or activites, and this is typically through no fault of the current grantor. A more common example would be that of mineral/oil/gas rights to a property. Frequently a parcel is sold, with the rights to oil/gas reserved to the grantor. It would patently absurd to declare that the current owner could sell those rights to someone else, having never acquired them … Read entire article »