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A lawsuit challenging the City of Houghton’s abandonment of a downtown easement has been dismissed.
Twelfth Circuit Court Judge Charles Goodman issued the order last week. The full text of his ruling has not yet been released.
The easement across the property at 326 Shelden Avenue had been used to facilitate pedestrian access to the downtown parking deck.
With the deck slated for demolition this spring, city officials decided the easement was no longer necessary.
The owner of the lot, Julien Properties, is in the process of constructing a new building on the site, and asked for the easement to be abandoned so they could use the land.
The decision was challenged by Ed “Bud” Cole, the owner of the Hall Building, which is adjacent to the proposed new structure. It was one of several lawsuits he filed to try to stop construction.
Cole maintains the new building will cause him financial damage by limiting views of the Hall Building.
A lawsuit brought by Cole against the city planning commission for approving Julien Properties’ site plan was dismissed by Judge Goodman earlier this month. Cole has indicated he may appeal that ruling.
