CASS COUNTY, Mich. -- Cass County announced on Wednesday that a local decades-long issue has a remedy in sight as the former church building at 520 Pearl St. in Cassopolis is one of seven buildings set to be demolished as part of a third round of the State Land Bank Authority’s Blight Elimination Program.

County officials say a grant secured by the Cass County Land Bank Authority has allowed leaders at the Church of Cassopolis to solve a problem they have been working to solve for more than a decade.

“All of these properties have been abandoned for a year or more, with utilities, plumbing, heating, and sewage systems either disconnected, destroyed, or rendered ineffective,” Hope Anderson, Cass County Treasurer and chair of the Cass County Land Bank Authority said.

“One of these properties, the former People’s Protestant Church building, unused for over a decade, has fallen into severe disrepair, with a caving roof causing further structural deterioration. The building had to be boarded up due to squatters, and it has become a habitat for animals and pests, creating unsafe conditions for nearby residents.”

Pastor Eric Williams has been with the People’s Protestant Church for nearly 28 years and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity.

He says the church has been working to find a way to demolish the structure years.

"In 2005, the church erected a new structure and for a while, used the older building for Sunday School services and a food pantry, but the building has been vacant for a decade or more," a county spokesperson said. "[Williams] said demolishing the structure will enable the Church to expand its parking lot and improve the overall experience for churchgoers and the surrounding neighborhood."

Williams says the project delays were due to multiple reasons. 

“I would love to say thank you for helping us accomplish and move forward in a project we’ve been wanting for so long but just couldn’t find the right person or the right company to tear it down,” WIlliams said. “Raising money in 2024-2025 at a church is not as easy as it was 20 to 30 years ago.”

Officials say the Cass County Land Bank Authority saw the urgent need to address these issues to "ensure the safety and well-being of the community."

“Through this partnership with local units of government, community stakeholders, and the State Land Bank Authority, the Cass County Land Bank is taking immediate action to mitigate safety hazards, stabilize neighborhoods, and contribute to the revitalization of Cass County,” Anderson said.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with our local partners to achieve shared goals of alleviating blight and enhancing our community. Demolition efforts funded by the grant are expected to improve the quality of life for Cass County residents and support future opportunities for redevelopment in these areas.”