Village sues over historic home renovations
Thu, Sep 4, 2008 
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BY BRIAN KEILEN
bkeilen@grandhaventribune.com
SPRING LAKE — After striking a deal with the Village of Spring Lake to move an historic home and complete renovations to it, the owner is being sued for not holding up his end of the deal.
Documents filed Aug. 27 in Ottawa County Circuit Court show that Scott Keller is being sued by the village for violating the terms of a purchase agreement he signed with the village on Feb. 21. The counts include breach of contract, breach of contract regarding renovations and zoning ordinance violations.
In the purchase agreement, Keller agreed to buy the house that was located at 830 E. Savidge St. from the village for $1. In exchange, he moved the home to 238 South St., and was to make specific repairs and obtain a certificate of occupancy by June 30.
The village contends that this did not happen.
According to the documents, Keller never had the home inspected and did not perform renovations such as installing insulation on the foundation walls and completing stairs and railings around the home.
The home was moved to its current location March 27 after developer John Doezema announced plans to redevelop the corner site along Savidge Street.
Keller said delays getting the home set and issues with the foundation left him little time to complete the renovations.
"I had three days to comply," he said this morning. "None of that stuff I did intentionally."
The suit also accuses Keller of violating village zoning ordinances by repairing and storing inoperable vehicles on the site. He was taking care of the first allegations before addressing the vehicles, he said.
Keller does have legal representation, he said, but hopes to get things settled without a lengthy court case.
"They want to get it done, I want to get it done and I want to cooperate," he said. "I want to move into my house."
Village Manager Ryan Cotton said the Spring Lake Historic Conservation District Commission will meet next week to further discuss the matter.
"It is not ready for occupancy," Cotton said this morning. "There is foundation work, utility work and backfilling that has to happen before it can be. The weather is changing and it needs to be buttoned up. ... It's important for the well-being of the neighborhood and the community for the agreement to be met."
