Lansing, Kingdom Life church at odds over property's tax exemption

LANSING — A south Lansing congregation faces a property tax bill of at least a $40,000 after Mayor Andy Schor's administration revoked its tax-exempt status over blight and the apparent lack of religious activities at the former school the church acquired more than a decade ago to renovate.

Kingdom Life Church Senior Pastor Coye Bouyer told the State Journal the church lost an appeal to the city's Board of Review on the tax issue, but hopes to prevail before the Michigan Tax Tribunal. He said city officials haven't spoken directly to him or other church officials despite pleas, but rather have communicated in writing.

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Church officials said the tax issue came to light in January when they received a letter from the city saying the tax-exempt status for the property they've owned for a decade was being revoked because it wasn't being used as a religious center. Now, church members say they aren't sure what the city wants them to do in order to regain that status or whether they must pay the taxes owed as the case is adjudicated.

"Currently we're in the appeals process. It's sometime in June and I'm hoping that they will consider our appeals process," he told the State Journal.

Scott Bean, spokesperson for the city and Schor, said the tax-exempt status on the property ended on Dec. 31 because the property wasn't being used for religious services. The city valued it at $521,000, and Bean estimated taxes on the 32,466-square-foot, near 10-acre property to be about $40,000.

The church acquired the former school in 2012 for $75,000 from a bank after it sat vacant for seven years when the Lansing School District closed Maple Grove Elementary School. In 2018, the church sought to transform the 32,466-square-foot, single-story property into a community center with athletic fields and equipment for area children, but little has been accomplished.

Lansing City Third Ward Councilmember Adam Hussain wrote on Facebook on April 18 in support of the city's move. He said the former Maple Grove Elementary School at 6031 South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. is one of the most complained-about properties on the south side. The property, he said, is one of several detriments to improving the neighborhood.

"I would not want to look out at that property out my front porch, and I'm assuming that homeowners would also not like to look out at that property (from) their front porch," he said.

Bouyer said the church has addressed citations for graffiti and overgrown weeds and trash at the property. He accused city officials of being heavy-handed. He acknowledged no construction or church-related activity has happened on the property because the pandemic forced plans to be placed on hold.

The church conducts services at 4303 South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., and that property remains tax-exempt.

Doors were chained and locked shut at the vacant property, and windows were covered with wood boards on a recent Sunday. The property had some overgrown weeds and was surrounded by a chain-link fence. Bouyer said the remaining artwork on the building are paintings from school students.

Kingdom Life business administrator Rebecca Nobles said prior to the pandemic, the congregation had prayer walks and meetings, and worked with Dwight Rich School of the Arts students to paint a mural.

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Issues with the city

Calls to City Assessor Sharon Frischman's office were rerouted through the city's 311 program. A staffer declined to make Frischman available to a State Journal reporter.

"I know she's been looking at lots of properties and doing reviews," Bean said.

Bean declined to say whether the city has revoked the tax-exempt status of other religious organizations in the city or why Frishman, who sets tax values for property across the city, wasn’t made available for an interview.

If Bouyer could prove the building is being used for tax-exempt purposes, the status could be awarded back to the property, according to Bean.

Bouyer contends the city hasn't spoken to him in person or over the phone about the property despite several attempts.

"If the city tells us we need to do something, we will comply," he said. "We are constantly down there to take care of any graffiti, overgrown grass and such. We have a full-time maintenance crew who cuts grass and puts the boards back up if they notice they're down."

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Nobles said the city has not responded to her questions on whether the church has to pay taxes or not.

"I spoke to a couple of different people and didn't indicate on whether or not we have to pay for it," she said.

Hussain said the city has tried to work with Bouyer regarding making the property tax-exempt, but "something must be done." He declined to offer specifics on what the city was willing to do to help.

"The building has been boarded up for quite some time now," Hussain said. "We have been going out on site consistently enforcing the open, accessible piece of our ordinances."

The church is planning a cleanup at the property on May 13 and possibly additional dates, Bouyer said. He's working to schedule more religious activities on the property and said it wasn't feasible during more severe points of the pandemic.

The concrete foundation is the only salvageable part of the building on the property, he said. The rest may need to come down as the costs associated with keeping the structure are too high.

Bouyer declined to share details on what comes next for the property.

"We want to be a blessing for the city and we want to bless our city," Bouyer said. "My desire is to bless the city and the people who have first invested in my life as a child."

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Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at 517-267-1344 or knurse@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @KrystalRNurse.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing, Kingdom Life church at odds over property's tax exemption