Coldwater council grants short extension to 10 South Monroe developers, warns of reconveyance deadline

Coldwater Mayor Kramer and the City Council voted May 11 to adopt a first amendment to the development agreement for 10 South Monroe that extends the applicants’ completion schedule and reaffirms an existing reconveyance agreement.

City Manager Keith Baker told the council the purchasers of the property — identified in city materials as Cody Hawkes and Sydney Downey — have defaulted on the original agreement after failing to secure grant financing but said they want to continue the project. Baker said the amendment would extend the deadline to allow the applicants to pull required permits by July 1 and to complete work between July 1 and December under the terms of Amendment No. 2614.

During the discussion several councilmembers questioned the applicants’ absence earlier in the meeting and the business plan that had been described to staff. One councilmember noted the applicants had proposed operating an ice‑cream shop only a few months of the year and as few as 20 hours per week, and expressed concern the plan would not make the downtown site sustainable.

Applicant Cody Hawkes addressed the council from the podium, saying he has bids in hand, has worked with state grant programs and contractors, and that construction activity would start if granted more time. "That's my plan," Hawkes said. "We have bids and everything all lined up…It will go. I have windows and roofing and, most of it."

City Attorney Amanda explained the reconveyance agreement: if the purchasers fail to meet the permit and activity triggers (including pulling permits by July 1), the property may be reconveyed to the city under the original sale terms without further litigation if the paperwork is executed and recorded.

A motion to adopt the first amendment passed; the council recorded one nay. Council members told the applicant they expect builders and visible activity by July 1 or they will initiate the reconveyance process.

The amendment extends the city's timeline for the project and leaves in place a contractual mechanism designed to return the property to city ownership if the purchasers do not meet the amended benchmarks.