It halted in March 2019 when Muskegon hotel owner Jon Rooks filed a lawsuit against Stellar Hospitality CEO Malik Abdulnoor.Ībdulnoor had sold the Holiday Inn in downtown Muskegon to Rooks, and the sales agreement prevented Abdulnoor from being involved in any hotel business within 14 miles of the downtown hotel until 2028. The four-story buildings have remained virtually untouched – other than township-required action to make them secure - for nearly four years.Ĭonstruction on the hotels, which were to be a Holiday Inn Express and a Town Place Suites by Marriott, began in the summer of 2018.

The Little River Band has said it plans to restart the approval process by reapplying for federal recognition, which had already been granted. The property is claimed by the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, which has asked for federal recognition – a decision on which has been delayed for three weeks, Dunham said on Thursday, Feb. Whitmer’s approval was required because the casino proposed by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians is not on its reservation. Gretchen Whitmer declined to approve the casino, expressing concern that it would be constructed on land claimed by a different tribe that is seeking federal recognition. The location on Sternberg Road just east of the Lakes Mall is in the area of a proposed casino that has been in the works for about 15 years. Renderings provided to MLive earlier show the two buildings connected by a common space. Plans call for 82 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments along with an outdoor pool. Yono also said he would email a statement, but that statement was not received. When asked if Stellar Hospitality still intended to develop apartments, company spokesman Joel Yono said, “that’s still the plan.” The township is considering starting to issue blight ordinance violations against the building owner, he said. Meanwhile, township police have had to secure plywood “doors” on the structures to prevent trespassers from accessing them, Dunham said. No work has been done on the buildings, located on Sternberg Road at Quarterline Road, since, Fruitport Township Supervisor Todd Dunham told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle. The developer also was given 24 months to complete the project.

The approval came with several caveats, including required moisture testing of every room in the structures and posting of an $8 million performance bond before building permits would be issued.

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