BYC buys Moose Lodge for club house in VBT

The Moose Lodge property at 831 East Huron River Drive in Van Buren Township has been sold to the BYC for a lakeside clubhouse.
Robert Coutts, administrator of the local Moose Lodge, said the BYC exceeded the requirements for the purchase price given by Moose International for the property and building, although he did not disclose the price.
Coutts said the closing on the property is expected to be by the end of the month.
He said the Moose is looking at multiple options and the members have to do what is financially best for the club.
“Our goal is to stay in the tri-community area and continue operations,” Coutts said.
Sumpter Township officials said the Moose had submitted an offer on the PNA Hall and Coutts said the PNA is one of their options.
Coutts said it is a “rather amicable situation” between the BYC and the Moose and this is “a friendly agreement.”
Coutts said the Moose will be able to wrap up its planned activities before moving, including its hosting of the Moose’s International Dart Tournament at the end of April.
The Polar Bear Plunge, to raise money for Special Olympics, will be held on schedule at the Moose Lodge on Feb. 9, Coutts said.
The BYC is a private group of boaters whose members informally call it the Belleville Yacht Club, although that name is legally owned by the owner of Johnny’s restaurant.
The BYC had been planning to build its large clubhouse on a lakeside lot on North Liberty Street in the City of Belleville and the plans had been approved by the city planning commission. That lot is now up for sale.
There were concerns by neighbors that the partying boaters would crowd the lake access at the Belleville Bridge, overload the city parking lot across the street, and disrupt the residential living in that area.