York County and MorningStar Fellowship Church have reached a deal about the future of the long-controversial Heritage Tower in Fort Mill, South Carolina, after years of legal battles and community unrest. According to WCNC Charlotte, if MorningStar can meet the requirements outlined in the court records, the deal opens the door for either the completion or demolition of the empty 21-story tower.
The settlement stipulates that MorningStar has to show that it can update the construction to current code by submitting a building permit application within the next 18 months. If the church does not obtain the required authorization, the tower, which has stood unfinished since 1987 because of the PTL ministry’s financial collapse, must be dismantled within nine months. It’s interesting to note that, according to WBTV, if the church does not meet the standards for demolition, the county has the power to demolish the tower at MorningStar’s expense.
MorningStar Ministries and county officials have been at odds over Heritage Tower, which was once planned as a component of the Heritage USA Christian theme park and then slated to be transformed into a Christian senior care facility. The tower’s history is characterized by protracted negotiations and accusations. According to the Charlotte Business Journal, MorningStar purchased the property in 2004 but was criticized and faced legal issues because of the speed of the renovations and obvious safety issues.
A 30-year-old dispute that involved multiple litigation between the county and the church, which at one point claimed religious discrimination, is resolved by the settlement. The legal position that the tower should have been demolished as early as 2013 has been expressed in the county’s safety-related attitude. At the center of the negotiations, a county lawyer was accused of filing motions without first consulting the ministry, which WBTV stated was against the norms. The agreement now establishes a clear timeframe for MorningStar to either remove the site permanently or move forward with renovations in accordance with current building rules.
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