Lapeer’s Water Tower Has People Split — Keep It or Tear It Down?

Lapeer’s old water tower has everyone talking, and depending on who you ask, it’s either a piece of history worth keeping or just an eyesore that needs to come down.

The water tower has stood along M-24 on the north end of town for decades. Visually, it doesn’t look all that bad, but here’s the thing: it hasn’t actually held water in more than 50 years. I had no idea. I’ve spent my entire life driving by that thing and never once thought it wasn’t being used.

According to ABC 12, City Manager Mike Womack says it’s in pretty rough shape, and fixing it could cost around $70,000. That’s a lot of money for something that doesn’t really serve a purpose anymore. While it might seem useless to many, people around town can’t seem to agree on what to do with it.

Some Want It Gone, Others Want It Saved

Some residents online say it’s time to let it go, calling it an eyesore that needs to come down. Others want to see it saved because it’s part of Lapeer’s history and one of the few landmarks left from that era. I can kind of understand that, but honestly, it would really clean up the skyline if it were gone, giving Lapeer a fresher look on that end of town. Plus, at the end of the day, it’s just a water tower.

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City leaders are floating some ideas for the space if the tower comes down, like turning it into a flower garden or maybe adding a mural that celebrates the community. Nothing’s been decided yet, but they plan to get public input before moving forward.