Following years of legal disputes and community unrest, a settlement has been reached between York County and MorningStar Fellowship Church over the future of the long-controversial Heritage Tower in Fort Mill, South Carolina. As reported by WCNC Charlotte, the agreement paves the way for either the completion or demolition of the vacant 21-story tower, depending on MorningStar's ability to comply with certain conditions laid out in the court documents.

According to the settlement, MorningStar must submit a building permit application within the next 18 months demonstrating its capability to bring the structure up to current code. Standing uncompleted since 1987 due to the PTL ministry's financial collapse, the tower must be demolished within nine months if the church fails to acquire the necessary permit. Interestingly, the county holds the authority to demolish the tower at MorningStar's expense should the church not meet the requirements for demolition, as per WBTV.

Heritage Tower, originally envisioned as part of the Heritage USA Christian theme park and later intended to be converted into a Christian senior living center, has been a source of tension between MorningStar Ministries and county officials. Protracted negotiations and accusations have marked the history of the tower. MorningStar had acquired the site in 2004 but faced criticisms and legal challenges over the pace of redevelopment and apparent safety concerns, as detailed by Charlotte Business Journal.

The settlement brings closure to a conflict stretching back 30 years, involving numerous lawsuits between the county and the church, which at one point claimed religious discrimination. The county's stance has been articulated around safety, expressing the legal position that the tower should have been demolished as far back as 2013. In the heart of the negotiations, a county attorney was alleged to have filed motions without prior consultation with the ministry, an action that was reported by WBTV to have violated certain rules. The agreement now sets a definite timeline for MorningStar to either proceed with renovation under current building regulations or to clear the site for good.