Whenever the board of trustees of any such association shall serve upon the assessing officer of the township, city or village in which its real estate is situated a notice in writing, signed by its secretary and under its corporate seal, requesting that all of the cottages and buildings owned by its lessees, situate upon the lands of the association, and not exempt from taxation as hereinbefore provided, be assessed to the association as a part of its real estate, the same as if owned by it, then and thereafter all such real estate and cottages, and buildings thereon, shall be assessed to such association as real estate and taxes paid thereon, by the association the same as if in fact the owner thereof, and no lease had been made.
MCL 455.66