The Ypsilanti City Council approved a plan today submitted by developer Stewart Beal that calls for clearing the roads outside the Thompson Block building within 16 days.

The traffic control extension, which was approved 6-0, also gives Beal Properties, LLC an additional 45 days to determine whether it can permanently stabilize and renovate the historic building, which was severely damaged by fire Sept. 23.

The roadways closed around the Thompson Block are expected to reopen within 16 days.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

Per the new plan, support beams that are now in the road will be pulled back to the sidewalk within 15 days from Wednesday. The westbound lane of Cross Street and northbound lane of River Street will reopen, but the north side of East Cross Street will remain closed to pedestrians.

The road closure was the one of the council’s primary concerns.

“One of the major issues was the street reopening, and that’s what generated a lot of this,” Council Member Pete Murdock said.

The resolution includes a list of stipulations Beal must comply with or meet. They include:

• Investigating alternative façade stabilization methods in compliance with the abatement order and facilitating the return of additional street and right-of-way to the public.
• Presenting Fire Chief Jon Ichesco with an engineer’s report indicating the supports are currently stable and how long they will remain stable.
• Obtaining $2 million in liability insurance and naming the city as additionally insured, as recommended by the city’s insurance carrier.
• Applying for a building permit and initiating the process to reopen the sidewalk on the north side of East Cross Street.
• Updating the council at its Jan. 12 meeting.
• Presenting a detailed plan to address the overall concerns of the building at the council’s Feb. 2 meeting.

Following the meeting, Beal said he was pleased with the vote and the direction of the project.

“The citizens here have spoken and got what they want, which is to reopen the roadway and preserve the building,” he said.

Beal is currently waiting to hear whether he will receive tax credits to renovate the 148-year-old structure from the state through the State Historic Preservation Office.

Mayor Paul Schreiber said the process for receiving tax credits for renovating historic structures is lengthy. But he also said he was told by Robb McKay, an architect with SHPO, the agency was “on the verge” of having enough information to determine whether historic tax credits are available.

Without the tax credits, renovating the building would be too expensive and would likely lead to demolition.

Beal worked with city staff to develop the revised plan last week, following a Tuesday City Council meeting in which the council voted 4-3 vote to delay a decision until today’s special meeting.

Although discussion at Tuesday’s meeting grew tense at times, Beal and city staff worked together to develop a plan that complied with the notice to abate and satisfied both parties.

Schreiber approved of the plan and said it provides Beal the time he needs to hear from SHPO to determine whether the project is viable. 

Several council members said their concerns were alleviated with the provision requiring Beal to purchase $2 million in insurance and include the city on the policy.

“We did get some things (on the new plan) that were important to me, primarily some insurance liability that protects the city,” Murdock said. “I thought that would be necessary, and I’m pleased to see it’s in there.”

The sidewalk on the northeast corner of Cross and River streets will be covered during the 45-day period.

Most of those who spoke at the 7:30 a.m. meeting supported the extension.

“Let’s work hand in hand with the Thompson Block owners,” Cheryl Farmer, former Ypsilanti mayor, urged the council. “Let’s work to preserve it for Depot Town and the for the future of our community.”

Tom Perkins is freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.