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Posted on Thu, Apr 8, 2010 : 7 p.m.

Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse aim to breathe new life into historic structure

By Tom Perkins

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Nat Edmunds and Bonnie Penet inside the Ypsilanti Freighthouse

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

Bonnie Penet fondly recalls the Ypsilanti Freighthouse of the early 1980s, which regularly saw weddings, antique auctions, craft shows and weekly farmers markets in all four seasons.

At the freighthouse, Penet caught a train to take to her job in Detroit. And it was there that she caught the eye of her husband-to-be at a monthly jazz concert. A year later, she and Ed Penet married.

Penet’s story is one of many from the 132-year-old structure's rich personal and community history. And it's why many are working on an extensive effort to bring the freighthouse back to life.

“We know how important it is to the people in Ypsilanti, and we feel really strongly that we want to return back to the community,” said Penet, a co-chair of the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse.

A core group of volunteers work with the FOYF. So far, they've helped to secure $700,000 in grants to renovate the building, with an additional $150,000 in fundraising. The hope is to have the freighthouse open and functional as a community center, though maybe not with all the bells and whistles, within three years.

The Friends group is holding a fundraiser auction at the Firehouse Museum in Ypsilanti Friday.

Representative John Dingell will serve as the honorable co-chair, and the FOYF will auction off a South African photo safari, autographed Bruce Springsteen guitar, several week-long vacations, tickets to the finale of Dancing With the Stars and more.

The Ann Arbor Community Foundation has offered a $25,000 challenge grant. Should the FOYF raise $25,000, the Community Foundation will mach it, plus help secure another $50,000 in funding. 

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The freighthouse's future cafe.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

In its earliest days, the community used the freighthouse for a purpose more in line with its name. Nat Edmunds, co-chair of the FOYF and an Ypsilanti historian, said from the building’s opening in 1878 until trucking lines popularized after WWII, Ypsilanti’s factories shipped their goods out of the 6,000-square foot freighthouse to destinations as far away as Europe.

But with little freight running through it in the early 1950s, it closed and was sold to a furniture company for warehouse space. It remained as such until Edmunds and several volunteers hosted an art exhibit there while Ann Arbor’s Art Train was in Ypsilanti.

“Everyone was sad to see the poor, lonesome thing all boarded, so there we had an opportunity to open it up again and let people look in the building and see how great it was,” Edmunds recalled. “When the city bought the building, everybody pitched in to get it open and ready.”

The community’s enthusiasm for the freighthouse grew, and the city purchased the building just over 100 years after it was built, in 1979. It maintained the space as a community center until structural and budget issues forced the city to shutter it in 2004.

“We loved that space and we took it for granted that it would always be the great community center it was,” Penet said. “But you take a little bit of time to grieve that and you get motivated and start organizing.”

The FOYF established itself prior to the building’s closing, but tackled minor projects and held small fundraisers. In 2004, Penet said it became evident the group would have to “become serious and raise some big funds” to save the building. The FOYF quickly incorporated into a nonprofit, and fundraising became the priority.

The city first approached the State Historic Preservation Office to fund needed electrical work. But SHiPO responded that it first wanted to put the building in an easement, then provided the city with a grant.

A second grant, submitted by the FOYF via the city manager, requested funding for construction. That was met with a request that the FOYF use money to seek a condition assessment report, for which the FOYF raised $20,000 to match SHiPO’s $30,000.

The report, done by an engineering firm in 2006, broke down the building’s problems, listing the most serious at the top. It determined the structure was retaining moisture and needed roughly $500,000 in structural repairs that took priority over other repairs.

“So that report became our bible,” Penet said. “We said ‘OK, let’s take a deep breath and go for it.’”

Mayor Paul Schreiber said the grant was controversial at the time because some residents wanted to see the dollars put to use on renovations, not reports, but eventually proved beneficial.

“It took some vision to realize that’s what we needed to do and, fortunately, the majority of the freighthouse board decided to do that,” he said. “I think the reason the freighthouse is coming along is the people who had a vision and knew what to do for it long term.”

The next grant application submitted to SHiPO in 2007 requested funding to address foundation issues. But while SHiPO reviewed it, Ed Penet met a stormwater management engineer at the Heritage Festival who wanted to help.

The engineer was the first of many professional volunteers who have offered their services to the FOYF for no charge, Edmunds said.

“We’ve had a lot of really good advice from talented people,” Edmunds said.

The engineer pointed out the major issue - moisture retention. The ground and deck slanted in toward the building, causing it to collect moisture in the bricks and foundation. 

To prevent further moisture-related rot, he suggested creating a rain garden at the north end. Penet said a rain garden is essentially a ditch that collects stormwater off a building and lets it soak into the ground. Along the top are long-rooted, pollutant absorbing flowers.

After the engineer’s assessment, the FOYF contacted the state and said it wanted to change the application.

“This grant turned into something way different than we thought it would and it was really exciting for everybody,” Penet said.

The FOYF built gutters and piping running the length of the building on each side, down the to the north end, directing water into the rain garden. As water collects, it percolates into the earth within 24 hours. It also keeps the water from running across the nearby parking lots and collecting pollutants on its way into the river.

In 2005, the city passed a resolution entering into a management agreement with the FOYF. The city takes care of receiving and distributing all the grant money, while the FOYF handles routine maintenance, pays for the bills and manages the freighthouse.

“The city has been cooperative and helped us where they can - they’ve been wonderful,” Edmunds said.

Beyond the support of the city, Penet and Edmunds said the community has and continues to show great support for the effort.

“It embodies what Ypsilanti is about,” Schreiber said. “It’s the kind of thing that Ypsilanti needs to transform itself from a blue collar city to a cultural city.”

Mike Kabat, who owns Haab’s restaurant in downtown Ypsilanti, likened the freighthouse to a a gazebo in a town square. He recalled Saturday mornings when it was a “phenomenal meeting place” where residents gathered for coffee.

“There’s nothing particularly available like that because it was a non-commercial establishment, but it had an ability to bind the community together,” he said. “If there was a concern in the community, it was probably articulated at these Saturday morning get-togethers.”

In 2008, the FOYF approached the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, which had recently received $1 million from Pfizer before it left town with instructions to spread the money to community projects.

The two parties discussed how the money should be spent, and the Community Foundation decided it would best be put to use on hiring an architect to do renovation drawings.

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The Freighthouse received $500,000 in ARRA money last April.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

The $103,000 grant was delivered the city, and a historical preservation architect was hired.

In 2008, with the drawings ready, FOYF members began hearing the federal government’s call for “shovel-ready” projects to receive stimulus money. They said the freighthouse’s structural issues fit the description.

The FOYF applied via the city, which received a grant for $500,000. Along with the grant came a ceremony in April 2009, in which Gov. Jennifer Granholm and several representatives and business leaders gathered in Ypsilanti to present an oversized check.

“That was the biggest boost you could ever imagine,” Edmunds said. “It was simply unbelievable.”

The structural construction was broken into two phases because bids came in so low, and phase one began in mid-March. Contractors are installing steel strong backs, which are cemented deep in the ground and attached to the trusses, acting as a “rib cage” for the building. A new roof will hold the structure together.

During phase two of construction, scheduled May through September, contractors will repair bricks and the structure where necessary. They'll also rebuild a deck that once ran down the building’s west side and install in a handicap accessible ramp on the north end.

The FOYF received yet another boost when it was announced the Ann Arbor to Detroit rail would stop in Ypsilanti, and the freighthouse would serve as the station. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments will pay for the platform’s installation, and Penet said regular traffic through the freighthouse is its best advertising.

“Once the commuter rail comes in, it really becomes a firmer regional center than it has been,” Penet said.

But the freighthouse is in year two of its five-year business plan, and still has a long list of necessities before it can function as a train stop and community center. Preparing for the train involves remodeling the café and kitchen, installing handicap-accessible bathrooms and installing a new heating and cooling system.

Penet said the FOYF is looking at options for remodeling the great hall, including possibilities like storm doors for the cargo doors, thermal heating and possibly an amplification system.

But all those improvements are dependent on funding, and the FOYF saw overruns on its architectural drawings. It is now setting up a contingency fund. 

Edmunds said she's thrilled at the prospect of what the freighthouse could become again.

“It brings a lot of people to Depot Town, and I think that’s good for everyone,” she said.

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

Comments

CountyKate

Fri, Apr 9, 2010 : 1:21 p.m.

jns131, that building across the tracks is the old depot, after which Depot Town was named. Unfortunately, that building was never purchased by the city, nor did anyone seek historic designation for it. It is privately owned, by the Dahlmann family,and is undergoing "demolition by neglect." It's sad, really, because it's in a lovely location and could be a great addition to the area.

jns131

Fri, Apr 9, 2010 : 8:58 a.m.

I am still wondering about the building across the tracks that remains empty and lonesome. Are they going to tear it down? Or give it revitalization? The rail service that will reunite Ypsi and Ann Arbor are on hold due to funds being low. I hope that gets back in action. Now that the freight house is being restored, lets get that little house up and running as well. Great job everyone!

CountyKate

Fri, Apr 9, 2010 : 7:22 a.m.

Not only is the Freighthouse an Ypsilanti Treasure, but so is Nat Edmunds. With her leading the charge, ably assisted by Bonnie Penet and other dedicated volunteers, I'm confident the Freighthouse will open once more. And its opening is so important to all of Ypsilanti. It was, and will be again, our social center. Thanks to all who have aided in this effort.

a2grateful

Fri, Apr 9, 2010 : 6:20 a.m.

Great story!

General Demetrios

Thu, Apr 8, 2010 : 6:37 p.m.

I can hardly wait until the Freighthouse is back in action. The rail service is going to reunite Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and the great space that is the Freighthouse will be in the center of it all. This is going to be even better than the old "Love Line" that ran between the largely male UofM and the largely female EMU!