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Posted on Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 12:05 p.m.

Thompson Block scaffolding comes down, River Street reopened

By Tom Perkins

Thompson_Block_Aug_2011.jpg

Thompson Block without scaffolding.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

Scaffolding bracing the front of the Thompson Block has come down, marking a new chapter in the saga of the historic Depot Town structure.

Developer Stewart Beal, whose Historic Equities Fund 1 LLC owns the 148-year-old former Civil War barracks, said minor masonry work still needs to be completed by September 2. Once that is finished, all terms of a consent judgment that followed court ordered facilitation over a timeline for stabilizing the building will be met.

The building burned in a fire on September 23, 2009. Jacob Popiolek pled no contest to arson charges in connection with the fire and was sentenced to five years of probation in July.

All bracing and fencing that remained in River Street has been removed, and fencing four feet from the structure will come down after the masonry work is complete, Beal said.

Roughly 16 feet of the roof has been rebuilt, and all the floors in each of the three stories were reconstructed. The front wall is tied into and supported by that system. Beal’s construction company also rebuilt several walls that were damaged in the fire, and the windows will be filled in and painted so it isn’t possible to see through the building.

City Manager Ed Koryzno said a city engineer inspected and approved the work on Wednesday. He said he is pleased most terms of the consent agreement will likely be met by Sept. 2, and is hopeful the building’s “envelope” will be completed within two years of the consent agreement, as is required.

Completing the envelope would involve rebuilding the collapsed portion of the building’s east and south end and finishing the roof.

“It will be two years since the fire in September, so I would say that I’m satisfied that the most recent deadline has been met, and we assume that the remaining deadlines will be completed,” Koryzno said.

Beal announced in April that he was changing the project from a mixed-use to all-loft development.

The new plans call for 23 residential lofts ranging in size from 620 to 1,120 square feet. The project will be financed as entirely residential, Beal said, but he still would accept the right commercial tenant if a good offer is made before construction begins.

Beal said at the time that he was in advanced conversations with investors but said on Thursday that there have been no new developments in raising funds.

The renovation is estimated at $4 million and Beal received letters from two parties interested in purchasing approximately $2.7 million in state and federal historic preservation tax credits issued for the project. That money would be used to pay down debt.

Beal said on Thursday his company is only focused on meeting the Sept. 2 deadlines. The project will need to be redesigned architecturally and funds will have to be raised from private investors and lending institutions.

But he said completion of the work required under the consent agreement is a significant step that indicates the project is moving toward completion.

“Our work and success to complete this proved that any thought or call to demolish the building was inappropriate,” he said. “I’m glad we were able to prove to people who wanted to demolish the building that it can be saved.”

Ypsilanti City Councilman Pete Murdock had disagreed with Beal over the timeline for the work and other issues.

“It’s great that they're putting the effort in to do what they’re supposed to do,” he said. “They’re close to meeting their deadlines. They’ve got a long way to go to complete the building, but as far as where we are, they got done what they needed to get done.”

Comments

Mr. Burns

Sun, Aug 21, 2011 : 12:05 a.m.

I have rented from Beal...his comments do not surprise me a bit! If you think his timeline on this building is slow, try getting him to respond to any sort of emergency call for a tenant. The only phone number for emergencies is his cell and I called it to report raw sewage coming up in our basement and he did not return my call for nearly three days! I could give you many examples but why bother when he can make a fool of himself here on aa.com.

Borbsi

Sat, Aug 20, 2011 : 2:50 a.m.

Four years? The Empire State Building was built in 16 months!

free

Sat, Aug 20, 2011 : 6:11 p.m.

That's because Maple Leaf Gardens didn't have to waste time building a trophy case for their Stanley Cups.

SonnyDog09

Sat, Aug 20, 2011 : 4:05 p.m.

... and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto was built in six months.

FaithInYpsi

Sat, Aug 20, 2011 : 2:43 a.m.

I have been looking for some progress and this is something no matter how small. Tired of the road being blocked and now it is open. I just hope they aren't as slow at the rest of it that they have been so far. At least we won't have to look at the scaffolding from the patio of the Sidetrack.

Angela Wilson

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 11:44 p.m.

LoL. I didn't even notice the "progress" of this building site til i read this article. SMH. I will have to talk to Guiness about this, it might be the longest running construction site ever. LoL. -artofangie from ypsichik.com

EyeHeartA2

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 11:34 p.m.

Wasn't this like the first story every in AA.com?

Jim Pryce

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.

It looks so much better with the scaffolding gone. NOT!!

Wolf's Bane

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.

Okay, Beal is still down from where he started, so let's see in a year if he is further along. Good luck!

eagletrace

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.

And what a beautiful building it is in Depot Town (snicker)........we're not back to zero and I wonder how long it will take until it doesn't look like a World War II bombed out building. I STILL believe that building should be torn down. It will continue to have a negative effect on everyone's property values for years and years. Beal will make promises that will never be fulfilled and Ypsi will be his door mat until that building is gone.

jns131

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.

The song "Miracles" from Fiddler On The Roof is playing in my head at this very moment. I too agree with everyone here. Will wonders never cease?

AA

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 7:50 p.m.

I really question the integrity of all involved in this debacle. This time frame from A to Z to begin and complete this project was and is laughable.

Concerned Citizen

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.

Attorneys need to be able to put food on the table.

denniso800

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.

I too have made a few comments about Beal's slo-motion repairs. This is progress, but as Pete Murdoch says: "It's great that they're putting the effort in to do what they're supposed to do," he said. "They're close to meeting their deadlines. They've got a long way to go to complete the building, but as far as where we are, they got done what they needed to get done." Let's hope they keep working after the September 2nd deadline..............

Ignatz

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 6:58 p.m.

With all the crazy winds on the planet lately, I hope this thing doesn't get blown down onto some Heritage Festival attendees. Yikes!

no flamers!

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 5:56 p.m.

I've posted several negative comments about this project the past couple years. Today at least shows progress. I'll leave it at that.

Peter

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 5:25 p.m.

And once again, the bare minimum is completed to the lowest possible level of effort just in time to meet the deadline, and this blighted husk will sit at the corner charred and unusable for another 2 years, when we'll do this all over again.

EatKeyLimePie

Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 4:29 p.m.

Come on now Stewie, the project is completed when it is completed, you have simply finished a PIECE of the project that you agreed you would complete after the city took you to court for dragging your feet. I don't feel now is the appropriate time to say that "You have proved to the people who wanted to demolish this building that it can be saved". It is not saved yet, you have a long way to go and it is still an eye sore, you just gave us back a lane of River street being occupied by your buildings "kick stands". So for giving us back the street we already pay taxes to maintain, thank you. As far as your firms ability to finish the project, I think all of us in the city hope it comes out "Precisely as Intended", but now is not the time to toot your own horn for "finishing" this project.