Ypsilanti City Council works to address contamination on Water Street property
The Ypsilanti City Council took steps Tuesday to address toxic soil contamination and historic preservation on the Water Street site, a troubled redevelopment project that dates back more than a decade.
City officials moved in September to begin demolishing old buildings on the 38-acre site and clean up the brownfields there. The city hopes to sell it to another developer or developers.
Last fall, the city received three Environmental Protection Agency grants of $200,000 each, plus $275,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to address the problem areas.
One area with heavy soil contamination, located on Michigan Avenue, is on the former site of the Ypsilanti Press and Canton Analytical Labs, officials said.
The two other problem areas are near River Street and Michigan Avenue, where Wireless Toys was once located, and a roof at an industrial site is contaminated with oil, according to City Planner Richard Murphy.
The city hired Environmental Consulting & Technology Inc. to facilitate the three grants, including bidding out soil removal work and general demolition. Thirteen companies bid for the job, with some bids running as high as $197,000. ECT recommended MacKenzie Environmental Services of Grand Ledge, which had the lowest bid at $76,000.
Under EPA regulations, the city can't spend the remaining money on the other two problem areas. And if it's not spent, the city must give the money back to the EPA.
Murphy said the city will instead spend all the money on the first location on Michigan Avenue to make sure the soil there is as clean as possible, although he noted it's hard to get contaminated soil completely clean.
"No such (brownfield) is 100 percent clean," Murphy said.
The second Water Street issue involved historic preservation.
When the city took over the property in 1999, partially using federal funds, it had to make sure no historic buildings or archeological sites were destroyed or damaged because the site is part of the city's historic district.
Because of that, construction had to be overseen by the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, and the city had to sign a memorandum of agreement with SHPO agreeing that historic and archeological sites would not be damaged.
At the time of the purchase, the property was slated for a large housing development, but developers dropped out of the project when the soil was found to have toxins and the housing market collapsed.
The original agreement expired last year.
As the focus of the property use has changed, the city has worked out a new agreement with SHPO. It says the state will no longer review any redevelopment of the property unless human remains are found there.
Some local archeologists think there might be remains of Native Americans who lived along the Huron River on the site, although none have been found, Murphy said. Murphy added the city will contact archeologists should any remains turn up during redevelopment.
As part of the agreement, SHPO asked the city to consider erecting a historic plaque along Michigan Avenue to commemorate the many auto-based businesses that once operated there, including auto manufacturing operations.
City officials say they may work with the MotorCities National Heritage Area, which is affiliated with the National Park Service, on such a plaque. The organization's mission is to preserve Michigan's automotive and labor heritage.
City officials previously said they hope to have demolition complete by May.
David Wak is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
KeepingItReal
Sat, Jan 16, 2010 : 10:21 a.m.
Don't forget to add Lois Richardson to this list of council misfits. It is absolutely incredible how this women got elected to council and continues to get elected and had the gall to run for mayor. She is one of the most divisive members of the Ypsi council and voters needs to replace her as well. She operates under the guise of being a preacher but lord have mercy on those she ministers to. Only when Ypsi voters begin to understand the needs of the city and its potential and articulate it to others, then we will begin the process of electing council representatives who will make decisions in the best interest of the city as oppose to their own little self interest.
ypsirocks
Fri, Jan 15, 2010 : 5:37 p.m.
I totally agree with Zulu. The Ypsi voters do not scrutinize candidates well enough. I also think that Ypsi has been plagued by insider politics for decades. Hopefully, the tides are turning for the better and citizens will ensure that they are better informed before they vote in the future.
BenWoodruff
Thu, Jan 14, 2010 : 12:11 p.m.
Thank you, Midtowner!
old east sider
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 6:09 p.m.
We live in the N.River/E.Forest area and feel that the city has created a slum and should reduce our taxes because of this - the Thompson block, the so called Water St. project, the vacant ruined train depot and even the DPW yard and Motor Wheel. What a mess! Many of us have devoted all of our money, energy and lives into improving and restoring our homes & neighborhood and the city is trashing it beyond repair.
Midtowner
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 10:32 a.m.
The water street mess was created by Cheryl Farmer, Barry LaRue, John Gawlas, Sandy Schultz, Brian Filipiak, Bill Nickels, Trudy Swanson, Megan Gibb, Jennifer Goulet, and Ed Korynzo. Everyone except Nickels, Swanson, and Koryzno is gone. It's time to get rid of the last three.
tdw
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 10:25 a.m.
I ment Thompson/Beal building
tdw
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 10:10 a.m.
The water street project is a old scrap yard and a old water treatment plant.Who would ever have gussed that there might be soil issues.As far as the vision goes It will probably get done about the same time as the Beal building does.(wich means never )
KeepingItReal
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 9:25 a.m.
Some of those responsible for this project have left the city but there are plenty who are still there. All you need to do is look at the current City Council and administration and you will see who is responsible for this mess. Unfortunately, they are protected from liability but if the citizens of Ypsilanti wanted retribution, they could vote those raskels out of office and bar them from having any further involvement in city government. At the least, their names should be permanently displayed with this project and they next time they run for their council seat, which several of them will because they have not other options, their affiliation with this project should be included on their campaign literature if they have any printed up. The problem is is that once you become a member of the Ypsilanti City Council, not matter how bad you screw up, you will continue to get elected because Ypsi voters don't scrutinize their candidates closely enough, sort of like Detroit. Not only have they created a financial mess for the city, its really an eyesore.
Sandy Castle
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 9:23 a.m.
This project may have been handled badly, I really haven't followed the whole issue. However, the vision is great. Years from now, when the mess is past and the area has been turned into a space for living and enjoying the river, this will be a beautiful place that Ypsilanti can be proud of. Before it was just a mess of dirty businesses tying up space on the river, contaminating the land and perhaps the river itself. Can't you just envision a boardwalk along the river which residents can enjoy for years to come? Hopefully the city will work us out of this mess soon and we can move forward with making this an area we can all enjoy in some way.
BenWoodruff
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 7:58 a.m.
jond, sorry, former Mayor Farmer and "big Ed" Koryzno are still here, trying to make city policy. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...
jondhall
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 7:09 a.m.
Another mistake that has been very costly to the residents of Ypsilanti, I hope the person that advocated this project has long since left Michigan. While we are left with this mess, all the businesses get bought out and move. Not to mention they were all over paid, this is what condemnation is all about, Government Control. It will get worse, I do not think they could reasonable get r id of this property for Free! At least not and let someone commit to development! Nice move City Council, nice move.