Ypsilanti City Council approves spending general fund dollars for Freighthouse repairs
The City of Ypsilanti will provide $87,000 in assistance from its general fund for unanticipated roof repairs to the Ypsilanti Freighthouse.
The City Council approved providing the funds at Tuesday night’s meeting after assurances from Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse Trustee Ed Penet that the money will be repaid as soon as possible.
The roof of the Freighthouse is in need of repairs.
The city received a $500,000 transportation enhancement grant through the Michigan Department of Transportation in 2009 for repairs to the Depot Town structure. During phase one of work this spring, the project contractor discovered rotting rafters and roof decking after pulling off the old roof.
Phase one included installing steel strongbacks to support the building and a new roof. The additional $87,000 will cover replacing roughly half of the Freighthouse’s rafters.
Penet said the repairs were unexpected because no one knew the condition of the rafters until the roof was physically pulled back.
Penet said the Friends group set up a contingency fund through various fundraising efforts to offset the cost of overruns, but has already depleted that money. Most significantly, the group recently had to cover an unexpected $27,000 to remove dirt from the building’s crawlspace.
Penet said the contractor who installed the 30-year-old roof did “an inferior job,” which the city was aware of at the time. He said the contractor left town, and city officials were unable to locate him. The roof has collected water and began rotting over time, he said.
Penet told the City Council the Friends would either repay the city through profits when the Freighthouse reopens, or it would contribute money from corporate sponsorship if possible. He said the group recently had success obtaining sponsorship from the Washtenaw Federal Credit Union and Masco Corporation.
The credit union will provide an ATM for the building with a five-year lease agreement that includes a $10,000 advance payment. Profits from the machine will be split 50-50.
The council also voted 4-0 to approve beginning phase two of the project, which will provide the remaining $230,000 in state transportation enhancement grant money for structural repairs. Among phase two repairs are fixing the walls where needed, reinstalling a deck on the structure's west side and installing a handicap accessible ramp on the building’s north end.
Mayor Paul Schreiber, Council Member Bill Nickels and Council Member Lois Richardson were absent from the meeting.
Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
jjc155
Sun, Jul 11, 2010 : 6:28 p.m.
sounds about right, force the ypsi fire dept to take a 5% pay cut to avoid layoffs and actually lay off one (actually 1.5) ypsi police officers effective 7/1 (after they have lost several positions over the past decade to "frozen" vacancies). So there is your $87,000 right there. Can't wait 'till the perceived crime problem that Ypsi has turns into a REAL crime problem, but hey the Freight House will have a new roof or whatever. Only thing that would be better is if City Council was to announce a pay raise for themselves. I'm no longer shocked by the current state of Ypsilanti. (sorry about that Tony)
glimmertwin
Thu, Jul 8, 2010 : 11 a.m.
>> where did they find $87,000 to put into a non-profit? From the same place they found it for the highly-successful River Street project.
One Voice
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 : 8:51 p.m.
My question is: if the city is looking at cutting back police and fire persons or asking them to make consessions, where did they find $87,000 to put into a non-profit? If phase one ran out of money and their contingency fund was used up, the normal course of events would be to reconfigure phase 2 and apply it where necessary to the first phase. The article implies that there is no contract in place for the loan; just pay it back as soon as you can. I want a loan like that!! Ypsilanti is the only community that I know of that does not make business like decisions but rather emotional ones. In the end this is a big gamble that can have dire consequences.
Jay Thomas
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 : 5:36 p.m.
People love old buildings even if they are expensive to maintain and serve little use.
ShadowManager
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 : 11:47 a.m.
The Freighthouse is Ypsi's version of Detroit's Michigan Grand Depot, with equal parts of albatross (tied around the Civic neck...). It's constantly in some version of being condemned, rehabilated, condemned, saved again, closed and condemned again, found unsafe, rescued...etc. ad infintium. It is very rarely useful or even open for occupancy and protected like some special pet by a minority of influential and vocal supporters in Depottown, but utilized by very few actual people.
David
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 : 8:16 a.m.
I want to thank the Ypsilanti City Council for their foresight and courage in committing funds for the continuing restoration of the Freighthouse. That structure holds the promise of becoming the focal point for a variety of events and activities which will help to maintain the vitality of Depot Town and it's surroundings.
CountyKate
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 : 8:14 a.m.
I'm with you, Glimmertwin, in hoping they get it open again. I think once they do, they will be able to quickly make up the monies needed to pay back the city. The Freighthouse was a hub of activity before and can be again. It will, however, require better management once it's open than it's had in the past. I think the Friends are fully aware of that.
glimmertwin
Wed, Jul 7, 2010 : 7:45 a.m.
Anyone that has worked with structures that old can attest to what a hornet's nest they can be. I suspect this won't be the end of the overruns, but I hope they can manage to eventually get that place open again.