Ypsilanti Depot Town intersection near Thompson Block reopens to traffic
The intersection of Cross and River streets in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town has reopened to traffic in all four directions.
Support beams propping up the walls of the Thompson Block building that were in Cross Street’s westbound lane have been pushed back far enough toward the curb to allow for two-way traffic.
The beams supporting the Thompson Block have been pushed far enough to reopen lanes of traffic.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Ypsilanti Fire Chief Jon Ichesco said he's satisfied the building is safe and stabilized while its owner, Stewart Beal, works with engineers to develop a more permanent plan.
“We’re moving in a positive direction by getting traffic open, which was a big concern,” Ichesco said. “They have given about as much as they can, and looking at how it's stabilized right now, I wouldn’t want to push them any closer to that wall.”
The support beams are stabilizing the building’s walls after a Sept. 23 fire destroyed its interior. The Ypsilanti City Council gave JC Beal Construction Inc. 45 days from Dec. 22 to present a plan to permanently stabilize the structure and 15 days to clear the roads.
Beal must provide Ichesco with a satisfactory engineer’s plan to fully support the building within the 45 days.
“They need to get this thing stabilized on the inside and make sure things aren’t falling off on people on the outside, and that’s the plan they’re coming up with now,” Ichesco said. “Long range, we’re trying to work with them yet keep them on task so we don’t have another 20 years of something just sitting there.”
Beal will update the City Council on his progress at its Jan. 12 meeting.
Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
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