Lincoln Park DDA To Make Decision on Proposal on the Mellus Newspapers Building

[lalynch]

Lincoln Park DDA To Make Decision on Proposal on the Mellus Newspapers Building

Tonight, Thursday, Nov. 12th, 5 pm at Lincoln Park City Hall, the Lincoln Park DDA will decide on the future of the Mellus Newspapers Building, the Pollak Building and the Dorsey Building at respectively, 1661 Fort Street, 1667 Fort Street and 1673 Fort Street in Lincoln Park. The Lincoln Park DDA will decide whether to sell the three buildings to an owner of two healthcare businesses who has submitted an offer on the buildings. If they decide against selling the buildings then the Mellus and Pollak Buildings would be torn down.

If sold, two healthcare businesses would move into the buildings after a renovation and restoration of the buildings. The proposed project would bring thirty to forty employees to North Fort Street plus countless others who would patronize the businesses in various capacities. The business owner and his architect were at a special meeting with the Lincoln Park DDA two weeks ago. They have submitted a new offer which will be discussed at tomorrow night’s DDA meeting.

Lincoln Park’s North Fort Street thirty to fifty years ago was a vibrant shopping district full of small local businesses such as Fisher’s and Sim’s. In addition, the Park Theatre was a local draw for families and youth on a Saturday afternoon. And the Mellus Newspapers, owned by William S. Mellus, was a busy newspaper covering many of the Downriver communities.

Today North Fort Street is a busy state highway with blocks and blocks of vacant buildings. There’s a glimmer of hope to North Fort Street’s future with the Lincoln Park Lofts project by Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency that plans on transforming the streamline modern C. Howard Crane designed Park Theatre into two floors of loft spaces, commercial spaces in the old lobby and a restored marquee. The endangered Mellus Newspapers Building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005. The newspaper was the local newspaper for the Downriver communities from 1933 to 1985 when it merged in with the Heritage Newspapers. The Mellus Newspapers Building and the Pollak Building, next door, were vacated in 1986 by the newspaper.

Tonight’s decision by the Lincoln Park DDA will need to be more about saving North Fort Street than about saving the historic Mellus Newspapers Building. North Fort Street has much to gain and needs this business owner. The employees and others affiliated with the businesses would patronize North Fort Street’s businesses. Furthermore, Lincoln Park’s residents need the jobs. Too many Lincoln Park residents have lost their homes. Drive down its streets and you will see many ‘For Sale’ signs for foreclosed houses that are on the market for as low as $10,000 or $20,000. Healthcare is a growing field in Michigan with the Michigan Works No Worker Left Behind program steering many unemployed into healthcare education programs. Thus, the timing is right for an owner of two healthcare businesses to come to North Fort Street and restore the Mellus, Pollak and Dorsey Buildings.

If the Lincoln Park DDA does not accept the offer than the historic Mellus Newspapers Building, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005, and the Pollak Building will be torn down. It will be vacant land for many years to come. Some say forever but Richard Hosey, a Senior Vice President in the Commercial Tax Credit Department, Bank of America Detroit, on a tour of the Mellus and Pollak Buildings this summer stated that if the buildings were to be demolished, they would remain vacant land for at least 10 years. Dorsey Building will most likely sit empty like it has since the Lincoln Park DDA purchased it in 2004. Many in Lincoln Park do not have the time to wait.