Demolition Slated for Ann Arbor Juvenile Detention Center Sparking Economic Development Plans

A vacant juvenile detention center in Ann Arbor, Michigan is slated for demolition this fall to make room for a mixed-use project that could be a significant economic driver for the area. Located on Platt Road, the Washtenaw County juvenile detention center has been left vacant by the county since 2011. With a scheduled completion date in October, crews are well underway at preparing the building and property for demolition. Usable materials have already been salvaged from the detention center as workers gear up to tackle removing hazardous materials including asbestos from the buildings. Abating asbestos and decontaminating a building of any potentially hazardous materials is a crucial step to any demolition project. Asbestos is a dangerous naturally-occurring mineral commonly found in various building materials and supplies. Finding asbestos in a building of the same vintage as the 44 year old juvenile detention center is not uncommon, considering how prevalent asbestos products are. Up until the end of the twentieth century, asbestos was used in many applications and prized by manufacturers for its durability and cost effectiveness. Essentially, asbestos was cheap to use. However, asbestos is actually quite toxic, and asbestos exposure can cause a litany of serious medical conditions including mesothelioma cancer. Sitting on a 13.5 acres, the 42,320 square foot facility will be redeveloped into a mixed-use property is adjacent to the new Arbor Hills shopping center which is scheduled to open next August. Plans for the site include affordable housing units and county offices. Despite the extensive demolition work currently being done at the site, a small not-for-profit organization – Project Grow – is using part of the property for a community garden project by leasing out small plots. Plans for the soon-to-be razed property remain open as talks continue on what projects will be the most economically prudent. Early financial estimates place the entire demolition project – including the salvaging and abatement work – around the $1 million mark.

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