Demolition of Liberty Square townhome complex to begin within 3 weeks

Ypsilanti Township has received a $654,000 grant for the demolition of Liberty Square and awarded the contract to a demolition firm.

Demolition is expected to begin June 1.

The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees approved receiving the grant money and the demolition contract at its Monday, May 13 meeting.

I know residents and business owners and the school across the street have been waiting years for this to happen, Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo said.

The contract was awarded to Bay City-based Dore and Associates, which Mike Radzik, director of the office of community standards, said provided the lowest bid and was the most qualified company.

The 151-unit and 17-building Liberty Square complex has sat abandoned since late 2011. It was largely vacant during a two-year process to clear it of its remaining tenants and for the township to convince a court to order it vacated and demolished.

It remains a drain on township and police resources. Radzik said 15 boarded up units were broken into last week and the township has to pay $100 to re-secure each.

The grant funds were part of a $97 million settlement banks agreed to pay the state of Michigan for the banks' role in the foreclosure crisis.

That money was earmarked for foreclosure prevention and blight elimination. The settlement came after a national class action lawsuit filed by Michigan, 48 other states and the federal government.

Liberty Square

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Demolition of Liberty Square townhome complex to begin within 3 weeks