The long-awaited next chapter for the Ypsilanti Freighthouse is coming, very possibly by May of 2013.
The circa-1850 building, originally part of the Michigan Central Railroad Complex in Depot Town, has been closed for the past eight years. At this point over $1 million has been raised and spent on an extensive rehabilitation of the structure to make it eligible for occupancy and re-open it for public use. The funding came from a combination of federal, state, and city of Ypsilanti funds, as well as auctions, sales, and private donations.
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Friends of The Ypsilanti Freighthouse (FOYF), the group managing the project, is raising the final $75,000 needed for the last few punch-list items, according to FOYF co-founder Linda French. The funds are needed to install new bathrooms, a heating system, and a fire suppression system.
The property has a new metal roof, steel structural supports, and a large rain garden. It retains its original brick interior walls and wood floor.
The Freighthouse, which measures about 5,000 square feet, will contain a train kiosk for planned commuter train service, a gathering room for community events, and a café.
"Once we get it open, we're going to put out RFPs throughout the community to see what it is the people in the city would like to see in there, and then have RFPs from different groups that might want to run it," French says. "We envision it going back to being a public domain, where you have jazz shows, you have antique shows and farmers markets, just bits of things that the community can be involved in."
She adds: "We did a very extensive business plan so that we would make this a sustainable building so the city doesn't have to pay money to keep it going." The intent is to charge rental fees for occasional private events, such as weddings, although by and large, the building will remain open to the public.
"It is Greenfield Village quality. It's just a wonderful building and now that it's fixed, we'd like to return it to the city of Ypsilanti and have it be used by the citizens."
Source: Linda French, co-founder, Friends of The Ypsilanti Freighthouse
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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