Lincoln Park's Mellus building faces wrecking ball

Thursday, March 18, 2010 | Source: metromode

The building eaters are licking their chops and looking at the Mellus Newspaper building now that the Lincoln Park Downtown Development Authority is preparing to move forward with the demolition of the historic building.

The Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance, one of a number of groups advocating for the structure's redevelopment, has issued what might be one last call for a developer to step forward to save it. The group is afraid the building could come down any day now.

"Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance urgently needs a buyer with proof of financing and a plan for the National Register listed Mellus Newspapers Building, 1661 Fort Street, Lincoln Park, otherwise it will get demolished very soon," the non-profit posted on its Facebook page Tuesday.

City officials seem to be the only people who believe the Mellus needs to come down. A number of groups and prominent individuals have publicly called for its preservation, including Detroit-based law firm Dykema Gossett and highly regarded Wayne State University Urban Studies and Planning professor Robin Boyle. The Michigan Historic Preservation Office wrote a strong letter condemning the demolition order, advising the DDA to mothball the structure.

The DDA has turned down a number of offers to redevelop the structure, including one that would have renovated three downtown buildings and created dozens of permanent local jobs. The DDA did not discuss the state Historic Preservation Office's letter at its meeting last week.

"It’s as if they do not care," says Leslie Lynch-Wilson, president of the Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance.

The 1940s-era building at 1661 Fort St. served as the home to Lincoln Park's local newspaper, then owned by William Mellus, for generations. The Mellus still has its original porcelain enameled Moderne commercial exterior, while the adjacent Pollak (named after Pollak Jewelers and also up for demolition) retains its terrazzo entrance sidewalk.

The buildings had been vacant for several years before the DDA purchased them last year. Some city officials call them blight, but the Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance argues that their salvation is an important step toward preserving downtown Lincoln Park's heritage and encouraging business and job creation.

Source: Leslie Lynch-Wilson, president of the Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance
Writer: Jon Zemke