Could there be a last-minute savior for the Mellus Newspapers building in downtown Lincoln Park?
An owner of a Detroit-based home care business has submitted an offer for the Mellus building and the adjacent Pollak and Dorsey buildings on Fort Street. All three buildings are vacant and in disrepair. The developer has stepped forward with an architect and a plan to transform the three buildings into office space for 20-30 employees.
The Lincoln Park Downtown Development Authority has authorized the demolition of both the Mellus and Pollak buildings. The DDA board is considering the offer and has yet to sign a demolition contract.
The Mellus was built in the 1940s and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is an intrinsic part of the downriver suburb's history, having served as the home of Lincoln Park's local newspaper for decades. Local preservationists think saving the Mellus and the adjacent Pollak (named after Pollak Jewelers) building are important steps toward preserving downtown Lincoln Park's heritage.
The building on Fort Street still has its original porcelain-enameled Moderne commercial exterior, while the Pollak retains its terrazzo entrance sidewalk.
Source: Leslie Lynch Wilson, president of the Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance
Writer: Jon Zemke
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