After acquisition of the 20 buildings and acreage, the first order of business as property owner was prepare a Due Care Plan, which outlines how to protect people from exposure to any contamination present. Northville Township’s remediation experts removed barrels of paint, solvents and other potentially hazardous materials. They then began remediation on the powerhouse, maintenance building, smoke stacks and Building 72. It’s a slow, meticulous process and safety is the top priority.  

Because Northville Township is a fiscally responsible government, abatement and demolition have unfolded over time. Funding has come from grants, the general fund and the sale of the Scott Prison property at Beck and Five Mile roads.

In October 2021, the Board of Trustees approved a $12 million bond sale to take advantage of historically low interest rates to finish the demolition of the remaining 11 buildings. This has accelerated the park’s transformation.

Because some time had passed since the original environmental study, Northville Township conducted an update to the Due Care Plan in 2021. A new decade meant new rules and regulations surrounding abatement and Northville Township is committed to protecting its community. There also are new methods to improve safety. For instance, our abatement experts wrap a building and use negative pressure to prevent particles from escaping into the air.

In summer 2022, an abatement company finished the clean up on buildings 17, 14, L, M, N and O, with more completed every week before the snow falls. The demolition process has already begun on the abated buildings, with Buildings 17, L, N, O and 3 already demolished. The anticipated completion date of asbestos removal and demolition of all buildings is late summer 2023.

One unexpected surprise: one of the buildings will remain and be repurposed. Building 14, the former laundry facility, is being studied by architects and engineers for suitability and safety. It would be a legacy building for Legacy Park.

Here’s the demolition progression through the years:

2012: Powerhouse, maintenance building and smoke stacks demolished

2013: Building 72, the 19,851-square-foot nurse’s quarters, demolished

2017: Remediation of the signature building, the main hospital, begins. The property’s largest, at 252,174 square feet, it had nine stories, two of which were underground. It was used for administrative purposes, patient wards and medical services.

2018: The nine-story main hospital is demolished.

Summer 2022: Buildings 17, 14, L, M, N and O successfully abated, with 3 and H on the list next. Buildings 17 and L demolished with more expected before winter hits.

Fall 2022: Only four buildings remain to be demolished.

Summer 2023: Projected completion of all abatement and demolition of nine remaining buildings.

• Press Release on 2017 Demolition Plan
• Channel Seven Footage of Demolition - November 2, 2018

Abatement of hazardous materials is costly. So is demolition. As a fiscally responsible government, Northville Township has carefully budgeted for this large project over time.

Between 2012 through 2018, the Township spent approximately $10 million to remove five buildings. Funding for this came from a $320,000 grant, the general fund and the sale of the Scott Prison property at Beck and Five Mile roads, which provided $5 million for the demolition fund.

In October 2021, the Board of Trustees approved a $12 million bond sale to take advantage of historically low interest rates to finish the demolition of the remaining 11 buildings. The Township will repay the bonds with revenue collected by a Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district created earlier. No money from the Township’s general fund will be used. This funding has accelerated the park’s transformation.

In May 2022, Northville Township awarded the demolition contract to Asbestos Abatement Incorporated of Lansing to remove the remaining 11 buildings. Asbestos Abatement’s contract is not to exceed $8,946,420, which was significantly lower than the Township had projected. The anticipated completion date of asbestos removal and demolition of all buildings is late summer 2023.

Legacy Park will be a recreation gem with emphasis on a trail system for different sport enthusiasts, whether it’s hiking, biking or nature walks. Planners have studied the topography. They are mapping out park trails, nature areas and other amenities. This came after working with the Township’s Legacy Park Committee, who surveyed residents, spoke to recreation organizations and consulted the master plan that was adopted in 2012. Making the best use of this land is a priority.  

We expect to begin creating the trails in late 2023.

The transformation of Legacy Park is a top priority for Northville Township.