Beginning March 9, the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse (FOYF) and the City of Ypsilanti launched Phase I of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) federal stimulus reconstruction and restoration project at the Freighthouse.  The FOYF was represented by Bonnie Penet, Co-Chair, and Ed Penet, Building Committee Chair.  The City was represented by Councilperson Peter Murdock and the City Engineering consultant from OHM, Kent Early.  Michael Klozik, the JDI Engineer on the project also attended.  Other attending were representatives from the contractor, EnVision, and its suppliers.

The Phase I project is scheduled to be completed by the end of May 2010. It will include repair and restoration of the cut stone foundation/mortar, the stabilization of the walls with steel columns imbedded in concrete piers, tightening of all trusses and truss hardware, and the capping of the Freighthouse with a new, standing seam steel roof.  This phase represents nearly $300,000 of the original federal stimulus grant.

Phase II, which will likely run from June through August, will absorb the last $200,000 of the stimulus grant.  Items to be addressed in the second phase will include interior and exterior masonry, soffit and eave repairs and both north and west decking and railing work.

The FOYF has been raising additional funding from the community in order to build a $100,000 construction contingency fund for both Phase I and Phase II. In order to assist the FIOYF, the Ann Arbor Area Community Fund has issued a challenge grant to the FOYF to raise $25,000. With our $25,000 in-hand, the AAACF will match that dollar for dollar, creating a $50,000 total.  Further, the AAACF has pledged to double the $50,000 to create the necessary $100,000 contingency fund by approaching regional, private and corporate donors.

If construction issues arise, contingency monies will be available.  Prior to construction, other costs were faced by the FOYF, and remaining contingency funds will be used to satisfy those obligations, such as engineering, architectural and required cost estimates.  Following the completion of Phase II, sometime in August thru the early fall, any remaining contingency funds, plus other monies raised along the way, will be used to complete the repairs and restorations in the old freight office area of the Freighthouse to make it ready as a Hospitality and Tourism Center and SEMCOG rail stop terminal.  The little serving kitchen will be redone, a new bathroom will be built, and a new heating and cooling system will be installed.

To say the least, 2010 will see significant progress toward making the historic Ypsilanti Freighthouse a Depot Town and Ypsilanti focal point.