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Politics & Government

Northville's Seven Mile Project a Step Closer on Environmental Cleanup

Northville Township trustees select a brownfield grant administrator for the former state psychiatric hospital site.

Northville Township trustees took one more step toward developing the Seven Mile site Thursday night - then talked bowling.

In their official duty, trustees selected an engineering firm to oversee brownfield cleanup efforts at the former state psychiatric hospital.

Trustees unanimously approved a contact of up to $49,650 with Conestoga-Rovers & Associates of Plymouth to oversee environmental
cleanup at the 334-acre site.

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Approval was quick and unanimous.

Trustees then spent a little more time speculating on the future of a pair of on-site bowling alleys.

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Treasurer Richard Hennnigsen said he learned a California firm might be interested in salvaging the old lanes as well as other wood from the vacant and stripped former hospital buildings.

"Apparently, there's some interest," Henningsen said. "They're made of the real thing, not a composite."

Supervisor Mark Abbo, however, was skeptical the lanes would be of much use to anyone.

"They've been out in the elements, they're warped," he said.

Trustee Marv Gans added that an alley replacement project at Schoolcraft College had apparently proved a major headache for the company doing the salvaging.

Old lanes, Gans said, could be tough to take out.

"You have to be careful," Gans said.

The township is expected to receive up to to cover cleanup costs. CRA contract money will come from the grant.

"The buildings and soil are contaminated with inorganic materials and heavy metals," the EPA said in a release announcing the grant.

Under the contract, it will administer the EPA grant, including drafting contract documents for prospective bidders and develop a community relations plan to update residents on work being conducted on the site. It will also provide oversight on cleanup work performed by the
yet-to-be-selected contractor.

CRA had previously provided environmental site assessment and hazardous materials surveys on the site from 2002-04.

In June, the township held a to gather public input on how to best develop the site.

The hospital opened in 1952. The Wayne County Traning Center for mentally challenged children also operated at the time, but at a separate location.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct an error regarding the origins of the hospital.

 

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