City paves way for total demolition of public safety building

Another vacant riverfront property in Niles is scheduled to come down.

On Monday, City Administrator Ric Huff said the city recently learned that funds have become available for the complete demolition of the former public safety building at the corner of Broadway and Third streets.

The building has sat empty for approximately 10 years after the city moved its police and fire departments out of the 1939 building and into the Law Enforcement Complex on Silverbrook in 2003.

There have been discussions about putting high-density housing at the site once it is razed.

Councilman David Mann praised the work city officials have done to remove that building and the old YMCA building

— another riverfront property scheduled to be torn down this summer.

“This is a really big item. Essentially we were able to get state grants to tear down the remainder of the public safety building,” he said. “This is a huge step forward for the city. We will have two riverfront properties that are ready for prime development after these buildings come down. I am really excited about this.”

The Michigan Land Bank will be providing a minimum of $150,000 to the city for the demolition of the former public safety building.

To get the ball rolling, the council approved a motion Monday to allow Villa Environmental to manage the asbestos remediation process, including soliciting bids for the work. Villa Environmental’s quote was $3,650.

A portion of the building was torn down earlier this year.

Also Monday:

• The council heard a report about the Summer My Way summer camp program from Denise Peters, of the Niles-Buchanan YMCA. Peters said an average of about 350 kids have attended the camp sessions. Councilwoman Georgia Boggs praised the program for providing a positive environment for kids of all different types of backgrounds.

• Sanya Phillips, administrator of the city’s Community Development Block Grant Program, told the council her plan for spending the city’s CDBG money for a period between Oct. 1, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2015. She said she expects to the city will receive $271,585 in CDBG funds — about the same amount they received this year. She wants to devote $60,000 toward improving the homes of three residents in the city as well as starting a homeless assistance program. She also wants to allocate $5,000 of public service dollars toward providing transportation for people needing to get to medical appointments or job interviews. Ferry Street Resource Center would receive $30,000 and $75,000 would go toward sidewalks. The council is expected to vote on the plan next meeting.

• The council approved a request from Rock for the Cure Michiana to hold Rock for the Cure 5 from noon to 9 p.m. Aug. 30 at Riverfront Park.

• The council approved a request from Lane Automotive to conduct the Motor State Challenge Cruise Night and Cookout in Riverfront Park on July 24.

• The council approved the appointment of Councilman Tim Skalla and Fredda Zeiter to the Niles Historic District Commission.