Yet another post entitled, “What’s up with the Thompson Block?”

Since people are discussing this in the comments section following an old thread, I thought that I’d move the subject up here, to the front page…

thomposnblockscaffoldsToday is April 26th, which means, according to the interpretations of some, that Stewart Beal has missed the deadline that he’d negotiated with City Council, by which time he was supposed to have taken down all the scaffolding holding up Ypsilanti’s second most cursed development project – the old Civil War barrack known as the Thompson Block. I say, “according to the interpretations of some,” because there seems to be some confusion over what the agreement actually says. Here, with more, is a clip from AnnArbor.com:

An April 25 deadline to remove shoring from Cross Street that’s propping up the Thompson Block’s walls has arrived, but some bracing remains in the road.

Developer Stewart Beal, who manages the building’s redevelopment effort, said the remaining shoring will be removed within days.

He also said he disagreed that there was a binding deadline requiring it to be out of the street on Monday…

Beal said the consent judgment entered to settle the lawsuit doesn’t require the scaffolding to be removed until Sept. 2, 2011.

The settlement states, “By 9/2/2011, and in accordance with the schedule attached as exhibit B, Historic Equities will arrange for and complete the restoration of the East Cross and River Street facades of the building, and remove all exterior shoring from the (city’s) right of way.”

Exhibit B lists around 30 construction tasks, along with time frames and deadlines for their completion. It says the shoring must be out of Cross Street by April 25.

Beal said the consent agreement’s wording clearly states the deadline to complete the work is Sept. 2. Beal said the construction schedule is only a list of tasks that need to be completed to finish the project and the dates aren’t legally binding.

“The only drop-dead date we agreed on with the city is September 1, 2011, and we will meet that,” Beal said…

At this point, I don’t have much to say. If you’re curious as to what I think, you can read through all of the old posts. They begin on September 23, 2009 – the day after the historic building was set ablaze. We’ve had lots of good posts about the Thompson Block since then, but I think my favorite was the one on November 2, 2009, about the City Manager giving Beal an additional 10 days to start the process of removing the scaffolding. Here’s a quote from the City Manager at the time:

…In the order we are asking the property owner to either demolish (obviously after obtaining historic district commission approval), or in the alternative, permanently stabilize the structure from the interior so the roadway is no longer blocked…

And then there was that heated discussion we had on March 1, 2010, about whether or not we should give Beal an additional six months, after having missed his first few deadlines. That was a good one too.

In Beal’s defense, with the state eliminating historic preservation tax credits, and with no one investing in Michigan at the moment, I’m not sure what options he has left at this point. But I don’t know that this excuses his flagrant disregard for City government and our elected leaders… Please feel free to discuss it amongst yourselves. I’ve got beer to drink.

update: I was just forwarded the following note from City Manager Ed Koryzno to the members of the Ypsi City Council.

Mayor and Council Members:

As you know, yesterday was the deadline for Historic Equities Fund I LLC to remove their support system from the Cross Street right-of-way. Pursuant to the Consent Agreement, our attorney Daniel Christ has contacted the court appointed mediator to set a meeting to resolve this matter, as soon as possible. My intent is to have the court order the removal of the structure. Please contact me if you should have any questions.

Edward B. Koryzno Jr.

update: And here’s the letter from the attorney that accompanied the last update.

update: And here’s the follow-up note from Ed Koryzno to City Council.

Mayor and Council members:

In the event you receive questions about the city’s strategy for moving forward on this issue I offer the following.

The strategy is to meet with the mediator as soon as possible (per the letter sent today), demonstrate to the mediator the agreed upon deadline has not been met by Historic Equities I LLC, remind the court that the city’s federally funded paving project is in jeopardy if it cannot begin June 1 and demand that the mediator and/or judge order the structure removed.

Mr. Beal submitted construction plans for this work, our Building official is monitoring construction on the building according to those plans, he is satisfied with the work to date and he will require that Beal’s structural engineer submit paperwork to the city certifying the building’s structural integrity before the support system is removed.

Please contact me if you should have any questions.

Edward B. Koryzno Jr.

update: From what I’m told, later in the day, the following note was also sent by Ed Koryzno. This, as it’s been explained to me, does not pertain to the Thompson Block but to the Beal-owned portion of the Kresge building downtown.

Mayor and Council Members:

Mr. Stewart Beal informed me last week that Go Downtown LLC has filed suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to set aside the city’s revocation of the OPRA. I have turned this matter over to the city’s insurance carrier…. Please contact me if you have any questions.

update: The emails just keep rolling in… Here’s Beal’s court filing concerning the revocation of the OPRA status that was referenced in the last update.

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43 Comments

  1. Redleg
    Posted April 26, 2011 at 8:37 pm | Permalink

    Yawn.

  2. Nice
    Posted April 26, 2011 at 9:05 pm | Permalink

    The top priority here is saving the building. I have been following the progress. Everything looks good so far.

  3. Cmon
    Posted April 26, 2011 at 9:20 pm | Permalink

    Is it important to remember that the stuff in the street has not prevented traffic flow whatsoever? I think the building looks attractive in it’s current state. I am encouraged to see tradespeople working there every day. Not many would have the guts to sAve this building for the eventual betterment of all of us. This building has been here for 150 years and it will stand for 150 more. Sure it has been a rough year and a half, but it will certainly be worth the minor inconvenience
    To save the Thompson block

  4. Boy O Boy
    Posted April 26, 2011 at 10:05 pm | Permalink

    I think we should put a monument in front of this and Water Street that says, “This is what happens when the government steals property from private owners. This is your tax dollars at work.” Public school children could be brought on educational fieldtrips to these historical monuments to government intrusion. Teachers could then have a “learning moment” as they led students in a discussion of the “value” of their public education.

  5. notoneofthecoolikids
    Posted April 26, 2011 at 11:19 pm | Permalink

    If Beal is forced to tear the building down, he will lose at least 12 feet of possible square footage from the sidewalk to the front of the building. This loss will occur because if he rebuilds instead of restores the building where it’s foundation is now, he will have have to come up to current code which requires a 12 foot setback.

    and by the way, All the pro Beal comments should be taken as SPAM.
    When the City first threatened to make Beal tear down the Thompson Block last spring my friend worked for Beal. At that time my friend, and most of Beal’s employees, got an email from Beal telling each of them that they must get 20 people to to sign a form letter to the City of Ypsilanti telling them to “Save the Thompson Block”.

  6. wetdolphinmissile
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 5:15 am | Permalink

    So Beal’s wreck is more important than repaving East Cross? We could stage the opposite of barn raising…

  7. wetdolphinmissile
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 5:38 am | Permalink

    And to find myself in agreement w/ our boy Boy O Boy is truly disheartening

  8. Knox
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 6:51 am | Permalink

    I bet Beal kind of wishes that he’d done a better job of securing the building in 2009, and not letting crusty punk squatters move in. This whole thing has been bungled from the start.

  9. Jonathan Booker
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 8:38 am | Permalink

    I live in the area and have no problem with the scaffolding and shoring because there has been absolutely no inconvenience. Sure it would be better for this to move forward more quickly but I saw people working there yesterday. There was a guy putting the bricks back together up top.

  10. Edward
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 9:05 am | Permalink

    Ypsi has about 20,000 people. I wonder how many bricks are in the building. What if we had a flash mob where everyone came down at midnight and took two? Could we eliminate the whole thing? Desperate times call for desperate measures.

  11. wetdolphinmissile
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 9:58 am | Permalink

    So Jonathon, you obviously are not with the majority of east side neighbors. They were extremely inconvenienced for whole months they were unable to drive west on east cross. And then they were the months of driver confrontation at the intersection with police being called to mediate a number of altercations. I witnessed one myself. And his quotes on annarbor.com…arrogant, defiant and confrontational, not what I consider a good neighbor

  12. Ypsiosaurus Wrecks
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 10:13 am | Permalink

    Ed:

    I like your flash mob idea… We can all throw something at the building at the same time and no single person will have to bear the guilt of taking the shell of a bldg down…

  13. MCS
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 10:49 am | Permalink

    I live a few houses up the street from the Thompson Building. From the day it was erected, the scaffolding has been an inconvenience for foot and vehicle traffic. At least for me and for many of my neighbors who have also voiced complaints. Don’t get me started on the months that our section of E. Cross was partially blocked off.

    And if the street repaving project is hampered because of the scaffolding, I think Beal should be held responsible for the cost of repaving. E. Cross is a travesty right now.

  14. Aaron B.
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 10:59 am | Permalink

    I live in the area and find this a huge eye sore to an otherwise lovely depot town… raise it I say.

  15. kjc
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 12:02 pm | Permalink

    i live in the area too and also find it a huge eyesore.

    east cross must be repaved. it’s absurd.

  16. tip the scale
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 1:16 pm | Permalink

    Finally Beal has angered off one of his last supporters in Ypsilanti. This is outrageous to think he can stop the repaving of Cross Street. Enough is enough, tear the damn building down or get the scaffold out of our street. It is time to go the banks, the federal tax credit agencies and courts to expose this for what it is. A little public embarassment does not bother the Beal family but putting pressure on those tax credits and the investors in the Broderick tower will. Detroit needs to know what Beal is doing in Ypsi;. I am shocked Depot town is putting up with this. It is time for a BIG campaign on the State and Federal level. I for one, will be calling my representives and checking in on the proper of status of those tax credits. A letter from the city needs to go to the State and to the Federal depts that issue these tax credits.
    The city needs a petition from our citizens to all to all Beal investors. I will be calling the “Hall of Shame” today.

  17. Eel
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 3:11 pm | Permalink

    I wish I had the balls to do something like take the city to court over one property when I knew damn well that I was negligent with regard to another. The kid has chutzpah. You have to give him that.

  18. Jacques
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 3:46 pm | Permalink

    most of ypsi is an eyesore anyway so leaving this wreckage there for this long is just a sign that things will stay the same in good old tuckyville

  19. Tim
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 4:07 pm | Permalink

    Tip the scale. If you read the article in Annarbor.com it says that the city is behind schedule on the repaving of cross street. According to the article nothing that is going on at the Thompson Block is delaying the City since they are not scheduled to start the project until later anyway. Seems like you may be overreacting.

  20. Concerned Citizen
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 4:49 pm | Permalink

    AGENDA FOR APRIL 21, 2011 STATE TAX COMMISSION MEETING 1
    PA 198 INDUSTRIAL FACILITY
    OVER 5% INDUSTRIAL FACILITY EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL
    Staff Recommendation: Approve (EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 2011)
    Agenda Item Number
    APPL.
    APPL. NO. NAME LOCALUNIT COUNTY TYPE INVESTMENT

    PA 146 OBSOLETE PROPERTY REHABILITATION
    P.A. 146 OBSOLETE PROPERTY REHABILITATION ACT APPLICATIONS FOR DENIAL
    Staff Recommendation: Deny
    Agenda Item Number

    P.A. 146 OBSOLETE PROPERTY REHABILITATION ACT APPLICATIONS FOR REVOCATION

    Staff Recommendation: Revoke (EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 2011)
    Agenda Item Number

    CERT. NO. NAME LOCALUNIT COUNTY REASON

    3-04-0013 GO DOWNTOWN, LLC CITY OF YPSILANTI WASHTENAW DID NOT PROCEED IN GOOD FAITH

  21. dragon
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 5:38 pm | Permalink

    If the twenty sided fuzzy dice weren’t covering my rear view mirror, I would suggest that Ypsilanti pay some outrageous fee to a do-nothing, unwanted spewer of conventional wisdom to lead them in discussions that could eventually solve some of these long term problems. This person would probably call himself a ‘planning consultant’.

  22. dragon
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 8:01 pm | Permalink

    P.S. I named the coagulated pus filled boil on my grandma’s ass Mealy Bealy.

  23. Concerned Citizen
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 9:46 pm | Permalink

    Pete Murdock

    For the last few weeks there has been some work activity at the Thompson Building. The court sanctioned mediation agreement between the City and Historic Equities I, LLC (Mr. Beal) required all the support structures on Cross Street to be out of the City right-of-way by April 25th. This deadline has passed. This date was established in order to accommodate the repaving of East Cross between Prospect and River. The paving project has been awarded by MDOT and we do not want to it delayed or potentially lose the funding for the project. Now Mr. Beal is maintaining there is no such deadline. So to prevent any delays on the Cross Street repaving the City has asked to reconvene the mediator and have the court order compliance with the agreement. Below are copies of two emails dated April 26th from City Manager Ed Koryzno outlining the City’s actions.

    Mayor and Council Members:

    As you know, yesterday was the deadline for Historic Equities Fund I LLC to remove their support system from the Cross Street right-of-way. Pursuant to the Consent Agreement, our attorney Daniel Christ has contacted the court appointed mediator to set a meeting to resolve this matter, as soon as possible. (letter attached ) My intent is to have the court order the removal of the structure. Please contact me if you should have any questions.

    Ed

  24. Ypsijav
    Posted April 27, 2011 at 11:25 pm | Permalink

    I blame puppet Mark Maynard for his softball interview with Mr Beal when he was a guest on Dreamland Tonite. Now he thinks he can get away with anything!

  25. Chairman Meow
    Posted April 28, 2011 at 10:10 am | Permalink

    I believe this is called a pissing contest. The trouble is, tiny dicks trickle, to quote Joan Marie Larkin.

  26. Mr. X
    Posted May 5, 2011 at 12:48 pm | Permalink

    I found this email exchange interesting.

    —–Original Message—–
    From: Jim Latini [mailto:jimlatini@yahoo.com]
    Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 8:00 AM
    To: sbeal@gobeal.com
    Cc: dmurabito@gobeal.com; pmurdock@cityofypsilanti.com;
    mayor@cityofypsilanti.com
    Subject: Ypsilanti Advertising

    Mr. Beal,

    As a resident of The City of Ypsilanti I must say that I was surprised to
    see a handbill from your company stuck in my screen door when I arrived home
    from work yesterday. The flyer was for BEAL Inc. – “Full Service Property
    Maintenance and Improvement. I would have thought that with the Thompson
    building looming on the Depot Town ‘skyline’ you’d do your best to keep a
    low profile in Ypsi. Although, I have to say that after staring at it for 2
    years, BEAL Inc sounds like they would be perfect for The Thompson Building
    job.

    I find the notion that any of your Beal Group affiliates are soliciting
    business from Ypsilanti residents offensive. Ypsilanti, like many towns, is
    struggling to survive let alone grow. The fact that your company has left
    that dilapidated structure to mar Depot Town for 2 years is offensive enough
    but to try and drum up business down the block is inconsiderate to say the
    least. Is it simply indifference or is it the work of the same brilliant
    business mind that has left a sign on the south side of The Thompson
    Building proclaiming – “Precisely as intended?”

    I do see folks stacking bricks down there every now and again but is there
    any chance that you’ll be cleaning up your mess and unblocking our streets
    any time soon?

    Jim Latini
    Ypsilanti Resident


    From: Stewart Beal [mailto:sbeal@gobeal.com]
    Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 10:49 AM
    To: ‘Jim Latini’
    Cc: David Murabito; pmurdock@cityofypsilanti.com; mayor@cityofypsilanti.com
    Subject: RE: Ypsilanti Advertising

    Jim,

    Thank you for your email. I am sorry that you are personally offended by
    this unfortunate situation that has occurred. The arsonist that broke into
    the building and lit it on fire should be severely punished for what he did
    to me as a property owner and to you as a community member.

    While no one has lost more than I, I do understand how having to cross the
    street when occasionally walking to Depot Town must be very difficult for
    you.

    I also know that in the day and age of 24 hours news and instant messaging
    that people now expect instantaneous action. There is nothing I can
    personally do about this expectation other to point out how unfair it would
    be to expect instantaneous action on a project such as this. It saddens me
    that while this building has been there for 150 years and will be there
    another 150 years that you do not support our efforts to save this building.
    When the City of Ypsilanti sued our LLC and we in defense sued the City, I
    gathered over 1,000 letters of support and I am confident that I continue to
    have this support as we move forward.

    I would like to make one final point. While this has been a difficult
    journey for us it has been made significantly more difficult by your City
    Council members who have contributed nothing but significant delays to
    completing this project.

    I thought of the Thompson Block when I read Obama’s statement on elimination
    of Osama Bin Laden. Obama said “The American people did not choose this
    fight. It came to our shores”. This quote is really comparable to City
    Council’s actions in the Thompson Block matter. We were working towards
    reconstruction and had a great agreement worked out with City Manager Ed
    Koryzno when certain City Council members foolhardily voted to start a
    prolonged fight on the matter and sue us. This caused us to countersue in
    defense and delayed reconstruction significantly because we were not allowed
    to work in the building while the court case was ongoing. City Council even
    had their attorney running around saying that he would personally see to it
    that the Thompson Block was demolished. It was insane, but thankfully we
    were ultimately successful.

    I am proud to say that despite the fire, and despite the continuing attacks
    by your City Council members, I will do right by this community, and save
    one of the most historic structures in Ypsilanti, and arguably in the State
    of Michigan.

    If you choose not to hire our businesses that is your right, but I am glad
    to report that many of your neighbors continue to support us in every
    possible way.

    I am truly sorry for any inconvenience our heroic effort to save the
    building has caused you,

    Stewart W. Beal, President
    Beal Incorporated & Beal Properties, LLC
    SBeal@GoBeal.com
    734-320-6376
    http://www.GoBeal.com

    Beal Means Business

  27. kjc
    Posted May 5, 2011 at 1:18 pm | Permalink

    “I thought of the Thompson Block when I read Obama’s statement on elimination of Osama Bin Laden. Obama said “The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores”. This quote is really comparable to City
    Council’s actions in the Thompson Block matter.”

    holy hell.

  28. kjc
    Posted May 5, 2011 at 1:20 pm | Permalink

    When I read Stewart Beal’s letter about how that unfortunate fire got started, I thought of the time my g-friend left her bike on her porch with no lock and someone broke onto her porch and stole it.

  29. karen
    Posted May 5, 2011 at 1:23 pm | Permalink

    Mr. Beal is just as big of hero as the men in Navy SEAL Team 6 — maybe even bigger. Latini couldn’t hold a candle to the bed bugs in Beal’s apartments let alone Mr. Beal himself.

    You’re not inconveniencing me Stewart! Thanks for saving this historic structure! And thanks for getting Bin Laden!!!!

  30. Glen S.
    Posted May 5, 2011 at 1:26 pm | Permalink

    [I thought of the Thompson Block when I read Obama’s statement on elimination of Osama Bin Laden. Obama said “The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores”. This quote is really comparable to City Council’s actions in the Thompson Block matter.]

    Really?!?!

    I’ve got to say: I’ve been involved in Ypsilanti politics for 20 years — so I’ve seen/heard a lot of hyperbole and overblown statements … but this really takes the cake.

    Frankly, I think if Beal spent less time playing “martyr” and more time actively working to get the Thompson Block situation resolved, he (and we) would be much better off.

  31. gary
    Posted May 5, 2011 at 1:32 pm | Permalink

    Is it so far fetched to think of Murdoch and Robb as bin Laden and al-Zawahiri?

  32. Kim
    Posted May 13, 2011 at 8:17 am | Permalink

    Some of the scaffolding is coming down. Now it’s just a matter of time before the whole thing collapses. Hopefully, it won’t be on top of anyone.

    http://annarbor.com/news/facilitation-required-for-removal-of-remaining-thompson-block-shoring-in-cross-street-officials-rais/?cmpid=NL_DH_topicbox_headline

  33. notoneofthecoolkids
    Posted May 13, 2011 at 9:28 am | Permalink

    OMFG
    Beal is mentally ill.

  34. MCS
    Posted May 13, 2011 at 10:44 am | Permalink

    I doubt the validity of the “1000 letters of support” Beal referenced. Maybe a few of them are real, but I suspect Beal had something to do with the majority of them being written.

    He needs professional help ASAP. His delusions are becoming more pronounced.

  35. dragon
    Posted May 13, 2011 at 11:01 am | Permalink

    If we lowered the tax on bricks, they would come down willingly and create jobs where they landed.

  36. kjc
    Posted May 13, 2011 at 12:03 pm | Permalink

    lol

  37. TWA
    Posted May 13, 2011 at 4:11 pm | Permalink

    The rest of the email chain:

    John,

    Here is Mr. Latini’s response to mine, I have not responded yet. The important part is that he acknowledged that it is specifically not inconvenient to simply cross the street when walking. I had to look up what Touche’ meant twice to make sure he agreed with me.

    Important to note that I did not say I was a “hero”, I only described our efforts as “Heroic”. Just like if someone said their efforts were Murdockian they wouldn’t mean they were Pete Murdock, they would mean their efforts were pathetic, ineffective, and useless.

    Mr. Beal,

    I appreciate the detailed response. Touche’ on the sarcasm but as I’m sure you well know, crossing the street is not the problem. I’m not political, just a resident. The problem is that the place appears to be beyond repair and your company doesn’t appear to be doing anything about it. You must understand, to a resident that’s frustrating. You and the city need to know that.

    I agree that the arsonist should be dealt with harshly and I can appreciate how lawsuits would slow any progress but that’s beside the point. When you speak of my expecting ‘instantaneous action’ and your ‘heroic efforts’ I have to point out that it’s been a couple of years since that fire and even prior to your legal issues, aside from propping up the walls, there’s been little visible evidence of any effort or action of kind.

    Please understand that if it can be saved I’m all for it. It would be a beautiful piece of history and a centerpiece in Depot Town. I just have a hard time believing that in this economy any company would have the resources to do the tremendous amount of work required. As I said initially, I just live here. My opinions are based on what I see. I’d love to hear as much as you’d care to share about the neighborhood support you mention, what is being done to save that structure and if there’s any sort of timeline.

    Jim Latini

    Thank you,

    Stewart W. Beal, President
    Beal Incorporated & Beal Properties, LLC SBeal@GoBeal.com
    734-320-6376
    http://www.GoBeal.com

    Beal Means Business

    —–Original Message—–
    From: John W Coleman [mailto:jcoleman@lookintheattic.com]
    Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2011 2:41 PM
    To: ‘Pete Murdock’; ‘Bob Barnes ‘; ‘Bonnie Penet’; ‘Darryl Daniels ‘; ‘Dave Wheeler ‘; ‘Jim Karnopp ‘; ‘Karen Maurer’; ‘Kevin Hill’; ‘Leigh Greden’; ‘Linda French’; ‘Rene Greff ‘; ‘Sandee French ‘
    Cc: ‘Tim Colbeck’; ‘Jessica deBlacam’; sbeal@gobeal.com
    Subject: RE: Ypsilanti Advertising

    Just curious why the “hero” word was in quotes. Seems more appropriate that “Ypsilanti’s” should be in quotes – Beal does a lot of great things all around the State of Michigan – not just in “Ypsilanti.”

    I hope that we can hold off long enough to find the funding to bring back the Civil War barracks without causing a Civil War here in Ypsilanti.

    Best,

    John

    John W. Coleman, Ph.D.
    President
    LookInTheAttic & Company, Inc.
    110 West Michigan Avenue
    Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197
    (734) 544-9887
    Making e-biz biz-e since 1997
    http://www.lookintheattic.com & http://www.silverandgold.com

    Note: This message is intended for the individual or entity named above and may constitute privileged and confidential communication. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy, use or disclose this message.
    Please notify the sender by replying to this message and then delete the message from your system. Thank you.

    —–Original Message—–
    From: Pete Murdock [mailto:pmurdock@cityofypsilanti.com]
    Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2011 10:36 AM
    To: Bob Barnes ; Bonnie Penet; Darryl Daniels ; ‘Dave Wheeler ‘; Jim Karnopp ; John Coleman ; Karen Maurer; ‘Kevin Hill’; Leigh Greden; Linda French; Rene Greff ; Sandee French
    Cc: Tim Colbeck; Jessica deBlacam
    Subject: FW: Ypsilanti Advertising

    Thought you might be interested in an email response to a City resident from Ypsilanti’s local “hero”

  38. Watching Laughing.
    Posted May 13, 2011 at 5:46 pm | Permalink

    I’ve been living in the city of Ypsilanti, since 1984.

    I’ve heard and seen just about everything in this town.

    Beal’s Bin Laden and the Navy Seal Team quotes have got to be one of the most ridulous comments in a long time.
    It ranks right up with when I heard Kircher was piping raw sewage into the storm drain across the tracks.
    This is just looney tunes.
    MYYYYYYYYYYYYY TOWN!!
    Keep up the comedy.

    Watching Laughing.

  39. notoneofthecoolkids
    Posted May 15, 2011 at 6:20 pm | Permalink

    I know most of you are bored with this, but I am confused by the additional copies of emails, not sure who the senders and receivers are…could some explain this odd exchange of emails. Also wondering if I am supposed to know who Jim Latini is or this John guy…maybe I am just not cool enough?

    Anyone have a clue why Beal sent copies of the first email to the mayor and pete murdock?

  40. Wildon Bett
    Posted August 19, 2011 at 3:50 am | Permalink

    Did I hear a rumor that there’s actually progress on the Thomson Block?

  41. anonymous
    Posted August 30, 2011 at 3:42 pm | Permalink

    Great quote from Mr. Beal on AnnArbor.com:

    “Hurricane Irene couldn’t blow that thing down,” Beal said.

    http://www.annarbor.com/news/stewart-beal-on-thompson-block-hurricane-irene-couldnt-blow-that-thing-down/

  42. Kat
    Posted October 14, 2014 at 6:09 am | Permalink

    Today’s headline.

    “Thompson Block loses potential tenant as Espresso Royale backs out of letter of intent”

    Six months after signing a letter of intent to occupy a 3,300-square-foot portion of the Thompson Block, Espresso Royale has backed out of the agreement and will not move into the building as originally intended.

  43. Meta
    Posted May 19, 2016 at 8:33 am | Permalink

    “New developer moves to purchase Depot Town’s Thompson Block”

    A new developer is planning to purchase Ypsilanti’s historic and partially-redeveloped Thompson Block building.

    Beth Ernat, the city of Ypsilanti’s economic development director, said Ann Arbor-based developer 2Mission has in place a purchase agreement to buy the 155-year-old structure.

    Ernat said she doesn’t have many details on the deal beyond that. But it appears Stewart Beal, whose Thompson Block Partners LLC investment group now owns the building, will not remain a part of the project.

    Read more:
    http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2016/05/new_developer_moves_to_purchas.html

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  1. […] few days ago, in a post about the the ongoing cluster-fuck that is Ypsilanti’s Thompson Block, I mentioned that Stewart Beal, who owns the increasingly-precarious burned-out shell of a […]

  2. By Ypsi Immigration Interview: Sarah Zawacki on December 1, 2013 at 11:46 pm

    […] get really excited knowing that I live in a historic area, right by a Civil War barracks! …Or, what’s left of one… And I love knowing that there are all kinds of stories for me to discover and research. I […]

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