Work Could Start on Abandoned Gratiot Jail Site in January

DETROIT, MI — Construction could begin again in January at the unfinished Wayne County Jail site on Gratiot Avenue after consultants found existing construction is structurally sound, County Executive Warren C. Evans said Wednesday.

The jail project stalled in June 2013 amid concerns of possible cost overruns. Wayne County has spent about $151 million developing the site, and continues to spend about $1.2 million a month for bond interest payments, security and other fees.

The condition assessment was the first testing performed by the county on the site since the project since construction was halted in June 2013 amid concerns of about $100 million in cost overruns.

The boondoggle was among among the issues that ended former county executive Robert Ficano’s decades long tenure as Wayne County’s top politician. Ficano was never indicted, but several top aides in his administration were charged with misconduct in office and neglect of duty in their work on the project.

And the responsibility fell to Evans, Ficano’s successor, to figure out what to do about the abandoned jail site.

The report by Mannik & Smith Group on the structural integrity of steel, concrete and masonry gives the county the go-ahead to put the project back on track, Evans said.

“The report is clear – the jail site is structurally sound,” Evans said in a statement. “These results strengthen the case for completing the jail and will be included in the information we provide prospective bidders on the project.”

Three winters have passed since the site was abandoned, but the inspection revealed no structural damage to the steel, concrete and masonry work, according to the report. The inspection also didn’t reveal any issues of cracking or leaking joints in the already installed sanitary and storm sewers, but the report did highlight some cosmetic issues, such as discoloration and oxidation of exposed steel or hairline cracking in some concrete surfaces that are considered normal occurrences.

“The site is in very good condition for construction to start again,” Mannik & Smith Group senior project manager said in the statement. “Our assessment revealed no structural concerns, which speaks to the quality of work.”

The field investigation covered the entire site, including the jail cell units installed onsite and those stored at an alternative location. The inspectors completed the assessment in five weeks from Oct. 5 to Nov. 4 before submitting a final report to Evans on Nov. 16.

The fee for the inspection was not to exceed $43,604 and the final cost is expected to be less than the contracted amount, Evans said.

Friday is the deadline for responses to county-issued requests for qualifications, and the goal is to issue a request by proposals by January.

“There’s been no shortage of speculation about this project, but we’re continuing to move forward with the Gratiot site,” Evans said in the statement. “Once we issue the RFP, we’re not looking back. It’ll be full speed ahead on the Gratiot site.”

Photo via Wayne County