The old Northville Psychiatric Hospital in Northville Township will be demolished next year.
The old psychiatric hospital has been abandoned for many years and officials announced Monday a plan to demolish the site in 2018.
“For years, these buildings have created blight and have been a significant drain on public safety resources," said Township Supervisor Robert Nix in a press release.
“For the past several years, scrappers and trespassers have vandalized the property, spreading asbestos and have accelerated the deterioration of the buildings. This activity created public safety concerns for our residents and anyone entering the property," Nix added.
The hospital was built in 1952 and has been closed since 2003. The abandoned hospital sits on 7 Mile Road between Haggerty and Northville Road.
The current timeline subject to weather conditions is as follows:
- November 2017: Setting up a work area on-site including a mobile office; fencing the perimeter, setting up large flood-lights, video surveillance and security detail during non-work hours.
- End of November – beginning of 2018: beginning the abatement process; encapsulating the building.
- April – July 2018: Once the building has been environmentally cleared, the above ground demolition of the buildings will begin.
- July – mid August 2018: Crushing and filling of the below grade floors.
- Mid-August – October 2018: Final grading/punch list; project completion
More from the press release:
A little bit of history - as a result of an election in 2009, Northville Township acquired nearly 350 acres surrounding the former Northville Psychiatric Hospital for a park and the preservation of additional open space within the Township. Township residents voted to acquire the property at a cost of approximately 23.5 million dollars.
The property purchase included the main Psychiatric Hospital and 18 other buildings. The buildings were in a deteriorating condition including asbestos and other environmental hazards creating a challenge to the Township for their removal and demolition.
July 2017: Police stepping up patrols at abandoned Northville Psychiatric Hospital
Some think it's haunted and others are just looking to explore, but either way, you'll be fined $500 if police catch you at the former Northville Psychiatric Hospital site.
"We know there is asbestos free floating at the site. There are shards of glass and holes in the floor. It is a very unsafe site," Northville Director of Public Safety Todd Mutchler said.
So far this year, Mutchler's officers have netted 300 people trespassing on the property. In addition to the $500 fine, some of the judges are requiring those busted to post on social media about being ticketed as part of their punishment.
The site is gated, and clearly marked no trespassing. Mutchler said even the $500 ticket for some isn't enough of a deterrent.
"Based on the number of people who have come back for a second time, I don't know that $500 works. We've arrested people who have been previous customers," he said.