A dilapidated two-story building in Detroit’s historic Chinatown was unexpectedly demolished Saturday, leaving some in the Chinese American community stunned as city council members and advocates were still attempting to save it.
Local politicians, several generations of Detroit residents and others spoke Monday morning in front of the 3143 Cass Ave. site, as yellow cranes loomed behind them amid a clear blue sky. They emphasized the need for a Chinese enclave in the city and recounted stories of generations of family-owned businesses operating out of the building, which was built in 1883, according to Michigan state Sen. Stephanie Chang.
A unanimous vote by the Detroit City Council on July 25 had delayed the demolition, originally scheduled for last week, until September, to allow for review by the city’s historical advisory board. But less than 24 hours later, the city’s corporation counsel allowed the demolition to go ahead, according to The Detroit News. The city’s law department found that the council’s vote was not legally binding, Buildings Safety, Engineering & Environmental Director David Bell said.
The city council first ordered the building to be demolished in 2018 because of its condition, which only worsened in recent years, Bell said in a statement to NBC News.
“It has been the position of our inspectors for some time that this building is a public safety hazard that needs to be addressed. We were of the opinion it needed to be addressed immediately,” he added. “The owners obtained a valid permit to demolish the building and in the interest of public safety were free to act on that permit.”
Olympia Development Management (ODM), which owns the property, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A history of Detroit’s Chinatowns
Jacob Molewyk, who is Chinese and Dutch American and whose grandparents lived in Detroit Chinatown in the 1950s and ’60s, was visiting the area on Saturday for a family gathering. Knowing the fate…
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