Urban redevelopment plays a large role in the DEQ’s efforts to provide for a healthy environment, and a healthy economy.  We partner with local communities to restore properties to their full potential and provide for new growth opportunities, while at the same time ensuring that these projects are protective of the local environment and public health.

 One project that certainly exemplifies this commitment is the removal of the former Statler Hilton Hotel in Detroit.  The plan to demolish the hotel was a controversial one for many people in the area due to the historic qualities of the building, however, once the decision was made to move forward with the project in 2005, the DEQ’s role was to ensure that it was done safely.

The former Statler Hilton Hotel site is located on the west side of Washington Blvd., between Bagley and Park Streets, and is in the Grand Circus Park District.  The building was a eighteen story structure of 515,000 square feet and 800 guestrooms that was built in 1914 as part of the Statler chain, and acquired by the Hilton Hotel chain in 1954.  It was closed in 1975 and has been unoccupied since.

Front (left) and rear (right) views of the former Detroit Statler Hilton.  Note Comerica Park in the upper right during beginning stages of demolition.

When private developers could not economically renovate or redevelop the building, the City of Detroit again called on the MDEQ assistance as the property had then become a serious impediment to redevelopment of adjacent areas.  Thousands of tons (approximately 130,000) of non-hazardous building debris have been removed and disposed, and risk abatement measures taken for asbestos, lead, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) contamination.

In February of 2004 the State of Michigan developed bid specifications to demolish, remove, and dispose of the building and debris generated from the demolition. The former Statler Hotel building stood 210 feet tall overall and sat four feet from the Detroit People Mover Track on the Park Street side of the building.

As part of the site preparation, protection of all adjacent structures, including the Detroit People Mover track (DPM) and adjacent buildings at 1501 Washington Blvd. and 139 Bagley Avenue, was of extreme importance.

In order to protect the DPM track, the Park street side of the Statler building was covered in 40,000 square feet of fencing and debris netting attached to scaffolding, which provided a safety net during demolition of the building.  In addition, all demolition work performed on the Park and Bagley sides of the building had to be performed from 12:00 AM to 5:00 am, so that the People Mover could remain in full service to the City of Detroit. 

To prevent any damage to the DPM railway, vibration monitoring was also required by the DPM for the duration of the demolition. Vibrations were monitored by a series of geophones attached to the DPM track. The geophones were triggered to set off alarms any time high peak vibrations caused by impacts from falling debris occurred.

Cutting Steel Beams on 9th Floor

The proximity of the track and other buildings resulted in hand demolition of  the building.  This required the use of torch cutters, skid steer loaders, mini excavators and breakers,  and an ultra high reach excavator with hydraulic extendable booms with three stages and hydraulic shears (reaching to 140 feet), to execute the demolition.

 Two Views of the interior of the Statler Hilton

Demolition

 PCB Removal

During the demolition and basement slab removal phases, accumulated contaminated water was treated with carbon for PCB removal. The sources of the PCBs were transformer carcasses and capacitors which had been scavenged by urban dwellers and left to leak oils onto the concrete of the basement floor.  Approximately 100 tons of concrete and 525 tons of the soil contaminated with PCBs were removed as the final stage of remediation before backfilling could be completed on the building site.

Air Monitoring

In order to provide the Air Quality Division data that the demolition and asbestos abatement activities would not endanger the surrounding community, a total of six air monitoring stations, including one weather recording station,  were installed around the outside perimeter of the site.  These stations continuously recorded and measured particulate values, and asbestos and lead levels surrounding the site during the entire time of site work.

PCB Excavation

Air monitoring

Scaffolding, fencing and debris netting were used to protect the People Mover.

The now vacant lot is triangular in shape and contains approximately 32,000 square feet.  The parcel has access to the Detroit People Mover and is within a short walk from the Comerica Park and Ford Field.  The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation will advertise for proposals to redevelop approximately one-acre property on Grand Circus Park.

The DEQ was proud to be a part of this project that was done safely, and will provide Detroit with the opportunity to grow.

A new sky line appears (photo on the left) and DEQStaff  involved in the project from left to right: Southeast MI District Office Supervisor, Oladipo Oyinsan, Project Manager, Patricia Thornton, and DLZ's Engineer on site, Tom Hutchinson.