In the next week, the Detroit Demolition Department will demolish two long-vacant buildings on E. Franklin in the city’s Rivertown district. A recent report issued by city building inspectors shows the four-story building at 1460 E. Franklin and two-story building at 1490 E. Franklin are structurally unsound and pose a safety risk.
The report cited failed beams, a collapsing roof and falling masonry, among other serious issues. The Stone Soap buildings, which have been vacant for nearly 30 years, also are adjacent to an active business (Steve’s Soul Food) and across the street from an occupied apartment building. In 2017, the City selected Banyan Investments through an RFP process to redevelop the buildings in an attempt to save them, however those plans never came to fruition.
Emergency demolition of the buildings is expected to begin later this week and take approximately a week to complete.
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