Last week the Ypsilanti Freighthouse received word from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office that the planned rehabilitation will have no adverse effects on the building.

This is good news in that it’s one more hurdle the project must no longer overcome. Kudos to the Friends of the Ypsilanti Freighthouse for their diligent work on the restoration.

November 2, 2009

DAVE WILLIAMS
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
315 W ALLEGAN STREET
LANSING MI 48933

RE: ER09-409 Ypsilanti Freight House Rehabilitation, 100 Rice Street, Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County (FHWA)

Dear Mr. Williams:

Under the authority of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, we have reviewed the above-cited undertaking at the location noted above. Based on the information provided for our review, it is the opinion of the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) that the proposed undertaking will have no adverse effect [36 CFR § 800.5(b)] on the Michigan Central Railroad Freighthouse, which appears to meet the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, provided the following condition is met:

The concept of interior storm doors for the historic freight doors is acceptable, however the examples shown on A-502 MDOT rev. A, date 10/01/09, Issued for SHPO, are not acceptable. Over all, the proposed interior storm system is much too opaque and effectively obscures the historic door from public view. A new design that allows the historic doors and operation system to remain visible must be developed and submitted for review and comment.

If you concur, the accompanying form must be signed by an agency official with legal and financial responsibility for the above-cited undertaking [36 CFR § 800.2(a)]. Please return the signed original to us. Please note that the Section 106 review process will not be complete and the FHWA’s responsibility to comply with 36 CFR § 800.4, “Identification of historic properties,” and 36 CFR § 800.5, “Assessment of adverse effects”, will not be fulfilled until we have received this letter with the original signature of the agency official. If the agency official disagrees with this condition, then consultation with this office shall be reopened per 36 CFR § 800.5(a).

The views of the public are essential to informed decision making in the Section 106 process. Federal Agency Officials or their delegated authorities must plan to involve the public in a manner that reflects the nature and complexity of the undertaking, its effects on historic properties and other provisions per 36 CFR § 800.2(d). We remind you that Federal Agency Officials or their delegated authorities are required to consult with the appropriate Indian tribe and/or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) when the undertaking may occur on or affect any historic properties on tribal lands. In all cases, whether the project occurs on tribal lands or not, Federal Agency Officials or their delegated authorities are also required to make a reasonable and good faith effort to identify any Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations that might attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties in the area of potential effects and invite them to be consulting parties per 36 CFR § 800.2(c-f).

This determination of effect and condition are based on the Project Manual issued for SHPO Review on October 01, 2009 and the following drawings. Any changes to the Project Manual, these sheets or the creation of additional documents must be provided to the SHPO for review and comment prior to issuing official addenda.

The State Historic Preservation Office is not the office of record for this undertaking. You are therefore asked to maintain a copy of this letter with your environmental review record for this undertaking. .

If you have any questions, please contact Brian Grennell, Cultural Resource Protection Specialist, at (517) 335 2721 or by email at ER@michigan.gov. Please reference our project number in all communication with this office regarding this undertaking. Thank you for this opportunity to review and comment, and for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Brian D. Conway
State Historic Preservation Officer