Demolition continues on the site of the former Riverside Hospital, which closed in 2002, with the demolition agreed to in October 2021 and a demolition permit issue in January 2023. The 10-acre site along the Detroit River is zoned as planned development and anything going on the site would require Trenton City Council approval.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON – Demolition of the former Riverside Hospital continues, which will create a 10-acre site zoned “planned development” along the riverfront open to a new project, subject to city council approval.
Mayor Steven Rzeppa said that once the building — which has been vacant since 2002 — is demolished and the site is clean, the property will be “ripe with opportunity.”
“When you think about both the riverfront access and the commercial opportunities, and street frontage along Jefferson, we are eager to be partners in marketing and developing the site into something that can be an asset for all of Trenton and the surrounding area,” he said.
The property is owned by NABA Management LLC of Trenton.
City Administrator Dean Creech said the site has residential housing on the north, south and west sides of the property, so any future development would need to compatible with the neighborhood and the community overall.
“In my opinion, this property has tremendous opportunity for development,” he said. “When the demolition is complete, this property will be the best available waterfront property of its size – nearly 10 acres – along the Detroit River.”
Creech said a demolition agreement was reached in October 2021, with demolition begun in January 2023. All hazardous materials were abated from the structure before the general demolition began.
Funding from the state of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, and Wayne County made the demolition possible.
On Sept. 16, 2022, a 15,000-gallon underground storage tank on the site began to leak and an underground plume of diesel fuel began to spread into the surrounding soil. The Environmental Protection Agency and EGLE worked with NABA on the cleanup. It was estimated that less than five gallons of diesel fuel found its way into the Detroit River.
The tank was pumped and its contents removed, and boring samples were conducted in the surrounding soil.
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said Wayne County’s $1.5 million contribution was made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act money.
“The demolition of Riverside Hospital will be the first step in transforming the space into something that will enhance the community,” he said.
Wayne County Commissioner Joe Palamara said the wise use of ARPA money will help revitalize both Trenton and Downriver.
“The demolition and eventual redevelopment of the old Riverside Hospital site is a shining example of good things happening when all levels of government work well together,” he said.
In late June of 2023 contractor changes were announced, and a Wayne County Circuit Court Receiver took control of virtually every aspect of the property so demolition work could be resumed.
The underground storage tanks were filled and compacted, and thousands of gallons of contaminated water were pumped from the building’s basement and shipped to a licensed facility.
On Sept. 7 Creech announced that demolition of the building had started once again.