Bittersweet End for Historic Downtown Home
The yellow farmhouse at the corner of Hyne and North streets is scheduled for demolition in order to make way for a 12,000 square foot corporate headquarters.
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Now that the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce has relocated, plans to demolish its former home at 131 Hyne St. are underway. The plans are the result of a purchase agreement between the Brighton Downtown Development Authority and Excelda, a chemical manufacture and distributor.
The two-story farmhouse, which was constructed in the late 19th century, is the former home of George Ratz, who operated a hardware store in town during Brighton's early years. For many residents and visitors, the well-maintained and updated house serves as a symbol of Brighton's charm.
Because of its location in the heart of Brighton's thriving downtown, the half-acre site on which the house sits has enormous development potential.
According to Matt Modrack, director of Brighton's Downtown Development Authority, the site's development potential well outweighs the draw of the historic house.
“There's no substitute for the addition of a local, highly dynamic company,” Modrack said. “That's how to make a downtown grow and prosper even if it means structures have to go.”
Excelda, a southeastern Michigan-based company, plans to build a brand new 12,000 square foot brick building on the site. The building will house the company's corporate headquarters and sales department, which amount to roughly 60 employees.
“It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for a city,” Modrack said, citing the increased traffic Excelda's employees and customers will bring to downtown Brighton as well as the growth—by about $20,000—of Brighton's tax base.
Some city residents and business owners aren't as enthusiastic about the deal as Modrack.
Jim Vichich, president of the Brighton Area Historical Society, said that the plans will change the character of Brighton.
“Brighton is known for its quaintness,” Vichich said. “A brick office building doesn't have the same effect as a historic home.”
Vichich also lamented the destruction of the on-site gardens, which are maintained by the Brighton Garden Club and have held weddings and family portrait sessions.
“The city wants to create pocket parks. The green section near the Ratz house is a pocket park, yet it's going to disappear,” Vichich said.
Pat Bayless, who owns Wood N Things, which is located directly across the street from the site, feels similarly.
“I understand the city is pursuing an innovative, dynamic downtown, but look what they're giving up,” Bayless said. “It's like Joni Mitchell said, 'They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.'”
Bayless, who had often dreamed of putting a tea shop in the old house, is also upset that the city kept the sale of the property under wraps.
In a matter of months, the DDA purchased and then sold the site for $450,000 earlier this year before the Chamber of Commerce had even packed its belongings.
“I was very keen on securing the site,” Matt Modrack said. “There isn't another site like it in Brighton, and the hardest thing to do in a downtown is assemble property.”
According to the DDA's redevelopment proposal, one of several objectives for purchasing the site was to “prevent purchase of the site for underdeveloped use.” Instead of a part-time dentist office, for example, Modrack envisioned an enterprising entity that would produce spin-offs to the advantage of the city.
“That's how to make a downtown grow and prosper,” Modrack said.
The DDA is currently considering bids for the building's demolition. Excelda is expected to move in late in 2012.
In This article
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Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce
218 E Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI -
Brighton Downtown Development Authority
December 21, 2010 / January 18, 2011 / February 15, 2011 / March 15, 2011 / April 19, 2011 / May 17, 2011 / June 21, 2011 / July 19, 2011 / August 16, 2011 / September 20, 2011 / October 18, 2011 / November 15, 2011 / December 20, 2011 at 7:15 am -
Brighton Area Historical Society
202 W Main St, Brighton, MI -
Brighton Garden Club
555 Brighton St, Brighton, MI -
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Wood'N Things
200 Hyne St, Brighton, MI
Robin Redwine-Fischer
7:33 am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Absolutely losing! The downtown retail district is not the correct place for Excelda. The downtown only has a limited area for growth and expansion as mention in article. Even if the home has to come down for growth purposes, I believe is the wrong business type for area. There are many other locations in the area close by.
Anne Seebaldt
9:51 am on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Couldn't someone buy and move the house? People used to move houses all the time, even in the 1800s. Several structures in Milford were moved at that time.
Coral Adas
7:53 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
As President of the Brighton Garden Club I have met informally with a few people from Excelda who value the trees and gardens that have been maintained by the club for many years. I am hopeful that their plans will include saving much of the garden as we have come to know it as our community needs to keep the 'green' space we have.
Christy Bunge
10:11 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Why not occupy and renovate one of the empty brick office buildings in the City of Brighton. They may not be in the downtown area but if the 60 employees that will work at Excelda would like to eat and shop at one of our fine downtown establishments, my guess is they will walk the 1/4 mile to do so. Demolishing a historic building seems senseless to me. This isn't going to be a business that customers will flock to the downtown area to eat or shop at. I'm having a hard time understanding how this business would draw more patronage to the already established store fronts in the down town area.
julie Hine
10:16 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
I am certain it would be possible to collaborate with the architect for Excelda to create a harmonious facade. The new building near St. Paul, home to the beautiful optical offices of Dr. Randy Watsky cetainly enhances their area. I believe the same could hold true for Hyne Street. Reclaiming as much material as possible from the building is also a responsible idea.
julie Hine
10:42 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Excelda Named as a 2010 Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press.
Excelda Associates use their time, energy, knowledge, and personal donations, to make an impact that is widespread, deliberate, and – above all – delivered at the most crucial times." Our goal is to contribute locally to benefit communities where Excelda Associates live. " From their corporate website
Since 2008, from Excelda and Associates, we've contributed $155,755 to these worthwhile organizations:
• Gleaner's Community Food Bank - Livingston County
• North End Soup Kitchen - Genesee County
• St. Andrews Breakfast Club - Washtenaw County
• Community Sharing - Oakland County
• Huron River Watershed Council
• Huron-Clinton MetroParks - Kensington
• LACASA - Livingston County
• American Red Cross
• University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Last Chance Animal Rescue
• Humane Society - Huron Valley, Genesee & Livingston Counties
• LESA Backpacks for Kids
• Toys for Tots
• The Ark
• Purple Rose Theatre
• Cleary University
• Albion College
THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND SALES OFFICE WILL BE THE SITE FOR NUMEROUS CLIENT MEETINGS IN THE PURSUIT OF NEW BUSINESS. With Cadillac, BMW, Land Rover and other automotive clients one would assume numerous restaurants and catering opportunities would exist.
Tammy Sexton
10:19 am on Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Thank you, Julie Hine, for your diplomacy and positivity, plus your company research results to help folks in Brighton make educated judgements on the decision to demolish the Ratz's old house for a corporation that the DDA feels will bring an increase of people and commerce to the downtown area.
Most folks would absolutely love to save a historical house, but:
- the cost of moving the building and finding a lot is expensive.
- once moved, the cost of renovating it to "return" it to the historical state after modern owners' renovations (which would be against modern living standards and city codes) would be insurmountable for any private citizen or non-profit group to undertake.
- Then, there is the job of finding the volunteers to staff the house and the ongoing budget to maintain utility bills.
GOOD NEWS IS: the old town hall in Brighton "IS" being saved by 3 combined non-profit organizations plus the City of Brighton. The open hours have been reduced since the project began due to the inability to find enough Brighton volunteers to step up and help. Currently it is still a hardship finding volunteers.
Anyone upset by this historical building demolition is urged to "help save" the 19th century old town hall by volunteering. It costs nothing and you would be providing a great service along with the people from the 3 organizations who currently spend hours doing so.