Detroit Thermal Revises Plans for Lafayette East Cooperative Reconnection

News Summary

Detroit Thermal has announced updates to its steam heating reconnection plans for the 1300 Lafayette East Cooperative following community feedback. Originally facing opposition due to proposed ventilation stacks near local playgrounds, the company has submitted revised plans that remove the stacks entirely. A crucial review by the Historic District Commission is set for July 2, with ongoing community concerns regarding the impact on historic landscapes and communication issues with Detroit Thermal.

Detroit, MI – Detroit Thermal has announced updated plans to reconnect the 1300 Lafayette East Cooperative to its steam heating system in light of significant community feedback and requests for more details from the Detroit Historic District Commission. The changes come after the city’s Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department issued a stop-work notice earlier this spring due to resident opposition concerning the initial project design.

Originally, Detroit Thermal had proposed the installation of two to three ventilation stacks as part of the reconnection plan. Concerns from local residents indicated that these stacks would be positioned perilously close to playgrounds and greenspaces, raising alarms over safety and health implications. In response, the company listened to the community and, as of June 12, submitted revised plans that completely removed the controversial ventilation stacks from the project.

The upcoming review by the Historic District Commission is scheduled for July 2, during which Detroit Thermal’s revised plans will be evaluated. The timing of this public hearing has drawn criticism from community members who feel that it limits their ability to participate due to its close proximity to the Fourth of July holiday.

Detroit Thermal aims to ensure the project will be completed by winter, providing heating solutions for over 600 residents of the cooperative. The Need for reconnection arose after the 1300 Lafayette East Cooperative previously disconnected from the city’s steam system in favor of a self-contained boiler system, which has since failed.

Despite the removal of the ventilation stacks, community concerns persist. Residents from the near Mies van der Rohe Historic District, which is home to 186 cooperatively owned townhouses, three apartment towers, an elementary school, and a 13-acre park, have indicated that other issues remain unaddressed. Members expressed appreciation for the company’s willingness to alter plans but reiterated that there are ongoing concerns about how the project may affect the historic landscape and architecture of Lafayette Park.

In response to community anxiety, Detroit Thermal has stated its commitment to preserving all trees and landscaping within the Mies Cooperative, and a certified arborist will oversee this aspect. Ventilation for the steam system will now be managed through manhole covers, alleviating some of the previous concerns regarding air quality and safety in recreation areas.

Community representatives have also highlighted frustrations regarding the lack of ongoing communication from Detroit Thermal. The anticipated public hearing does not align with prior assurances of community engagement, creating sentiments of exclusion among some residents. This has led to growing calls for better dialogue between the utility provider and community stakeholders.

The construction for the project is currently on hold, pending approval from the Historic District Commission. As part of their ongoing effort to engage with the community, Detroit Thermal is looking to schedule a meeting with residents prior to the commission hearing.

With these developments, Detroit Thermal aims to clarify its intentions and address the diverse concerns of the community while working towards a functional and reliable heating solution for the 1300 Lafayette East Cooperative.

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Additional Resources

• Detroit News: Detroit Thermal Updates Plans for Steam Line Project
• Wikipedia: Steam Heat
• Metro Times: Detroit Thermal Revises Controversial Lafayette Park Steam Plan
• Google Search: Detroit Thermal Steam Project
• Crain’s Detroit: Detroit Thermal Updates Plans for Lafayette Park Steam Line
• Google Scholar: Detroit Thermal
• Detroit News: Detroit Residents Fight Steam Vent Plan for Lafayette Park
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Steam Heating
• Metro Times: Detroit Thermal Lacks Green Light for Steam Project