Mount Clemens

Historical building's front porch demolished

By Sarah Cormier
C & G Staff Writer

Photo by Edward Osinski The front porch of the former St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital – East was demolished on Aug. 16. The building is 111 years old and is locally considered to be of historic value to the community.

MOUNT CLEMENS — Demolition of the front porch at Select Specialty Hospital — Macomb in Mount Clemens has created somewhat of a stir in a community where historical preservation is a chief concern.

The demolition took place on Aug. 16 at the hospital, which is located at 215 North Avenue in Mount Clemens. The building is the former site of St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital – East, and it is 111 years old. In 2008, Select Specialty Hospital – Macomb decided to purchase the building after running operations there for 13 years. Inside the facility now is a 36-bed extended acute care section, and Henry Ford Macomb Hospital also leases beds for its psychiatric program.

Because of the age of the building and the historical significance it has in the city’s history, local preservationists have been trying to make sure it is protected from demolition.

Linda Steiger, CEO of Select Specialty Hospital – Macomb, said the porch had to be demolished because it was dangerous.

“It was unsafe for anybody to be on that porch, and we were concerned that somebody might get injured,” she said.

Steiger said the porch has been in bad condition for about 10 years, and it would have cost the hospital around $700,000 to $800,000 to replace it. She said hospital officials recognize the importance of the building.

“As proud occupants for more than a decade, we are cognizant of the building’s history and its importance within our community,” she said.

However, Kym Janowicz, head of Friends of Historic Preservation, Mount Clemens, isn’t so sure. She said last year the group tried to get the hospital on the National Trust for Historic Preservation, America’s 11 Most Endangered Places list, but the hospital just barely missed. Getting on the list would have meant grant money to help hospital officials keep the building intact. The group plans to try again this year.

“We think that now that the porch has been demolished … we have a good chance of making the list this year,” she said.

Janowicz is also disappointed in the Mount Clemens City Commission, which she said has failed to do anything to try to preserve the building. She said her group has asked the commission to make the hospital a single historic district, which would help preserve it and open it up to receiving grant money as well. She said the fact that the City Commission chose to make the Mount Clemens Grand Trunk Railway Station a historic district instead didn’t make sense. 

“We were disappointed that they chose to focus all of our time and taxpayers money on a building that was structurally sound instead of the porch at St. Joseph’s,” she said.

However, Mount Clemens Mayor Barb Dempsey said making a business a historic district is something that shouldn’t be imposed.

“People have to remember that it’s a private property. It’s owned by a private enterprise. … I just can’t see how we can force it upon them,” she said. “How would an individual person like it if a group imposed restrictions on their home? You can’t force people into preserving. I think the best way is to sit down and talk to them, and we have.”

She added that she has no doubts that officials at Select Specialty Hospital – Macomb are interested in preserving the building.

“I’m hopeful that they will continue to work with whomever has viable suggestions on whatever that building can be used for,” she said.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Sarah Cormier at scormier@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1095.