PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Thursday afternoon, demolition began on the former Witmark building in Plainfield Charter Township. The building is being torn down because of its "blighted and hazardous condition."
Workers have installed security fencing around the site, and plan to remove the building's roof and knock out the outside walls by the end of the week.
RELATED: Witmark building to be demolished
As demolition crews got to work, a group of women watched the walls crumble. Unlike many who see the building as an eyesore, the three women, who lived directly behind it, shared fond memories.
"Our kids learned to play tennis against this wall," said Lola Gallant, who moved in behind the building in 1986. "We would play as a family."
They recalled memories of teaching their children to ride bikes in the quiet alley, and when they got older, teaching them to parallel park. "We'd hate to have another building come in and destroy this," Gallant said.
From 1969-97, Witmark was a catalog showroom, jewelry and electronics store. Most of the building has been vacant for more than 20 years.
The 3.82-acre plot of land is listed for sale at $3.2 million. Once the building is demolished, the future of the land is largely up to the owner and an eventual developer.
“It could be a combination of commercial of residential above it, it could be all residential, it could be all commercial," said Cameron Vanwyngarden, Plainfield Township Manager. "It could even be an office."
Vanwyngarden has high hopes for the eventual development of the land. He says a multipurpose site like this can bring new life to the Plainfield Avenue Corridor.
For Lola Gallant and her neighbors, they worry that an apartment complex or other two-story buildings would ruin the privacy the vacant Witmark building gave them for years. Vanwyngarden says regardless of the development that fills the space, the safety and privacy of neighbors would be top priority.
The future of the land will need to be approved by the township planning commission, but will not see a public vote.
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