After years of disuse, the Mammoth building on Detroit’s west side is nearing the end of its time with court approval for its demolition. The Detroit Free Press reports that the building, once a bustling retail space, closed as the Mammoth Department Store in 2000 and has since fallen into disrepair. According to Local 4, the demolition order follows the city's lawsuit against the property owners for not maintaining the structure, which led to findings of over 80 violations during eight inspections by Detroit’s Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED).
Despite the court's order, the current owners are not ready to give up on the building. Developer Bahy Hammoud and accountant Gihad Nagi, who acquired the structure at a tax foreclosure auction, believe it can still be rehabilitated. "We will be taking action if we can to keep it from being demolished," their attorney Jerome Frank told Detroit Free Press. The Mammoth building, encompassing 135,000 square feet, was connected to the nearby Town Center mall via a pedestrian bridge.
The demolition, scheduled to be managed and initially funded by the city, is pending a major asbestos abatement as per Judge Leslie Kim Smith's order. Nevertheless, the financial aspects remain uncertain with the city potentially seeking reimbursement for demolition costs from the owners. " it’s unclear when the demolition will begin, other than the court order saying it “shall commence immediately,” and how much it will cost," states Local 4. Details regarding the payment for the demolition have yet to be clarified as well.
In stark contrast to the authorities' view, the owners presented a structural analysis indicating the building could be saved, bolstering their fight against the city's push to level it. "As a result, demolition of the structure is the proper course of action," opined engineer George Ehlert of Ehlert Consulting Services, as part of an in-depth structural engineering analysis ordered by the court-appointed receiver, according to the Detroit Free Press. The divide between the owners’ assessment and the more comprehensive analysis by Ehlert remains a contested matter.
The Mammoth building's legacy as a once prominent retail landmark will be closing against a backdrop of developments in the city, such as initiatives reducing neighborhood gun violence and administrative changes. Mayor Mike Duggan expressed earlier this week that gun violence has seen a significant reduction across the city, as reported by Outlier Media.
