Trenton City Council Frustrated as Riverside Project is Called Off
Trenton City Council members voiced their opinions Monday night about the canceled construction project at the former Riverside Hospital property.
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With planned development of the former Riverside Hospital site now called off, Trenton City Council members voiced their frustrations at Monday night’s meeting.
Councilman Timothy Taylor did not mince words when expressing his anger with Henry Ford Health System, which currently has deed restrictions on the dilapidated property, keeping current owner Iqbal Nasir from building what could be considered a competing medical facility.
“All those damn restrictions need to be lifted so that place can be developed, this is garbage,” Taylor said.
“Once more they stuck it up our butts by their inaction. It’s no fault of anybody here, but they’ve been sitting on that property. Even though they don’t own it any longer, they’ve kept their arm in it enough to keep the restrictions on that really (make) it very difficult for anybody to develop property that was designed for medical care. So they either have to remove those restrictions, and/or tear that building down and make it safe. This is garbage.”
Four other council members sounded off as well after Mayor Kyle Stack said Nasir, who is chief of staff at Oakwood Southshore Medical Center, informed her he no longer plans to build a $13 million skilled nursing center and assisted living facility on the property.
She said an attempt by HFHS to modify the deed restrictions was still not acceptable for Nasir, who has since put in a bid on a property in Riverview.
William LeFevre, who has been on Council since 1991, said his frustration lies with the fact that HFHS officials have not come to Trenton to speak with city officials about the matter.
“I don’t quite understand,” LeFevre said. “If they think they are 100 percent right, do they think they’re above the City of Trenton to come down here and discuss this with us.”
Councilman Robert Howey also expressed displeasure with HFHS.
“We’ve been played and quite frankly I’m disappointed with Henry Ford on this,” Howey said.
Two other council members, however, said the onus is on Nasir.
Councilwoman Timber Baun-Crooks said Nasir should take responsibility for maintaining the property, which has fallen into a state of disrepair and has become a source of controversy in Trenton.
“It’s a shame for Trenton,” Baun-Crooks said. “We’ve sat here a long time, we’ve been patient. … Dr. Nasir owns the property and at this point in time I feel it’s up to him to take care of the property he owns.”
Councilwoman MaryEllen Mcleod said Nasir is to blame for the delays with his project. Also, she said council wasted time by granting his request for help in working with HFHS to modify the deed restrictions.
“Dr. Nasir dragged his feet for a long time," Mcleod said. “(He) came here, begged us to put ourselves out there for him. “We did and we’ve been totally disappointed.”
Rick
3:52 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The part I do not understand is why someone would buy a building that has deed restrictions from the start. It was a great theory, but when it comes down to action there seems to have been a lack of planning. Most people working with a business plan of this magnitude would have had attorneys looking at zoning, deeds, or anything else that could hinder the process. For that I blame Dr. Nasir. For the deed restrictions, how can that work. Something is wrong with the system. How much money did HFHS pay for that little scam. I am sure that next we will see deed restrictions on gas stations not being allowed at every corner. This is a shame. I hope the Dr. received a good deal on that place because it will cost more to tear it down.
Trenton Wolverine
4:27 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
It's mutual blame. HFHS dragged their feet on removing deed restrictions and Nasir dragged his feet on cleaning up the property. I'm disappointed with both for failing to compromise and move forward to clean up this dilapidated property.
Carey
6:08 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Did anyone from Patch reach out to Henry Ford? It seems a bit convenient to me that the doctor can say the deed offer was unsatisfactory when he doesn't bother to show up and explain that. It seems to me like he's getting off scott free by blaming others, offering no details, walking away again and doing nothing with the property while being thought of as the good guy here.
Jason Strange
6:10 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
It's too bad the city council isn't as aggressive with issues as they are with raising taxes. Why are they so nice to everyone? Look at the games the business inside the ice rink is playing. They get to go months without paying rent and now this guy gets to string them along just to bail to move to riverview? Wake up Trenton we have no leadership. It's time for a change.
sine-of-the-times
7:19 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The restrictions were there from the beginning, even us residents knew about them BEFORE Nasir bought the place. HFHS has no blame here, when did Nasir ask HFHS for help? 3 years after the purchase? After council finally was pushed to ask what his intentions were? There were NEVER discussions about the deed until Mayor Stack took office. While Mayor Brown was in office, it was always some other excuse (waiting for loans, waiting for the state to approve something, his family was sick, etc.)...shouldn't NASIR have figured out the details during the purchase agreement? Do the deed restrictions say that high-end condos can't be built there? or a retail facility? or a college? or anything else? Why is it HFHS's fault for upholding their restrictions? Would we be blaming HFHS if the plan was for something else and the guy backed out on his promise? The city's previous mayor and our current admin put all their hopes in this guy, and they all got burned, at the expense of the residents, especially those nearby.Try to be the one who lives next door to this place for TEN YEARS!!! 10 come this Nov. TIme for the city to have a raze-ing party for its anniversary, and charge NASIR who seems to have the money and not the heart for this city. Fine him for every possible infraction of the codes he is in violation and get the place cleaned up...then tear it down...
sine-of-the-times
7:19 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
oh, he has to tear down the Riverview property anyway, he can send the crews to Trenton. I even wonder if Riverview would trust this man to offer him the property? THat should be an interesting story, too...who wants to take bets on when we'll see the "Riverview Commons".