Former juvenile court on Platt Road likely to stay in Washtenaw County hands in 2013

Washtenaw County's former juvenile detention center and juvenile court at 2270 Platt Road in Ann Arbor likely will stay in the county's possession in 2013, according to commissioners.

The center has been vacant since May 2011, when juvenile court staff moved out of the facility and into the third floor of the county courthouse in downtown Ann Arbor. Services provided by the juvenile detention portion had moved to the county's Hogback Road facility eight years prior.

Though the site -- which includes two aging buildings on 13.5 acres of property appraised recently at $1.4 million -- has attracted the interest of several private investors in the past, commissioners want to keep the property in the county's fold, said Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor.

“Selling the property is less desirable, and has not gotten much traction from the commissioners,” Rabhi said. “There’s a desire to continue to use that site for the public use and the public benefit.”

Demolition of the juvenile center building itself is likely, Rabhi said. The 42,320-square-foot-structure, built in 1969, includes cells to house inmates and would be extremely difficult to re-purpose. It costs $211,040 per year to operate, according to county records.

The Board of Commissioners will not approve a demolition project until they know of future plans for the site, Rabhi said.

However, the second vacant building on the property, the O’Brien Center, could be renovated for office space, Rabhi said. Built in 1954, the 6,680-square-foot O’Brien Center was last used by the public defender and prosecuting attorney. It costs about $46,636 per year to operate.

As the county attempts to house less of its operations in leased space and more in properties it owns, Rabhi said the Platt Road property could serve as a good option for county departments. Rabhi hosted a public meeting in summer 2011 to gauge public interest for what should be done with the property.

There was a strong desire to keep the property as public land and incorporate multiple uses including green space and affordable housing, Rabhi said.

This summer, community garden program Project Grow built a number of plots on the Platt Road property. Rabhi said the partnership is one that commissioners would like to continue, but the garden plots may not be in the same place on the property in the future.

The Platt Road property is now in the commissioner district of Andy LaBarre, the newest Democrat to represent Ann Arbor on the county board in 2013.

During his campaign for the seat, LaBarre said he heard many of his now-constituents express interest in the future of the juvenile center property.

“I would get questions about it,” LaBarre said. “Affordable housing came up … another big thing was a community garden.”

LaBarre said there was a keen interest in making sure whatever happened to the property on Platt Road fit the neighborhood.

“I think it is worth the county’s time: Not just getting rid of the land, but finding a good use for it and finding a common good to serve some needs that are present,” LaBarre said. “To the extent that we can, it would be great if it was dog-friendly.”

The Board of Commissioners will be addressing the future uses of the property in February or March when the county’s space plan is addressed, Rabhi said.

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.