The city issued an emergency demolition order for Eastern Market’s Del Bene building after the wall partially collapsed on Sept. 16, injuring one person and causing damage to vehicles. Now, the director of the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department is saying the city will consider canceling the order if owner Scot Turnbull can present a viable preservation plan. Turnbull has to submit a proposal by late October. If the plan is approved, he would then have seven days to begin repairs.
Writer and photographer Eric Hergenreder wrote a blog post on the history of the Del Bene building, built in 1908. He found it was first owned by the Dueweke Grocery Company, which left by 1917. The building’s current name comes from Del Bene Produce, located in the building from the mid 1990s to 2007. Turnbull bought it the same year for $525,000. In 2012, the Detroit real estate investor said he spent $1 million renovating the building.