Unfortunately, Michigan, specifically Wayne County, has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country. It has been well documented in many national publications that it is a buyer’s market, where foreclosure home sales are greater than traditional home sales. This is true in residential real estate, as well as commercial real estate. If this is the case, the question that Wayne County commissioners pose to County Executive Robert Ficano is, Why wouldn’t the County take advantage of the much more cost effective and convenient 1001 Woodward Building and save the taxpayers over $14 million? Or at least take a chance and explore the opportunity.

1001 Woodward, the former home of First Federal Bank, has become available within the last five weeks due to stalled construction projects. Six months ago Wayne County considered 1001 Woodward and determined that the Guardian Building would be a better purchase for the County. Subsequently, the Commission approved the purchase of the Guardian Building by a narrow margin of one vote. There wasn’t overwhelming support for the purchase primarily because we would lose the County seat at 600 Randolph, a historic building. The 1001 Woodward price has been reduced by 50 percent, which is, frankly, a steal for such an optimal facility.

I toured 1001 Woodward and found that it seems to meet all of our requirements and it would let us house all of our currently spread out County offices into one central location. Furthermore, 1001 Woodward also has adjacent parking, a luxury which the Guardian Building doesn’t provide. With the savings garnered from purchasing 1001 Woodward, we could purchase the current County Building, 600 Randolph, which would save a historical Wayne County landmark and still save the County approximately $5 million.

I, along with several other commissioners, am simply requesting that County Executive Ficano have a third party consultant perform an inspection of the both the Guardian Building and 1001 Woodward, to determine which facility would provide the greatest savings to the citizens of Wayne County while meeting all of our County property requirements. Why the County administration would rather spend $55 million, the current asking price of the Guardian Building, than $30 million for the 1001 Woodward Building and parking lot, I don’t know, but as chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, I will do all I can to save the citizens of Wayne County tax dollars, and save 600 Randolph.

If you also believe that the County should reevaluate the 1001 Woodward Building purchase and the opportunity to save the historical Wayne County Building and your tax dollars, please call the County Executive Robert Ficano at (313)224-0366 to voice your opinions. Remember, your elected officials work for you.

Bernbard Parker is a Wayne County commissioner.