Residents complain of dust, blight and stalled construction; city officials outline enforcement steps

Multiple residents raised neighborhood concerns during public comment at the Sept. 15 Southfield City Council meeting about construction dust from water‑main and road work on Mahone, an unfinished gymnastics center on 9 Mile and Lasher, and an ongoing clean‑up and demolition timeline for the fire‑damaged Plum Hollow Market.

Vanessa Thrasher told the council that since August dust from utility and road work on Mahone has left homes and cars coated in dirt and asked whether the contractor could include resident assistance, such as weekly car washes, given the inconvenience. Thrasher also raised broader concerns about a partially completed gymnastics center that neighbors say is an eyesore and potential blight.

City staff and council members responded: Ms. Schultz, city project staff, said the contractor is performing daily dust control measures and that a water truck typically sprays the site once per day; she acknowledged dry weather increases dust and said staff will press the contractor at progress meetings to improve mitigation. Council members asked staff to confirm frequency and quantity of watering and to continue monitoring lawn damage and driveway cracking reported by residents. The city noted pre‑construction video documentation is conducted and that if damage was not scheduled for replacement the contractor is expected to repair it at its cost.

Building official Chuck Woodward reported the gymnastics center had multiple contractor changes and periods of unacceptable work that led the department to issue a stop‑work order, request engineering paperwork and seek a report from the project architect. Shipping containers on site are being used for storage, he said; the department also ordered site clean‑up, silt barriers, and will pursue enforcement if required. Woodward said building permits expire after 180 days without activity and that the city has increased permit penalties (including doubling permit fees and $1,000 per month penalties for work without a permit) to discourage prolonged noncompliance.

On the Plum Hollow Market site, Woodward said the owner has paid for a demolition permit and the case will be in court Thursday to seek a deadline; he explained insurance investigations can extend timelines but the city is pursuing demolition via court and cleanup enforcement. Council asked staff to provide residents with follow‑up contact information; staff offered to meet with Ms. Thrasher and other neighbors after the meeting.

Council members emphasized they expect the contractor to address lawn and driveway damage, to step up dust control measures while active work continues, and to accelerate cleanup at Plum Hollow when the court sets a deadline.