Local efforts to restore Ypsilanti's historic Freighthouse have entered a new phase. Ypsilanti City Council Member Pete Murdock is calling on the city and local organizations to help finish restoring the building.
Those efforts stalled after a State Historic Preservation Grant fell through.
Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority, city government and other local groups had previously pledged to contribute to the project if the grant was awarded.
DDA Director Tim Colbeck says they have spent a considerable amount of time debating the topic.
"As of yet my board has not made a decision on the funding," Colbeck says. "A decision on this specific request has been postponed until our December board meeting."
The next DDA board meeting will take place on December 18th.
The Freighthouse needs improvements to its HVAC, bathrooms and fire suppression system in order to open.
Murdock says if the city will contribute $220-thousand to the project, other groups that have pledged support will increase their contributions.
