City To Tear Down Burned-out Center

Themirhed-out Community Center at 502 E. Washington St. will not be renovated, Ann Arbor City Council decided last night. Council approved several measures to permit the city to sell $360,000 in revenue bonds to pay off its debt on the former Fisher Cadillac Building, and allow the remains there to be demolished later this year. Council received reports from Administrative Assistant James Hudak and the Building and Safety Engineering Department stating that it would not be feasible to attempt to rebuild either of the structures previously occupied by the Community Center. The principal part of the center's operation, at 502 E. Washington, was said to be too heavily damaged to be repaired. The adjoining facility, at 504 E. Washington, used as a ballroom for youth activities, was unavailable for renovation because of contractual commitments, council was told. The land contract the city has with the Ann Arbor Bank ' for purchasing the property requires that the land can only be used for public parking as of a date that is reached later this year. Hudak also told council demolishing the t.wn buildings separately would cost the city $1,000 more than ïf tfexh were torn down at the same time. The Ann Arbor Tribal Council had asked the city to permit remodeling of the ballroom so it could again be used. But the damage to the building and the nearness of the demolition date overrode this. Council also received a report on the actual circumstances surrounding the fire, with the Fire Department again stating that arson was the cause of the blaze. The report also noted that two hours before the Community Center fire was reported, the Fire Department's dispatcher received a cali reporting an oil slick on fire, but the caller did not give an address, and hung up af ter saying "Ne ver mind." The report said "it has been rumored that this cali originated at 502 E. Washington." But the report added that that such calis are not unusual. Most of the criticism of the department's handling of the fire concerned the breaking of windows . and chopping holes I in the floor of the building, the report said. But, the report I said, the breaking of windows I is necessary to ventílate a I burning building while holes I had to be chopped in the floor I to allow firemen to water I down the fire in the basement. I