Background Information

The Save the Livery Coalition advocates adaptive reuse of the livery building.

Many experts agree that contamination is best handled by capping and sealing the floor and ground rather than through demolition (estimated to cost $55,000+). A structural engineer and two local builders recently inspected the livery and do not agree that the building is structurally unsound--another widely held belief.

Read the history of the Longworth Buildings. You will read that they are significant to the transportation corridor on Jackson Street that brought people to Chelsea as well as industry in town. The livery is located next to the Chelsea Farmers Supply, the rehabilitated and adaptively reused first hotel in Chelsea. In the early days of Chelsea, people exited the train at the Chelsea Depot, perhaps checked into the first hotel, and used horses and buggies kept in the livery.

The Save the Livery Coalition is dedicated to saving the livery from demolition that would produce 16/17 parking spaces.

Check back frequently. The DDA granted a 60 stay of demolition on August 20th in order to give Great Lakes Zoological Society time to work on the proposal for a destination small animal zoo in Chelsea. Another reason for families to come to Chelsea! (look for the link below)

Not only would families appreciate the zoo, but retaining the exteriors of the historic buildings provides another opportunity for historic tourism. History equates to business for our business owners.