Report Reveals No Black Mold at Future Dearborn Administrative Center

Inspections of the former ADP building, the prospective home for the future Dearborn Administrative Center, confirm residents' complaints about moisture damage, although city officials contend the issue is a maintenance problem, not a public health concern.

A report released via a Freedom of Information Request obtained by Dearborn resident Kristyn Taylor, a candidate for city council, shows that the city hired two independent companies to inspect the building for black mold.

The building was purchased by the city in May 2012 at a cost of $3.2 million for the purpose of a new city hall pending the sale of the current city hall to the Minneapolis-based nonprofit Artspace. The building is located at 16901 Michigan Ave., one building west of the Henry Ford Centennial Library.

The FOIA reveals that the city commissioned separate evaluations of the condition of the building from URS Incorporated in June 2012 and TTL, Inc. in August of this year.

URS inspectors performed a visual survey of the building's interior, exterior and roof systems for mold damage.

According to the URS report, two areas were identified in the building where several ceiling tiles were "stained from apparent past roof leakage." One area is located in the southeast stairwell and the other is near the entry atrium at the southwest corner of the building.

"In both cases dropped ceiling tiles were removed to examine the area above for mold or other damage. None was observed, and based on the excellent condition of the roof, URS determined that the caulked seams at the top edge of the roofline were aging and should be re-caulked as a matter of normal maintenance," said Mark Guido, chief of staff for Mayor John B. O'Reilly, Jr.

URS inspectors also stated, however, that a mold survey was "beyond their scope of work" and "made no representation regarding the presence or absence of mold or water damage" at the building.

Guido said due to "persistent yet unfounded rumors" in the community that black mold was growing in the ADP building, the city hired TTL, Inc. in August to inspect the roof leak areas, the roof and the general condition of the building.

According to a letter from TTL, Inc. inspector Steven Gach, there was no evidence of any mold in the building based on a visual inspection.

"Based on what we saw, it does not appear that there is mold growing on the ceiling tiles," Gach wrote.

"Our recommendation is to have a roof contractor look at the roof to see if there are any leaks where the spots are repaired now and to seal up the gaps in the caulk on the pre-cast concrete pieces. Once that's done, then see if there is still a leak where the ceiling tiles are stained," he said.

A full copy of both mold inspection reports is available on Taylor's blog, http://kristyn4council.wordpress.com/about-kristyn-taylor/.