Phoenix Mill restoration nears completion

The

Restoration of historic Phoenix Mill nears completion

The refurbished Phoenix Mill includes original radiators from the former Ford factory.

By Michele Fecht | Photos by Bryan Mitchell

When we last caught up with Rick Cox and Greg Donofrio, co-principals of Critical Mass LLC and owners of the Phoenix Mill on Northville Road, renovation of the 1922 Henry Ford village industry factory — or the Henry Project — was well under way.

In the year since our last look, the renovation is nearly complete with a new tenant — award-winning architectural firm Grissim Metz Andriese Associates — occupying the upper level, and the ground level event space primed for bookings through Phoenix Mill Events. A new entryway (soon to feature a 1922 Model T), refurbished restrooms, an elevator, 100-vehicle paved parking lot and a brick plaza facing Hines Park have all been completed.

The Henry Project is about to make its public debut. As if this multi-year restoration (during COVID, no less) was not enough to tackle, the two coprincipals recently purchased the Wilcox Mill in Plymouth from Wayne County -- after the county’s original agreement with Plymouth artist Tony Roko fell through. Still working out details of that acquisition along with their earlier purchase of the Newburgh Mill in Livonia, Donofrio said the partners are continuing due diligence on both of those properties with the hope of moving forward in the first quarter of 2022.

If the details can be hammered out, Critical Mass will own all three of the historic mills originally put up for sale as part of Wayne County’s Mill Run Placemaking Project. Cox and his wife Diane own Northville’s Water Wheel Centre, the former 72,000 square foot Ford Valve Plant, also a Henry Ford village industry factory. The Albert Kahn-designed plant – now an

The 1922 structure pre-renovation. Photo courtesy of Richard Cox Critical Mass principal Greg Donofrio points out original interior masonry.

award-winning commercial site — has been a catalyst for Cox and Donofrio to pursue their shared passion for adaptive reuse.

“We both fix things,” Donofrio said of his partnership with Cox. Both are mechanical engineers as well as “car guys” and have collaborated on projects for more than two decades. Aside from the Phoenix Mill, their most recent restoration was the 1940s Studebaker building in Northville (home of the Stitching Post).

They both share an unbridled enthusiasm for historic preservation and are sticklers for maintaining the character and historical integrity of a structure. That is evident throughout the Phoenix Mill.

HISTORIC DETAILS

Among the building’s most striking features are the windows. Donofrio said that the original steel sash frames were preserved with repairs made where needed. The replacement of the nearly 1,500 glass panes with new, Low-E double-paned glass took a year to complete.

Other historic elements include terra cotta camelback tile coping pieces on the roofline that were replicated by a Chicago manufacturer to match the originals. Using historic images of the factory, Donofrio said a limestone sill removed from the mill’s distinctive generator tower facing Northville Road was made to match the original.

The signature element on the building’s exterior is a Bethlehem Steel-made rail and trolley system near the roofline that supported the bomb blast / blackout curtain used during the World War II years. The plant was turned over to war production in 1941, and its all-female work force produced defense parts that included Pratt & Whitney components, instrument panels and automatic pilot and junction boxes for the B-24 bombers produced at the Willow Run plant.

Donofrio said the unique history of the plant with its all-female staff and its role as part of the Arsenal of Democracy is the intriguing backstory that speaks beyond the structure’s brick and mortar.

The same details on the exterior of the building can be found inside. Original wall colors were found underneath layers of paint and used in different areas throughout the building. “Every color in the building is an original color that Ford used,” said Donofrio. The nearly century-old white maple flooring on the street grade upper level was left intact — imperfections and all – so as not to lose its character.

NEW TENANT

The upper level was originally designed to house a restaurant, but the challenges faced during COVID proved a game changer for any new restaurant venture. The space, nevertheless, proved a perfect fit for Grissim Metz Andriese Associates who had been exploring new office options when the space became available.

Though the firm enjoyed 20 “awesome” years at its downtown Northville location, president Randy Metz said a chance to move into the centuryold industrial plant was too good to pass up.

“This building was designed by Albert Kahn,” said Metz. “It’s just incredible space.” The firm’s 13 architects and staff moved into the building last month, repurposing office furniture from its Northville location. It gained conference room space and a spectacular view of Hines Park. “We came here at the right time,” said Metz.

The firm is not the first to set up shop in a village industry factory designed by Kahn, Detroit’s famed industrial architect. The Detroit office of HKS Architects is housed in Northville’s Water Wheel Centre.

PARK GATEWAY

The first impression when entering the Phoenix Mill site is its open access. Sitting on 5.1 acres, the site had been closed to the public for nearly 70 years, Donofrio noted. The plant closed in 1948 when Ford Motor Company transferred ownership of the mill to the Wayne County Road Commission that initially used the facility for its sign shop and later as headquarters for its bridge division. The Wayne County Department of Public Services vacated the property in 2007.

“Our vision from the beginning has been to create a space that is open to the public,” Donofrio said.

The removal of the fabricated metal sheds previously used for vehicle and equipment storage opened up the site. Donofrio said 30,000 square feet of hardscape was removed to make room for green space that will be integrated into the park. “We’ll be planting wild grasses to fit in with the park,” he noted. “There will be very little manicured lawn.”

The next couple of weeks will be dedicated to site work clean-up. Directional signage also is being fabricated. A website for Phoenix Mill Events (phoenixmillevents.com) is up and running. Donofrio credits Shannon Moegling and his wife, Kristin, with their efforts in that venture. He said they hope to be able to start hosting events by late November.

Completion of the Henry Project comes just in time as next year marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Phoenix Mill.

Original white maple flooring and conference room in the offices of Grissim Metz Andriese Associates (right).

The restored rail and trolley system from the WWII years when the factory was converted to war production.