FeedsPrison closed, but officials await word on property
The Robert Scott Correctional Facility is now empty of prisoners.
The prison, on Five Mile and Beck roads in Northville Township, was closed by the State of Michigan last month, the prisoners moved to other locations.
Russ Marlan, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Corrections, said the state is not yet done with the property, though.
“We’re still in the process of getting the equipment out of there,” he said. “Some of the equipment might be able to be used in other facilities.”
The state announced last year that it would close the facility and move prisoners to Huron Valley as a cost-cutting measure. The land was to be declared surplus and put up for sale, but that hasn’t happened yet.
John Werth, director of Northville Public Safety, said he toured the facility last week to determine the progress at the facility. There is still activity there-workers at the prison manufacture goods such as soaps that are used elsewhere in the correctional system-but Werth said he liked what he saw.
“I was impressed with the way they’re removing things from the facility,” he said. “They’ve done a good job of taking things out that could be a problem down the road.”
The township may find a short-term use for the facility, too. Werth has requested the fire department be able to conduct training there.
“The location they had used before is close to some residential,” said Marlan. “Some of the neighbors have complained.”
“It makes perfect sense,” said Werth of using the prison for training purposes. “It’s a perfect location, and it’s a secured facility.”
The long-term use has yet to be decided, said Marlan. Once all the equipment is removed, the property will be turned over to the department of management and budget.
“It’s not really our decision on what happens to the building,” he said.
Township Manager Chip Snider said he has tried to determine if the facility was one of those referred to by Gov. Jennifer Granholm when she offered to house prisoners from California in closed Michigan facilities as a way to preserve jobs. The prison essentially has more than 680 beds that could be used.
“Nobody (in Lansing) will talk about the prison,” he said.
