The City of Saint Paul is working with Ford Land to ensure that site demolition is carefully handled to minimize noise, dust and disruption, and that the property is  appropriately cared for while the company searches for a buyer. Site demolition will include removal of the buildings and slabs, continued environmental testing, and fencing, grading and seeding as needed to address security, erosion control and aesthetics.

Since vehicle production ended, the Ford Plant has hosted several activities and training exercises for local, state, and national police, fire, and military units, and this beneficial use of the facility will continue as long as practicable.

A Master Site Plan for Ford Decommissioning has been approved. 

On December 20, 2012, the Zoning Committee of the Saint Paul Planning Commission held a public hearing on the application, which included a presentation by the applicant (20 MB) covering key elements of the proposed activities and techniques to manage impacts.  The Zoning Committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of the master site plan to the Planning Commission, which on December 28, 2012, unanimously passed a resolution of findings and conditions for approval. 

A copy of the approved application is posted below and a staff report about it can be found under the meeting date on the Zoning Committee web page.

Ford Site Plan Application

**WARNING - Files below are VERY large, will be slow to load and view, and may create difficulties for dial-up or portable devices.**

• Table of Contents and Section I - Summary of Work; Stormwater Quality Impacts; Traffic Plan; Concrete Crushing; Subsurface Tunnel Evaluation Report (13 MB)
• Section II - Figures of property and general demolition plans and activities (9 MB)
• Section III - Redevelopment Timeline (? MB - medium size)
• Section IV - Photos of Wixom plant demolition (33 MB)
• Section V - Demolition Sequencing images (2 MB)
• Section VI - Renderings of before and after demolition (9 MB) 
• Section VII - Demolition Phasing images (24 MB)
• Section VIII - Phase 1 Building Demolition detail sheets (utilities, grading, erosion control) and some Phase 2 & 3 information (35 MB)
• Section IX - Phases 2 & 3 Slab and Foundation Removals and Site Restoration (grading, erosion, seeding) (following links all 6400 KB or smaller) -- Sheets 1-10 ; 11-20 ; 21-30 ; 31-40 ; 41-50 ; 51-60 ; 61-65 ; 66-70 ; and 70-79

During the month of May, the level of activity at the Ford Plant will increase as demolition of the large building structures begins.   Demolition will begin with the Paint Building in the eastern part of the site, and progress toward the Main Assembly Building along Mississippi River Blvd as previously outlined with the city. Ford’s goal is to maximize the percentage of recyclable materials throughout the demolition process. 

Screening material will be affixed to the perimeter fencing to help control dust and noise.   A temporary truck scale will be installed onsite to weigh trucks that will be leaving the site with recyclable metals and other debris. 

Plant buildings are now mostly cleared of equipment. Equipment was shipped to other Ford sites for reuse or recycled as scrap metal.  Most utilities to the site have been disconnected, except as required to support construction trailers, security, and fire suppression.    Removal of asbestos and other regulated materials has been completed for the buildings slated for demolition during the months of May and June.  That abatement process continues in adjacent buildings that will be demolished in the months to come.  Demolition completion is dependent on many factors, including weather, so a completion date is not available.

Preparation of the site for sale and redevelopment is a complicated and lengthy process as outlined below.  Following are the main activities that will occur:

• Equipment removal
• Environmental decommissioning
• Application for demolition permits from the City of Saint Paul and various permits from Capitol Region Watershed and the MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency)
• Building demolition
• Environmental testing under the buildings
• Slab removal and related environmental work as needed
• Site restoration – Includes grading of site, establishment of storm water drainage, and seed with native landscaping

Ford Land and its contractors have extensive experience decommissioning other properties around the country and are bringing that knowledge and expertise to the Saint Paul Ford site.  However, each site is unique and adjustments for local circumstances are expected throughout the course of the work.  The timeline for completion of the various phases of the Ford Site demolition/remediation/restoration project is still under development pending approval of the site plan and demo permits.  Once concurred, timelines will be communicated to the public but completion estimates may be subject to change and will be updated accordingly.

Ford Site Property Manager – Mike Hogan, Ford Motor Company at 651-699-1321 

Decommissioning Activities – Jim Exline, Devon Industrial at 937-209-9379 
or Steve Bill, CBRE at 513-766-1580

Redevelopment Planning – Merritt Clapp-Smith, City of Saint Paul at 651-266-6547

Environmental Assessment – Amy Hadiaris, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at 651-757-2402