News Photo: Temi Fadayomi A portion of the remaining tree at the former Alpena County Jail site was photographed on Tuesday.
ALPENA — As construction work continues on the grounds of the former Alpena County Jail facility, some of the trees remaining on the property may be removed and reintroduced later, officials said. said.
“We’re trying to save them,” said Jeff Konzak, owner of Alpena Mark LLC. “I don’t know if it will survive construction.”
Alpena Marc LLC purchased the former prison and Alpena County Sheriff’s Office for $299,029 in 2022 with plans to build drive-thru food and beverage outlets including Quiznos, Biggby Coffee and Taco Del Mar restaurants.
Several trees remain on the grounds today, including two small trees that stand where the prison courtyard once stood. Local officials indicated that many of the trees on the property had been there for years, but were unable to determine exactly how long they had been there.
A former prison official told The News in 2019 that prisoners could sometimes go outside and spend time in a small courtyard until their escape was over.
Demolition of the old prison didn’t begin until last month because there was a large amount of asbestos and lead paint in the building. The structure was sprayed with water during demolition to keep harmful pollutants out of the air.
“Everything has to be removed and taken to a landfill, which is sometimes the case at construction sites,” Konchak told News last month. “It took a little longer. It could take him weeks, possibly three weeks, to completely clean up the site.”
Konchak plans to invest $1.75 million in the property and estimates it will create 40 to 55 new jobs.
Konczak said last month that the Food and Beverage Park has a covered outdoor dining area and that the location will be used by Alpena Community College students and staff, MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena employees, and others to attend events in the Northern. He said he hopes it will be a convenient option for people. Rights like he arena and his Aplex.
This small cube-shaped structure is manufactured in Alpena and resembles the drive-thru Bigby Coffee in the Meyer parking lot.
A date for the park’s opening has not yet been announced, but it will depend on how long it takes to clear the site and changes to zoning by the city.