Michigan Community Capital provided a bridge loan to The Original and Only Thompson Block, LLC to finance the activation and historic redevelopment of the Thompson Block building in downtown Ypsilanti. The first floor was converted into the full-service restaurant - Thompson & Co. The second and third floors were converted into 20 loft-style apartments known as the Thompson Block Lofts. The Thompson Block building was originally constructed in 1861, just across from the busy Ypsilanti railroad depot. Over the decades, the storefronts sold paint, bicycles, farm implements and automobiles, among other products. The Thompson Block’s fortune followed that of the neighborhood, and it was completely vacant before a devastating fire destroyed most of the structure in 2009. With collapsed floors and roof, the remaining brick walls were unstable and dangerous. Demolition was planned. A development team led by Original and Only Thompson Block LLC signed on in 2017 to rehabilitate this neighborhood landmark. Stabilizing the masonry walls was a substantial challenge. The entire structure had to be repointed, with selective reconstruction to match the pre-fire profile of the building. The use of many historical photographs guided the work. The $13-million rehabilitation project employed both Federal and State Historic Preservation Tax Credits, a pre-development loan from the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, and received a $3.2-million award from the Michigan Community Revitalization Program. The Thompson Block reopened in 2021.
