Last month, UM-Dearborn signed an addendum to extend the date of the formal transfer of ownership of the Henry Ford Estate to the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House.
Transfer of ownership originally was set to take place on July 1 but the addendum extends that date to Dec. 31, 2011.
In an email to campus on June 28, Jeffrey Evans, vice chancellor for business affairs at UM-Dearborn, said "While many details have been finalized, additional work needs to be completed in areas such as the complex environmental due-diligence process and additional restoration and preservation analysis … This additional time will allow us to finalize important details surrounding the transition and allow the Henry Ford Estate Board to continue their capital and endowment campaign planning."
Many of the transition details have been finalized such as the establishment of an independent and separate charitable entity, known as the "Henry Ford Estate," the establishment of student internships and academic collaboration and building a relationship with the Environmental Interpretative Center.
Another noteworthy development includes the hiring of four UM-Dearborn employees, effective January 1, 2012, and the continuation of their job responsibilities at the Estate during the transition phase. Planning for the restoration and reinterpretation phases is under way. This planning work is needed to better determine the re-opening schedule of the Estate and surrounding events.
As originally planned, the Estate's mansion closed to the public on Dec. 31, 2010 but visitors, staff, faculty and students still are welcome to enjoy the Estate grounds on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. To ensure safety and deter vandalism, the Estate grounds and parking lot close at 6 p.m. weekdays and are closed weekends. When the Estate grounds are closed, the north and south gates on Fair Lane Drive adjacent to the Estate also are closed.
