Man pleads no contest to arson charge in Thompson Block fire
A man accused of setting fire to the historic Thompson Block building in Ypsilanti's Depot Town in 2009 has pleaded no contest to an arson charge in the case.
Jacob Popiolek, 21, of Ypsilanti, pleaded no contest Tuesday to the charge of arson — preparing to burn property of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000, Washtenaw County Chief Deputy Assistant Prosecutor Steve Hiller said.
Popiolek
Investigators say Popiolek set fire to the 30,000-square-foot building Sept. 23, 2009, leaving an estimated $113,000 damage to the building and $40,000 damage to its contents. The building at the northeast corner of Cross and River streets was under renovation and boarded up when the fire started at 1:40 a.m., investigators said.
The space is currently being converted into residential units. Ypsilanti officials and developer Stewart Beal have haggled since the fire over the building's renovation and plans to remove scaffolding supporting it.
Popiolek could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Bad Nana
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
Mr. Beal received money (millions) from a state funded grant (taxpayers $$) to be able to turn it into a profit for the Beal Properties, Inc, who apparently and initially said it would be reconstructed to be businesses on the bottom level or a portion of the building. The other portion, apartments or condos. Now, Mr. Beal changes his mind to make it all residential. Hmmm.... more profitable for the Beal Corporation. Mr. Beal's pockets are fat. Can anyone say, "tax breaks for the rich?" Who wants to live next to a railroad track anyway? What, if any, historic value does this shell of a building have at this point? Why not leave a boulder marker with a plaque inscribing the historic value, and then tear it down? Build a train station that would bring people to downtown Ypsilanti to bring in revenue? Oh, that's right, Ypsilanti isn't big enough or important enough with shopping, fine-dining or recreation to merit a train stop like in the old days.
eastsidemom
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 8:31 p.m.
do not underestimate the power of us on the east side to get that train stop and we already have plenty of great destinations right here in Ypsi...despite the Thompson block.
Wolf's Bane
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 : 5:03 p.m.
Alrighty, a homeless 21 year old torches a uninsured building which burns to the ground leaving the "developer" holding a bunch of ashes. Time to tear this ruin down and move on, please!
Gordon
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.
Curious. 21 and sets fire to an abandon buildinh. I wonder what was his motivaation? Not how I would have wanted to start my life. Then there is Beal apparently fighting with Ypsilanti over what & when about the building. Curious as to his motivation? Great building before the fire not so great after. Can be an asset to the neighborhood or turn out to be an expensive elephant. Obviously everyone wants something accomplished. It does seem to be a waste of effort. One attempts to burn it down & the other attempted to build it up. Sad.
Jimmy McNulty
Thu, Jun 2, 2011 : 11:04 a.m.
To state that the building "was under renovation and boarded up when the fire started" is very misleading. This uninsured property was sitting fallow at the time of the arson. How can the building be both boarded up and under renovation at the same time?
EatKeyLimePie
Wed, Jun 1, 2011 : 9:07 p.m.
Every morning that I pass this pile of rubble I get a little angry over this eyesore in a neighborhood that has such potential. I get upset that in an already poor housing market that this monstrosity is allowed to stand for almost 2 years and decrease property values even further for the neighbors of this building. It is then then that I turn the corner and read the Beal sign on the building proudly proclaiming "Precisely as Intended". Is that some kind of joke, why has he kept that sign up there, its like Beal's middle finger flicking us residents of Ypsi off. Whenever I see Stew Beal near the building I make sure to tell him "Precisely as Intended".
David Paris
Wed, Jun 1, 2011 : 9:02 p.m.
Great! And, best of luck to Mr Beal, and the city of Ypsilanti.
WiseWoman
Wed, Jun 1, 2011 : 8:28 p.m.
Great. Can we please tear it down now?
eastsidemom
Sat, Jun 4, 2011 : 8:29 p.m.
there is a long history of litigation...it cannot just be torn down