Business

Detroit contractor Gayanga closes after 235 sites tied to contaminated dirt, sues city

Gayanga Co., a Detroit demolition contractor accused of backfilling sites with contaminated dirt from Iron Horse of Michigan, announced it is closing and filing a defamation suit against the city Office of Inspector General and investigator Kamau Marable. The company had been suspended from city work last September, with the suspension lifted in March under a 180-day debarment limit. City data links 235 properties to Gayanga among 533 suspected contaminated sites, and officials are weighing a $4.5 million contract with Mannik & Smith Group for testing.

May 7, 2026

Boston hires Boston Building Resources to study reuse of 640,000 tons of debris

Boston has hired nonprofit Boston Building Resources, led by Andrew Thompson, to study a market for reusing demolition and deconstruction debris, part of Mayor Wu's climate action plan due Monday. The $50,000 study will track at least 20 demolition and renovation sites through year-end, offering participants free technical assistance and materials management plans, with best practices expected by early 2027. City officials say Boston generates about 640,000 tons of construction debris annually and may eventually consider a reuse ordinance similar to those in Minneapolis, San Antonio, and Portland, Ore.

Apr 24, 2026