Brownfield development grant targeted for 8 Mile, other areas
Published on August 03, 2023
The 8 Mile Boulevard Association will share in a $1 million brownfield development grant recently authorized by the Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.
The grant, issued through the federal Environmental Protection Agency, was unanimously authorized in an 8-0 vote.
"This is tremendous news for the 8 Mile area and will help continue redevelopment already under way in the area," said Wayne County Commissioner Martha G. Scott (D-Highland Park), whose district includes the area.
"I know this will continue the much-needed commercial development along this 8 Mile stretch," Commissioner Killeen said. "I am happy to see that we are continuing to make strides in developing the area for the benefit of both businesses and residents."
Other areas to benefit from the grant include the Southwest Detroit Business Association and the Wayne County Economic Development Department, which will cover work on Michigan Avenue in Inkster.
Commissioners Tim Killeen (D-Detroit), Cara Clemente (D-Lincoln Park) and David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) joined Commissioner Scott in praising the grant allocation.
"With the new Gordie Howe Bridge being completed in southwest Detroit, this grant is both timely and welcome," Commissioner Clemente said.
Commissioner Knezek said the grant will help revive a main commercial section of his commission district.
"Over the past decade, few communities have been hit harder than Inkster," he said. "But our community is resilient and working hard to bring economic development to Michigan Avenue, one of the main arteries through the city. This influx of money will complement the work that is already ongoing and serve as a catalyst for future growth and opportunity."
Projects include investigating areas in each district for potential contamination to eventually target them for cleanup and redevelopment.
The 8 Mile Boulevard Association area includes a section of slightly more than four miles between Van Dyke Avenue and Kelly Road.
The section is one of Detroit's oldest commercial and industrial centers but has suffered from significant vacancies in recent years.
It is adjacent to the former state fairgrounds which has undergone significant redevelopment.
The Southwest Detroit Business Association area covers roughly nine square miles along the Detroit River, including areas surrounding the Ambassador Bridge and the soon to be completed Gordie Howe International Bridge.
A transportation hub between the U.S. and Canada since the 1930s, the area includes many blighted areas with potentially hazardous contamination from cancercausing chemicals, petroleum refining byproducts, lead and asbestos as well as other materials.
The Michigan Avenue area includes a 2.5-mile stretch between Henry Ruff and South Beech Daly roads. The area, a main commercial district, suffered substantial setbacks both due to the Great Recession of the early 2000s as well as the recent COVID19 pandemic.
Brownfield development grant targeted for 8 Mile, other areas(PDF, 134KB)