Detroit/Wayne County redevelopment authority proposed

A Kalamazoo state senator has proposed the creation of a Detroit/Wayne County redevelopment authority to help the city and county redevelop tax-reverted properties.

Sen. Tom George, R-Kalamazoo, announced the plan during a press conference in Detroit Thursday.

He said the plan would grant powers beyond those typically given to land banks; permitting investment in public infrastructure such as lighting, curbing, and landscaping; putting affordable housing on a level playing field with commercial redevelopment by enabling the redevelopment authority to waive its tax capture on housing parcels; designation of urban agricultural zones; and empowering the authority to rezone parcels in its possession if necessary to return parcels to productive use.

He also said his proposal would enable increased funding by allowing the redevelopment authority to capture taxes for eight years instead of the current five years.

“A lot of this simply comes down to giving local officials enough tools to do what’s necessary to turn vacant property to beneficial use,” said George.

George announced his proposal at a news conference in northwest Detroit at Motor City Blight Busters, a community-based nonprofit organization that helps stabilize, revitalize and rejuvenate neighborhoods in Detroit.

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano has yet to review the plan and can’t yet comment on it, said Dennis Niemiec, the county’s director of creative services.
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