Brownfield Redevelopment Initiative
Economic Development and Planning Division
City of Kalamazoo

Sustainable Development and a Cleaner Environment

Assistance from the Brownfield Redevelopment Initiative (BRI)

Program Overview
Selected as a Brownfields Regional Pilot Project by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the city of Kalamazoo is recognized as a national leader in the redevelopment of abandoned and environmentally distressed properties. Our city's BRI program identifies, prioritizes, and acquires brownfield sites that have reverted to public ownership due to the failure of previous owners to pay property taxes.

Our professional staff then assembles resources to accomplish site preparation activities such as demolition and environmental site assessment. Public input sessions with community stakeholders ensure that high quality purchase and development agreements are negotiated between the city and prospective developers. This systematic approach results in numerous community benefits:

• Protection of public health and a cleaner environment
• Tax base enhancement by finding productive uses for neglected sites
• Job creation and retention
• Spin-off redevelopment and stronger neighborhoods
• Creating an alternative to urban sprawl and the loss of open space

Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Under the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act (Public Act 381 of 1996), Kalamazoo was one of the first cities in Michigan to create a Brownfield Authority and implement a Brownfield Plan for our sites. Benefits to developers who successfully redevelop these sites are significant:

• Reimbursement for eligible environmental expenses (Baseline Environmental Assessment, Due care, and additional response activities)
• State Single Business Tax Credit for up to 10% of investment in property improvements ($1 million upper limit on credit)
• Resources for enhancing private investment with public improvements

Criteria for Inclusion in the Brownfield Plan

• Site or adjoining site must be contaminated and meet the facility and designation (as defined by Part 201 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act)

• Priority given to sites which are publicly owned, abandoned, or generate minimal property tax base (if privately owned)

• Private owners of sites which otherwise qualify must consent to inclusion in the Plan

Additional Redevelopment Assistance
The city works cooperatively with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to bring expertise and resources to each brownfield redevelopment project. These resources and services include:

• Help compile relevant existing environmental information
• Assist with environmental liability management (due diligence) process
• Pursue grant sources for Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments, Baseline Environmental Site Assessments, and coordinate environmental testing and cleanup from state and federal resources*
• Stabilize salvageable structures or condemn those in need of demolition
• Devise site plans and alternative uses for unoccupied properties
• Assist in obtaining PA 198 Tax Abatements for eligible projects
• Determine project eligibility for state and federal tax credits

* certain restrictions apply; please call for details