Delphi responsible for 'Chevy in the Hole' cleanup, Flint off the hook
A follow up to the post above:
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde..._not_be_c.html
Quote:
Delphi responsible for 'Chevy in the Hole' cleanup, Flint off the hook
by Joe Lawlor | The Flint Journal
Wednesday March 18, 2009, 8:46 AM
FLINT, Michigan -- It doesn't appear the city has to worry about paying for any toxic problems at "Chevy in the Hole."
Still, it looks as if the property -- once home to the famed Sit-Down Strike of 1936-37 -- might not be city-owned for long.
When city officials quietly swooped in to purchase the Delphi property for $1 on Dec. 30 as part of then-Mayor Don Williamson's plan to build a drag strip, they nudged out the Genesee County Land Bank -- which for more than a year had been negotiating to take over the site and possibly turn it into a park.
"We continue to be interested," said Daniel T. Kildee, the county's treasurer who also heads the Land Bank. "We would be open to (owning the property)."
City officials recently were surprised to discover that Flint owned the property. The site, which is contaminated because of long-term industrial use, sits along the Flint River near Kettering University.
Temporary Mayor Michael Brown last week said he was worried that the city would have to pay to clean up the site -- which prompted Williamson to offer to buy it for $1, the same purchase price paid by the city.
But Jim Innes of the state Department of Environmental Quality said Delphi Corp., which owned the property before it was transferred to the city, is preparing a report on contaminants at the site and how they will be cleaned up. Innes said that no matter who owns it now or in the future, Delphi will pay for the cleanup.
"They (Delphi) are the ones responsible for the cleanup," Innes said.
Brown said he is open to a property transfer to the Land Bank.
"It's an excellent option, no question about it," he said.
Any interest in Williamson's offer?
"No," said Brown. "This isn't about individuals. This (is) about a community effort."
As the former Chevrolet Flint Manufacturing complex, Chevy in the Hole comprises about 20 buildings, eight of which were production and assembly plants. General Motors started closing parts of the complex in the 1990s, and the last building was demolished in 2004.
Larry Ford, a board member of the city's Economic Development Corp., said Tuesday that the property was intended for the now-shelved plan by Williamson to build a drag strip there.
Ford signed the quit claim deed on behalf of the city.
Brown is still investigating whether the Dec. 30 land transfer from Delphi to Flint's Economic Development Corp. was legal. He said the matter probably should have gone before the City Council.
When told Tuesday that the site was being considered for the Land Bank, Williamson said the city doesn't recognize that it has a valuable piece of property.
"In order to develop property, you have to have foresight and know what to do with the property," said Williamson, who resigned as mayor last month. "Apparently, they have no one (at City Hall) who knows what to do."
But Williamson also said he's "sure (city officials) are doing the right thing."
Several years ago, there were lofty plans for River Town at the Chevy in the Hole site, which would include housing, parks, restaurants, bicycle and walking trails and a research park.
But Kildee said that at a minimum, the property could be turned into a parklike setting by removing the ugly concrete in the city's core, planting trees and putting in grass.
"It would be good to just have it be a nice place to look at," said Kildee.
The Land Bank owns nearby property, including parking lots off Bluff Street.
Brown said the city is willing to do whatever it takes to reduce blight and improve the city.
"If the Delphi property is in the mix for redevelopment, that's a positive for the future of Flint," Brown said.
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I've said it before, but Williamson is an idiot. Thinking a baseball stadium or dragstrip wouldn't require digging, thus no environmental cleanup? I wish the voters of Flint were able to have Brown for a few more years (Mayor for Life?). He's reminding me of what Ed Kurtz did during the state takeover in 2002, but unfortunately, Flint will probably get another Stanley or Williamson who will screw the city yet again.
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"In order to develop property, you have to have foresight and know what to do with the property," said Williamson, who resigned as mayor last month. "Apparently, they have no one (at City Hall) who knows what to do."
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No, you have to have money to develop property. Unfortunately, Don, you put the city in a $20million hole that continues to grow each day.
Last edited by robk1982; Mar 19, 2009 at 1:20 AM.
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