rant boosts city of Muskegon redevelopment projects

May 12, 2009
By Dave Alexander
Muskegon Chronicle

MUSKEGON --Â The city of Muskegon will be able to replenish its "brownfield" assessment fund thanks to a $200,000 stimulus program grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Muskegon's $200,000 is part of a $10.3 million grant to Michigan communities by the EPA Brownfield Program. "Brownfield" refers to property, usually in urban areas, that has a history of environmental contamination from past uses such as manufacturing.

Muskegon's money will be made available to property owners and developers on sites in the city that need an environmental assessment before redevelopment can take place.

Muskegon Community Development and Planning Director Cathy Brubaker-Clarke said the funds will go mainly toward properties in the downtown and industrial park areas of the city. Since 2005, the city of Muskegon received $2 million in Michigan Department of Environment Quality funds for environmental assessments.

Those wanting to redevelop a site first need a "Phase I" environmental survey to research the history of the property. If there are indications of potential pollution, the site would then need a "Phase II" assessment that includes soil testing.

The environmental consultants hired by the city to perform the assessments would then conclude with a "baseline environmental assessment" outlining the pollution, its causes and a cleanup plan.

"We are definitely excited to have received these funds," Brubaker-Clarke said. "It has been a year since we have had these type of funds available. That's tied our hands. We have several projects that could use the help. We'll hit the ground running."

The city's EPA dollars will cover roughly a dozen Phase I studies, nine Phase II and five cleanup plans, according to federal officials. The city of Muskegon will certify the West Michigan environmental companies that can do the work and contract directly with them.

Over the years, the city has been aggressive in its environmental cleanup programs. Properties that receive a cleanup plan qualify for the city's Brownfield Redevelopment Program.

The program provides Michigan business tax credits for projects approved by the Muskegon City Commission to help pay for environmental cleanups and redevelopment costs.

In the past 15 years, the city has done an extensive survey of Muskegon Lake properties, providing owners and developers with basic environmental assessments and histories that are needed for redevelopment projects to progress, Brubaker-Clarke said.

In recent years, the city has paid for Phase I and II assessments on downtown redevelopment projects such as the Baker College culinary arts school, the Sidock Building and the Hines Building.