Water Street is a brownfield in Ypsilanti, Michigan which used to be a site of various industries and businesses.WASHTENAW COUNTY BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY - Water Street. (2014, December 1). https://www.washtenaw.org/DocumentCenter/View/11005/WS_BFP_WCBRA_AKT_182015_Revised-Final_Approved In 1999, under the leadership of Cheryl Farmer, the City of Ypsilanti officially embarked on a project to redevelop the area to improve the general image of Ypsilanti and increase its tax revenue.Hachem, K. (2002, March 10). Officials hope project sparks redevelopment. mlive newspaper archives. https://mlive.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2:124AC00F04CB9A3C@NGPA-MIMNA-17108D200D1BC14F@2452344-16F683BD6ECD9020@120-16F683BD6ECD9020@?search_terms=khalil%2Bhachem%2Bwater%2Bstreet%2Bcheryl%2Bfarmer&text=khalil+hachem+water+street+cheryl+farmer&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%5B0%5D=124AC00F04CB9A3C&pdate=2002-03-10Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority. (2001, January 18). Water street development area development plan and ... - city of ypsilanti. https://cityofypsilanti.com/DocumentCenter/View/295/Water-Street-Development-and-TIF-Plan-PDF?bidId= Stafford, K. (2013b, May 7). Former Ypsilanti mayor Cheryl Farmer: I have no regrets about Water Street. AnnArbor.com. https://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/former-ypsilanti-mayor-cheryl-farmer-i-have-no-regrets-in-assembling-38-acre-water-street-property/ Unsuccessful negotiations with developers and contamination have prevented the project from progressing.McCurdy, J., Nickels, B., Milan, E., & Zawacki, S. (2023). Ypsilanti Histories: A look back at the last fifty years. DigitalCommons@EMU. https://commons.emich.edu/books/12/ The city's goal to develop higher density tax generating property stemmed from the passing of the Headlee Amendment and Proposition A which resulted in limitations on property tax increases.Stewart, W. (1999, June 20). Flat revenues create a crunch in the city budget. Ann Arbor News. https://mlive.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2:124AC00F04CB9A3C@NGPA-MIMNA-17108D2C5602EB21@2451350-16F62E6697541793@2?pdate=1999-06-20Walcott, E. (2016, July 25). What is the headlee amendment and how does it affect local taxes?. MSU Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/what_is_the_headlee_amendment_and_how_does_it_affect_local_taxesSmolcic Larson, L. (2023b, May 4). "this is a warning": Ypsilanti leaders hear options for fixing long-term budget trouble. mlive. https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/05/this-is-a-warning-ypsilanti-leaders-hear-options-for-fixing-long-term-budget-trouble.htmlSeurynck, A. (2017, February 22). Understanding headlee - webinar: Michigan Library Association. Michigan Library Association - MLA - Lansing, MI. https://www.milibraries.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=608%3Aunderstanding-headlee---webinar---michigan-library-association&catid=59%3Awebinars&Itemid=250 Businesses and residents displaced by the proposed development attribute the blight and low taxable value of the area to the city's failure to provide and maintain municipal services and infrastructure.Rzepka, M. (2000, May 28). Residents brace for Ypsilanti project. mlive newspaper archives. https://mlive.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2:124AC00F04CB9A3C@NGPA-MIMNA-17108D3C93A69100@2451693-16F62E32471225D5@14-16F62E32471225D5@?search_terms=water%2Bstreet%2Bcheryl%2Bfarmer&text=water+street+cheryl+farmer&date_from=2000&date_to=2000&content_added=&pub%5B0%5D=124AC00F04CB9A3C&pdate=2000-05-28Ann Arbor News. (2007, July 1). Recall efforts hurt governing process - Foes misdirect discontent with officials. mlive newspaper archives. https://mlive.newsbank.com/doc/news/11A33D2E8B5BD258?search_terms= Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) includes parcels at Water street in the list of over 24,000 contaminated sites in Michigan, of which only 3,000 have been remediated in the last three decades. The contamination of the site is similar to other brownfield sites linked to the Automotive industry. Ypsilanti is among other municipalities in the state of Michigan with brownfield sites that remain undeveloped.Gardner, P., House, K., & Coté, S. (2023, October 20). Did auto industry pollute your michigan town? find out with interactive map. Bridge Michigan. https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/did-auto-industry-pollute-your-michigan-town-find-out-interactive-map
Geography
Water Street is a single 38-acre parcel near Ypsilanti's downtown area. The area is bordered by Michigan Avenue to the North, the Huron River to the West and South, and South and Park Streets to the East. Prior to being U.S. Route 12 in Michigan, the road on the North side used to be named Congress Street.
History Prior to the 1800s, Native Americans primarily inhabited the land around Ypsilanti and the river.Colburn, H. C. (1923). Chapter I and Chapter II. In The story of ypsilanti (pp. 11–29). essay, Centennial Celebration of the Founding of the City, in Cooperation with the Committee on History.John McCurdy, E., Bill Nickels, E., Evan Milan, E., & Sarah Zawacki, E. (2023). Ypsilanti Histories: A look back at the last fifty years. DigitalCommons@EMU. https://commons.emich.edu/books/12/ The Potawatomi and Sauk trails passed by what is currently the Water Street area.Dodd, T. (2013). There has always been heavy traffic on downtown Michigan Avenue. There Has Always Been Heavy Traffic On Downtown Michigan Avenue | Ann Arbor District Library. https://aadl.org/ypsigleanings/222044 Native peoples were removed from the area starting in 1816 and continuing until 1830. The first settler occupants on the land of the Water Street Redevelopment area were in the 1800s.Hachem, K. (2001b, December 16). As township grew, it's enthusiasm waned for merger with city. mlive newspaper archives. https://mlive.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2:124AC00F04CB9A3C@NGPA-MIMNA-17108D271357520D@2452260-16F683D8347245B7@10-16F683D8347245B7@?search_terms=native%2Bamerican%2Bhistory%2Bypsilanti%2B Harwood's flouring mill was constructed in 1829 and positioned along the river just south of Congress Street, now known as Michigan Avenue. In the second half of the 19th century, Alva Worden and his brothers John and Chauncey lived in mansions on this land and manufactured their invention, a new whip socket, in the same area. Ypsilanti Historical Society. (2009). Alva Worden. Alva Worden | Ann Arbor District Library. https://aadl.org/ypsigleanings_patent%20photo%202"Worden house, 24 E Michigan Ave (apts.)". https://quod.lib.umich.edu/y/yhsic1/x-01882/photo01882. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed January 12, 2024.Tchorzynski, Stacy Ann, "Archaeological investigations of the Worden House site (20W A341) city of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Michigan" (2002). Senior Honors Theses & Projects. 365. https://commons.emich.edu/honors/365
In the 1900s the land began to be developed and over the next 100 years it was the site of industries and businesses such as parks, a railroad, a lumber mill, a plastics factory, a heating and cooling business, restaurants and car dealerships.
Historic District/Amazing Quarter Mile The stretch of land along U.S. Route 12 in Michigan became a hub for car dealerships starting in 1912 when the first car dealership opened. This area has been referred to as "The Amazing Quarter Mile" and was eventually added to the Ypsilanti historic district. Resource Design Group. (1983, July 12). City wide historical and architectural survey 1983. City of Ypsilanti. https://cityofypsilanti.com/DocumentCenter/View/2009/City-Wide-Historical-and-Architectural-Survey-1983 Various businesses occupied the buildings on U.S. Route 12 in Michigan such as Ypsilanti Savings Bank, Markham's Restaurant, Moorman's Lumber Yard, Serbay Motors, Silkworth's Gas Station and Auto Repair, Sesi Lincoln Mercury. The last car dealership on the South side of this stretch closed in the 1990s.Minzey, J. D. (2014). Ypsilanti in the 1940s | Ann Arbor District Library. https://aadl.org/ypsigleanings/318880
List of businesses and parks Prior to the redevelopment project, the area has been home to businesses, residences and parks:United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Pilot Profile. EPA.
Arlan's shopping center"Arlans Department Store". https://quod.lib.umich.edu/y/yhsic1/x-07209/photo07209. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed January 12, 2024. Booth Newspapers, Inc. Campus Buick, Honda, and GMC Lee's Chop Suey Restaurant - 160 E Michigan Ave Commerce Motor Truck Co./Dura Corp. Davis Motor Sales Detroit Harvester Co Detroit United Railway Doran Chevrolet Co Forest Avenue Baptist Church First Class Cleaning Supply & Flooring Gilbert Park Greene's Cleaner & Dryers, Inc. Harwood's Flouring mill JJ's Hair Salon and Car Wash Joseph Thompson Inc. Lee's Takeout Logan's Landscaping Lowell's Towing Markham's Restaurant Moorman's Lumber Yard Plasber Inc Public Square Richards Desoto Plymouth River's Edge Park Serbay Motors"Plymouth Crystler Dealership". https://quod.lib.umich.edu/y/yhsic1/x-13780/photo13780. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed January 12, 2024. Sesi Lincoln Mercury Silkworth's Gas Station and Auto Repair Speedy Printing Vincent Chevrolet Walters Heating and Cooling Wireless ToyzGUPTA, P., & O'Donnell, C. (2003, July 11). Affordable Art. mlive newspaper archives. https://mlive.newsbank.com/doc/news/11E8386C73450BB8?search_terms=%27wireless%2Btoyz%27%2Bwater%2Bstreet&text=%27wireless+toyz%27+water+street&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=AARB&pub%5B0%5D=AARB&pdate=2003-07-11 Ypsi Automotive Parts Ypsi Iron & Metal Ypsilanti Press Ypsilanti Savings Bank Ypsilanti Tractor Sales Inc.
Timeline of the Redevelopment Project 1980: Ypsilanti contractor, Walter E. Duke, purchases an old building on Water Street south of Michigan Ave for $5,000 as part of the city's anti-blight program. The city and the contractor agree that the site will be renovated to be an "oil recycling facility" and include "riverside recreational areas."
1983: City of Ypsilanti sues contractor, Walter E. Duke, for breach of contract. They cite failure to pay taxes and to complete agreed upon renovations of the property. The contractor states that he was unable to secure federal or local financing for the $350,000 required for the project.
1990: A group called "Ypsilanti 2000" forms to discuss ways to improve the city and improve its image. One idea is to redevelop the Water Street site and tear down the vacant buildings.
1992: The city hires consulting firm Hyett-Palma to investigate the benefits of assembling the land and pursuing its redevelopment.Kauth-Karjala, M. (1992, November 19). Ideas presented for revitalization. mlive newspaper archives. https://mlive.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2:124AC00F04CB9A3C@NGPA-MIMNA-17108DA7ABA81B3C@2448946-16F680823AC35F78@76-16F680823AC35F78@?search_terms=Hyett-Palma&text=Hyett-Palma&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%25255B0%25255D=AARB&pub%255B0%255D=AARB&pub%5B0%5D=124AC00F04CB9A3C&pdate=1992-11-19 The study endorses the redevelopment project and forecasts increased property tax revenue.Hobbs, E. (2010, May 4). Ceremony kicks off building demolition for Ypsilanti's Water Street Redevelopment Project. AnnArbor.com. https://www.annarbor.com/news/ceremony-kicks-off-building-demolition-for-water-street-redevelopment-project/
1995: The state of Michigan rolls back a 1990 “polluters pay” law under Governor John Engler. This new legislation loosened polluter liability and impacted how contamination is remediated and where funding for cleanup efforts comes from. The rollback lessened the amount of required remediation of contaminated land.
1999: The city conducts a community charrette to gauge community interest in the project, and decides to move forward with the project.