Ypsilanti's Water Street options range from student housing to fast-food

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 | Source: Concentrate

The odyssey that is Water Street just might be sighting land soon. City officials are talking with developers who want to build everything from a grocery store to student housing on the 38-acre property.

One developer wants to build a fast food restaurant at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Park Street. Another plans to build a grocery store on Michigan Avenue between Park and River streets. There are also plans floating around for senior and student housing.

The city took out millions of dollars in bonds to buy the 42 properties on the parcel just southeast of downtown. The collection of properties borders Michigan Avenue and the Huron River. It became an albatross when the chosen developer, Joseph Freed & Associates, pulled out in 2007.

City officials have been scrambling to find a developer for the parcel, originally envisioned as an urban extension of downtown. Now they are willing to chop it up and allow suburban-style development to get the tax revenue flowing in to help pay off the bonds.

Meanwhile many of the commercial and industrial buildings there have been left to rot, some are in need of demolition. Some parts of the parcel are in need of pollution remediation as a result of their industrial origins.

City officials continue to negotiate with the potential developers and timeline for a decision has not been decided upon.

Source: April McGrath, assistant city manager for Ypsilanti
Writer: Jon Zemke