Redford Township is
ready to redevelop and reinvent itself, that's the idea township officials will
push this year. The initiative will come under the heading, "Redford Township is Redevelopment Ready."As part of the effort the township is applying
for $400,000 in EPA brownfield grants, creating a brochure highlighting
redevelopment projects and opportunities and moving forward removing blighted
structures to make room for new construction.
"Hopefully, that will help convey that
we have some positive things going on in Redford
Township," says Michael Dennis,
community development director for Redford
Township.
Saying what they hope to do and pointing to
what they have done are two very different things. Luckily for Redford Township it has a number of accomplishments
it can point to, including the razing of the blighted Cambridge
Nursing Home (finished this week) and the Redford
Township Medical Building redevelopment.
Township officials hope those projects will
help bolster the case they are making for two $200,000 EPA grants this year.
The grants would pay for brownfield assessments of blighted and vacant parcels
to show just how much pollution, if any, they have. That information could help
spur more redevelopment projects.
Redford Township is
trying to revitalize its downtown district at Beech Daly and 5 Mile roads,
creating an urban, walkable area. It has taken several significant steps toward
that in recent years, primarily with the Redford Township
Medical Building
redevelopment. Township officials hope to do more this year.
Source: Michael Dennis, community
development director for Redford
Township
Writer: Jon Zemke
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