Aerotropolis gets closer ... kind of

Airport city here we come! Actually, wait, not yet. But they've -- big dog county execs from Wayne and Oakland, Robert Ficano and L. Brooks Patterson, respectively -- reached an agreement "in principle." Well, hot damn! In principle. That's as good as gold!

Excerpt:

Wayne County and Oakland County executives Robert Ficano and L. Brooks Patterson have reached an agreement in principle and are close to finalizing state legislative language for an "aerotropolis," or airport city area, to be developed near Detroit Metro and Willow Run airports.

Ficano said in a radio interview Wednesday that the two counties struck a tentative deal, and Oakland County officials confirmed the pact.

"We do have an agreement in principle, but we are still working on writing the legislative language," said Gerald Poisson, Oakland County deputy executive, in an e-mail statement Wednesday. Ficano could not be reached for further comment.

The Detroit Region Aerotropolis is an economic development initiative involving 60,000 acres between the Detroit Metropolitan and Willow Run airports. At its core are tax incentives, such as renaissance zones, to lure new companies, especially logistics firms or those that rely on aviation.

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