Flint, MI — The City of Flint plans to spearhead redevelopment of the old Farmers’ Market site.
The city has directed the current lessee, Uptown Reinvestment Corporation (URC), to demolish the old farmers’ market building on the 5-acre city-owned property in preparation for the redevelopment plans.
URC has leased the site from the City of Flint for $1 per year under a 20-year agreement signed in 2009 by then-acting Mayor Michael Brown, who was appointed Emergency Manager by former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder in 2011.
According to the lease agreement, URC must pay all insurance costs, repairs, maintenance, and capital improvements. However, after the construction of the new Flint Farmers’ Market, which opened in 2014, attempts to repurpose the former site for new development were not successful. As a result, the buildings on the old site have deteriorated and now are a public safety hazard. An engineering assessment shows major structural problems with the buildings.
Per an executed Letter of Understanding between the City of Flint and URC, a contractor will complete the demolition and URC will work cooperatively to identify and preserve historical elements of the building, including the original steel support joists, for reuse on a future project. The demolition will be completed with appropriate sand/gravel backfill in preparation for future redevelopment.
“URC’s lease on the former Flint Farmers’ Market property will terminate with the demolition of the structures on the site,” said Tim Herman, President of Uptown Reinvestment Corporation. “We look forward to supporting the City of Flint in future redevelopment opportunities as they pursue a new vision for the site’s next chapter.”
The City of Flint Department of Business and Community Services will issue a Request for Proposals for a redevelopment partner before the end of 2024. The City envisions a vibrant and dynamic mix of uses, including multifamily housing attractive to different ages and incomes, as well as entertainment opportunities and retail.
The project site is zoned “City Corridor” which is described on pages 54-55 of the Imagine Flint Comprehensive Plan. City Corridors are situated to “leverage the economic potential of traffic and help minimize land use incompatibilities by containing a variety of uses in manageable areas of the City.” These areas have “amenities such as sidewalks, benches, pedestrian-scale lighting, and landscaping that make it easy for residents and visitors to walk along the corridor. “Over time, the development pattern may evolve to include multi-story mixed use buildings and development that abuts the street.” Additionally, City Corridors can host a range of commercial uses, “including grocery stores and large format retailers” and “mixed use development consisting of multi-family uses above ground floor commercial uses.”
Flint residents can see various Bids and Requests for Proposal for acquisition of goods and services in an open and transparent process in accordance with Federal and State laws, as well as the City’s Procurement rules at Purchasing – City of Flint.
Hi! I just finished reading your article, and I have to say it was really informative! You did a great job of covering points that people often overlook, and I loved how clearly you explained everything. This really struck a chord with me, and I think many others will find it helpful as well. I’ve been exploring a related topic on my site, where I discuss [mention related subject]. I’d love to hear what you think about it! Thanks again for sharing such great content. Keep up the awesome work!