Old farmers market building will be demolished to make way for redevelopment.
FLINT, Mich.— The City of Flint plans to spearhead redevelopment of the 5-acre city-owned property at 420 E. Boulevard Drive, and has directed the current lessee of the property, Uptown Reinvestment Corporation, to demolish the old farmers’ market building in preparation.
Uptown Reinvestment Corporation (URC) has leased the site from the City of Flint for $1 per year, under a 20-year agreement that was signed in 2009 by then-Acting Mayor Michael Brown—who in 2011 was appointed Emergency Manager by Governor Rick Snyder.
According to the lease agreement, URC as the tenant must pay all costs of insurance, 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.
Herman added: “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.
Any questions can be directed to Emily Doerr at the City of Flint at edoerr@cityofflint.com.
