LANSING–State Sen. Tom George has introduced legislation to help foster revitalization in metropolitan Detroit through the creation of a Detroit/Wayne County Redevelopment Authority.

“Local officials need to be given the proper tools for renewal,”
said George, R–Kalamazoo. “A redevelopment authority will enable the city and county to have a cohesive strategy for stabilizing and redeveloping tax-reverted properties. It will provide critical new measures beyond the ones available for other local land banks.”

George has spearheaded the efforts to create such an authority. The first two bills of the bipartisan legislative package, Senate Bills 978 and 979, have been introduced by George and his colleague, Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City.

“This is the latest step in our comprehensive plan to help Michigan downtowns redevelop,” said Allen, chair of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee. “We’ve heard many excellent suggestions from urban leaders during our statewide series of hearings. Now it is time to approve these innovative proposals and move our cities forward.”

Sen. George is also working on this initiative with Sen. Tupac Hunter, D-Detroit, Sen. Gerald Van Woerkom, R-Muskegon, and state Rep. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit, who chairs the Detroit Caucus.  George expects the other bills in the package to be introduced very soon.  He also noted that powers provided by a redevelopment authority could include permitting investment in public infrastructure such as lighting, curbing, and landscaping.

“It would mean putting affordable housing on a level playing field with commercial redevelopment by waiving taxes on housing parcels,”
Johnson said. “The redevelopment authority will empower officials to do what’s necessary to turn vacant property to productive use.”

George announced his proposal at a news conference in northwest Detroit at Motor City Blight Busters (MCBB), a community-based nonprofit organization that helps stabilize, revitalize and rejuvenate neighborhoods in Detroit.

John George (no relation to the senator) is the founder and president of MCBB and is pleased with the senator’s efforts.

“Motor City Blight Busters is always looking for new soldiers in our effort to fight blight and to stabilize and revitalize our community and are excited to work with Sen. George on this blight-fighting initiative,” John George said. “We invite everyone to participate in Detroit’s rebirth.”

Source:  News release from state Senator Tom George