Detroit, Mich. -- Detroit Mayor Dave Bing joined officials from the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, DTE Energy and others to announce that a $20 million hazardous material cleanup project has begun on the west third of the Belleview Development Site, the former location of a Uniroyal Tire factory and other industrial plants. The site is the largest undeveloped property along the Detroit River between downtown and the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle. The cleanup will prepare the site for private redevelopment and construction of the final eastern portion of the Detroit RiverWalk. 

"This is a major milestone for the East Riverfront and for the City of Detroit," said Mayor Bing. "Our riverfront is one of the City's greatest assets and this announcement sets the stage for us to better capitalize on all the promise of our international waterfront."

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) is managing negotiations with the corporations responsible for the cleanup of the entire 43-acre site - DTE Energy, Michelin North America, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. and Enodis Corporation. "It took a long time and a lot of hard work to get us here, but the beginning of remediation is an important step in the overall transformation of the Riverfront District from factories to parks, housing and a mixture of other uses," said George W. Jackson, Jr., president and CEO of DEGC.

Beginning in the late 1800s and continuing through the early 1990s, the site was home to numerous industrial operations, including tire manufacturing, ammonia production, iron production and manufactured gas production from coal. These historical operations left industrial byproducts in the soils that need to be removed to prepare the site for development.

Karla Henderson, chair of the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (DBRA) said, "Detroit is known around the world for utilizing brownfield tools to revive obsolete, blighted or contaminated properties into productive projects. This is an example of how brownfields can be turned into productive land to bring investment, jobs and economic development to Detroit."

The cleanup will cover the western 14 acres of the site and will include construction of 700 linear feet of seawall, excavation of soils down to 30 feet, disposal of excavated soils in appropriate landfills, returning site to grade using clean fill and soil and planting the site with native plants, wildflowers, and grass.

MichCon, a DTE subsidiary, produced manufactured gas from coal on this section of the site and will fulfill its obligation as a responsible party when the first phase of cleanup is completed. MichCon president Jerry Norcia said the project will have economic as well as environmental benefits. "This site has the potential to be a significant economic catalyst for this neighborhood, the city and the region," Norcia said. "While this cleanup will help prepare the site for future development, it also will generate substantial economic activity over the next 18 months. The three primary contractors together will earn $20 million, much of which will ultimately be spent with other Michigan businesses. In addition, about 150 workers will be employed over the duration of the project."

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is assisting the remediation effort as part of its regulatory role. DEQ Director Dan Wyant said, "The transformation of this property, from its historic industrial use to a place where people can live, work and recreate, is emblematic of our statewide effort to repurpose brownfields. This is important for revitalizing our urban areas as well as protecting our greenfields around the state. We are excited for this development in Detroit and will continue to support its success." 

The likely first redevelopment of the site will be the construction of one of the final sections of the East Riverfront by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy. Currently, three miles of East Riverfront is complete and open to the public, which includes plazas, pavilions, parks and green space, all connected by way of the RiverWalk. The Conservancy plans to launch its final phase of construction in Spring 2012 to address the remaining parcels of land that have yet to be developed. Faye Alexander Nelson, president and CEO of the Conservancy said, "This site represents a critical piece in the completion of the East Riverfront development. As soon as we receive the green light, our team will be in place to construct this final segment that will ultimately connect all three and a half miles of development on the East Riverfront."

A mixture of residential and other uses is expected for the remainder of the site. Bettis/Betters Development, LLC, holds an agreement with the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to develop it. "Belleview's outstanding location makes it one of the premiere sites for residential and mixed use development in the entire city," said Jerome A. Bettis, former All-Pro NFL star for the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the principals in Bettis/Betters. "Detroit is my home town, and I won a Super Bowl here. This is going to be a super project, too ? one that we can all be proud of."

The general contractor for the remediation is Job Site Services of Bay City. The excavation contractor is Detroit-based Blaze Contracting, Inc., and the seawall contractor is E.C. Korneffel Co. of Trenton. Remediation and seawall engineering and construction management is supported by Stantec out of its southeast Michigan offices and Wade Trim of Detroit. The project will employ about 150 workers, many from the City of Detroit.

DTE Energy, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. and Michelin North America are sharing responsibility for this cleanup based on their historical ownership of the site. The remaining 29 acres of the site are divided into two parcels. Enodis has been identified as the responsible party for the eastern parcel and Michelin is identified as the responsible party for the middle parcel.

Background

Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
The City of Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (DBRA) was established to promote the revitalization of environmentally distressed and blighted areas within the boundaries of the City of Detroit, Michigan. Properties that are located in Detroit that qualify as contaminated, blighted, or functionally obsolete may be eligible for certain brownfield redevelopment incentives upon approval of a brownfield plan. Substantial redevelopment throughout Detroit has been supported by brownfield incentives. Since the program's inception, the DBRA has facilitated the approval of 192 plans for brownfield redevelopment, including residential, mixed-use, retail, office and commercial uses. Once completed, these plans are expected to create approximately $6.4 billion in new investment, 16,549 jobs, and over 10,600 housing units in the City of Detroit.

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) is a non-profit organization that serves as the lead implementing agency for business retention, attraction and economic development initiatives in the city of Detroit. DEGC is led by a 60-member board comprised of business, civic, labor and community leaders. Its 35 professionals provide staff services for key public authorities that offer tax credits and other forms of financing for projects that bring new jobs or economic activity to the city. Among them: the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (DBRA), Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC). Visit www.degc.org for more information or find DEGC on Facebook and PeopleMovers.com.

DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on gas storage and pipelines, unconventional gas production, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
The Department of Environmental Quality protects Michigan's environment while supporting improved public health, the quality of life and a sustainable future. The DEQ works to be a full partner in helping Michigan grow its economy while safeguarding its people and environment.

Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy was formed as a public-private partnership in early 2003 with the mission of developing public access on the Detroit International Riverfront and serve as an anchor for economic development. The completed project will span five-and-a-half miles of riverfront property, from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park, just east of the Belle Isle Bridge, and will include a continuous RiverWalk along with public parks and green spaces. Currently, three miles of East Riverfront is complete and open to the public. The Conservancy, a non-profit organization, is responsible for the construction and permanent operations, maintenance and programming of the Riverfront and the Dequindre Cut Greenway. Visit www.DetroitRiverfront.org for more information or follow us on Facebook and Twitter at Detroit Riverfront.

Bettis/Betters Development, LLC (BBD)
Bettis/Betters Development, LLC (?BBD?) is owned and operated by Jerome A. Bettis and Charles J. Betters. BBD maintains vast and varied experience in construction and construction management; real estate development and property management; and industrial redevelopment including Brownfield reclamation.

MEDIA CONTACTS

DBRA/DEGC: Bob Rossbach, 313-402-9831, bob@rossbach.tv
Mayor?s Office: Dan Lijana, 313-628-4255, LijanaD@detroitmi.gov
DTE Energy/MichCon: Len Singer, 313.235.8809, singerl@dteenergy.com
Michigan DEQ: Brad Wurfel, 517-241-7395, wurfelb@michigan.gov
DRFC: Carly Strachan, 313-460-8100, cstrachan@loviogeorge.com
Bettis/Betters Development LLC: Michael Moidel, 724-773-0444, mmoidel@cjbetters.com