Thursday, June 27, 2024 Fisher Body plant number 21, a prominent yet dilapidated structure in Detroit, is set to undergo a remarkable transformation into new housing, thanks in part to a $1 million grantfrom EGLE, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Constructed in 1919 as part of the expansive Fisher Body Plant complex on Piquette Avenue, the facility played a pivotal role in General Motors’ early history, operating until 1984. After serving as a paint company site until abandonment in 1993, ownership transferred to the city of Detroit in 2000.
Situated on an 8.7-acre parcel spanning 6501 Hastings Street, 666 Harper Avenue, and 991 Harper Avenue, the property suffers from contamination including petroleum compounds, metals, chlorinated solvents, asbestos, and lead paint. Over the years, remediation efforts by EGLE and the U.
S. Environmental Protection Agency included removing a leaking underground storage tank and addressing PCB contamination. The $1 million EGLE Brownfield Redevelopment Grant will fund additional assessments, transportation and disposal of contaminated soil, final cleanup of the storage tank area, and installation of a vapor mitigation system.
Further support comes from a city-approved Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan totaling nearly $25 million, which allows developers to recoup eligible costs through increased property tax revenue post-completion. Anticipated to cost $153 million, the redevelopment project aims to deliver 4.
