Transforming a Challenging Brownfield Site into a Downtown Asset
Redeveloping a brownfield property doesn’t happen overnight. It takes planning, environmental investigation, cleanup, and investment, but the result can be a property that once again contributes to the community.
That process is now underway at 4496 North Washington Avenue in Ubly.
The property has a long history of commercial and industrial uses, including a blacksmith shop, gas station, oil and fuel depot, and auto repair shop. Those past uses have left behind environmental challenges that must be addressed before the property can be fully redeveloped.
Over the next three years, the site will undergo environmental investigation, remediation, and preparation for redevelopment into a new cafe. While the future cafe is an exciting part of the project, getting there will take time. The environmental cleanup and redevelopment work will occur in phases as the site moves through the necessary steps to address contamination and prepare the property for its next use.
The Role of the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
Projects like this are one example of why the Huron County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is an important economic development tool for communities across the county.
The BRA works to help communities and property owners address environmental conditions and other barriers that can prevent the redevelopment of previously used properties. Brownfield programs can help make challenging sites viable for reinvestment, properties that may otherwise remain vacant, underutilized, or difficult to redevelop because of the costs associated with environmental cleanup.
For the 4496 North Washington Avenue project, the Huron County BRA was recently awarded a $350,000 Brownfield Redevelopment Grant through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The funding will support eligible environmental and site preparation activities over the next three years.
The grant will help cover costs associated with:
Additional environmental assessments and investigations
Removal of hoists from the former auto repair shop
Excavation, transportation, and disposal of contaminated soil
Management of contaminated groundwater, if necessary
Asbestos abatement and limited demolition
Design and installation of a vapor mitigation system
This funding is an important step in addressing the environmental conditions that have made redevelopment of the property challenging.
Why Brownfield Redevelopment Matters
Brownfield redevelopment is about more than cleaning up a property. It is about creating opportunities to put existing properties back into productive use rather than leaving them vacant or underutilized.
For Ubly, the redevelopment of 4496 North Washington Avenue provides an opportunity to address a long-standing environmental challenge while supporting the continued revitalization of the village’s downtown.
Once the environmental work and redevelopment are complete, the project is expected to create three full-time and three part-time jobs and bring a new business and gathering place to the community.
But for now, the focus is on the work that needs to happen first. Over the next three years, the property will move through the environmental cleanup and redevelopment process. There will be investigations, remediation, site work, and other necessary steps along the way before the property reaches its final use.
The future cafe is the visible end goal, but the work happening behind the scenes is what will make that redevelopment possible.
Through the Huron County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, communities have a tool to tackle these complicated properties, address environmental barriers, and create a path toward new investment. The redevelopment of 4496 North Washington Avenue is one example of that work, and an opportunity to turn a challenging brownfield site into a productive downtown asset for Ubly.
