March 3, 2005

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that Grand Traverse County has been awarded a $1,000,000 Brownfield Redevelopment Grant for the Grand Traverse Commons Project. The grant was awarded as part of the Jobs Today Initiative that will put thousands of Michigan residents to work by speeding up state and local construction and infrastructure improvement projects.

The funds will allow The Minervini Group to continue the renovation of Building 50 and other historic structures at the site for office, retail, and residential uses employing 86 full time-positions and 125 temporary construction positions. Grant funds will be used for the Mercato Phase, four floors of small retail shops, commercial and professional offices, and residential units in Building 50. A Brownfield Redevelopment Grant was awarded for another part of the development in 2003 and a restaurant at the site opened in 2004.

“This money will provide crucial funding to cleanup and convert vacant and blighted buildings into attractive, productive properties,” said Governor Granholm. “We want to provide Michigan cities with as many tools as possible to make their communities places where people are eager to work, recreate, and raise families.”

The money will be used to remove asbestos and lead paint-contaminated waste materials from Building 50 and the steam tunnels below the grounds, and for other measures to prevent exposure to hazardous materials at the former Traverse City State Hospital campus.

“The Grand Traverse Commons Project is a true brownfield redevelopment success story,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “The project is further proof that we can have both sensible environmental protection and economic development.”

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised March 3, 2005 by Pat Watson