The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is awarding $3.9 million in brownfield funding to seven redevelopment projects that will create at least 68 new housing units and 66 full-time equivalent jobs.
The grants will address contamination so properties can be safely redeveloped into mixed-use housing and commercial space, single-family housing, light industrial, and restaurant use.
In East Jordan, Lakeview Lofts will receive $805,000 to convert a former hotel and county storage site at 116 & 120 Main Street into housing and commercial space. The $8.6 million project will include 17 mixed for-sale condos and for-rent apartments, with eight units affordable to people earning 60 to 120 percent of area median income. The project is expected to create 12 jobs and be ready for occupancy by early 2028.
River Market in Saugatuck will receive $1 million to transform waterfront property at 640 Water Street into commercial and residential space. The former bait shop and boat charter location will become a 2.5-story, 4,229-square-foot building with commercial space and three rental apartments. The $1.5 million project is expected to create 3.5 full-time jobs and be finished in mid-2027.
In Warren, EGLE is awarding $300,000 to Peter's Grove and Jackson Estates, two single-family affordable housing projects at former school sites with petroleum contamination. Peter's Grove will have 20 for-sale homes and Jackson Estates will have 28. The $8 million redevelopment is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.
Cash Only Bistro will receive $560,000 to convert a contaminated vacant drycleaner site at 16215 East Warren Avenue in Detroit into a restaurant. The $1.11 million build-your-own pasta restaurant is receiving additional funding from philanthropic and community groups. The project is expected to employ 16 workers when finished in spring 2027.
In Ubly, Dunk's Garage will receive $350,000 to prepare a contaminated site at 4496 North Washington Avenue for redevelopment. The property previously housed a blacksmith, gas station, fuel depot, and auto repair shop dating to 1901. The site will be converted into a café with 4.5 full-time equivalent jobs, with construction expected to finish in January 2029.
In Roscommon, a $400,000 grant will address petroleum and metals contamination at a vacant gas station site at 802 Lake Street at the village's main intersection, converting it to a restaurant scheduled to open in 2028.
In 2025, the EGLE Brownfield program provided more than $23 million to 76 projects in 52 Michigan communities, projected to create more than 440 housing units and 600 jobs.