Downriver Economic Redevelopment Planning Assistance Project

Project Overview

    The DCC held a second round of community open house meetings for the Downriver Economic Redevelopment Assistance Project on May 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at River Rouge City Hall and on May 9, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge in Trenton.   Staff from DCC and Stromberg Garrigan & Associates (SGA), consultants for the project, presented proposed concepts for repurposing former industrial sites in River Rouge, Ecorse, Wyandotte, Riverview and Trenton including the two decommissioned DTE power plants and other underutilized properties.  To see proposed concepts for sites in each city please click below.   After you have reviewed the concepts for your city, please click here to complete a survey and let us know what you think. 

Two public meetings were held in January 2024 at Ecorse City Hall and the Riverview Community Center.   Below are the key comments/suggestions that we heard at the meetings.  Public comments were considered in the development of the proposed concepts.  

The development of these concepts is a next step in the DCC’s Downriver Economic Assistance Project.  The project supports the organization’s overall effort to help redevelop the Jefferson Avenue corridor into a series of thriving districts where residents, businesses, and visitors can thrive. The project is funded by an Economic Development and Planning Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded to the DCC in 2022.

Thank you for your interest in the project!!

Brownfield Redevelopment

 

As part of the DCC, The Downriver Area Brownfield Consortium (DABC) was formed and empowered to work together with member communities and other stakeholders to prevent, assess, safely cleanup, and sustainably reuse brownfield sites.

A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Since 1995 there has been bipartisan support by the United States Congress and President to assist communities redevelop and reuse brownfield sites.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has provided financial assistance to eligible applicants through five competitive Brownfield Grant Programs:  Assessment, Cleanup, Multi-purpose, Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and Job Training.  The DABC has been a grant recipient of Assessment and RLF grants since 1995 as well as a Job Training Grant.  To date, the DABC has received over $9 million from the EPA Brownfield Grant Program which has leveraged over $100,000,000 in combined investment and taxes and provided hundreds of jobs to the region.

The DABC can bring resources to make redevelopment happen in the region.  Some of the more notable projects include redevelopment of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in Trenton (a former chemical manufacturing facility), Ventower Industries in Monroe, the maker of wind turbine towers (formerly a landfill), the Dearborn City Hall Artspace Lofts (formerly old City Hall), and the expansion of the Monroe River Raisin Battlefield which became a National Park following the completion of cleanup activities.  

Member cities or interested developers are asked to complete this virtual Property Intake Form to begin the process with our Department.

DABC Member Communities

Allen Park

Brownstown Township

Dearborn

Dearborn Heights

Ecorse

Flat Rock

Gibraltar

Grosse Ile Township

Huron Township

Lincoln Park

Melvindale

Monroe

Port of Monroe

River Rouge

Riverview

Rockwood

Romulus

Southgate

Taylor

Tecumseh

Trenton

Woodhaven

Washtenaw County

Wyandotte

 

DABC Staff

John D’Addona

Brownfield Program Manager

734-362-3477

Jim Wagner

Chairman

734-552-3026

Jim Perry

Executive Director

734-362-3469

Economic Recovery Strategy for the Downriver Communities

View Economic Recovery Strategy Documents

“DCC has partnered with the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber (SWCRC) to support economic development activities in the region, and we continue to review and monitor current area needs and apply for funds for services that benefit the Downriver Communities.”