Page 6 - aruba-today-20190429

A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 29 april 2019

Vacant land becoming asset as development returns to Detroit

By COREY WILLIAMS
DETROIT (AP) — When Fiat
Chrysler began consider-
ing where to build its next
assembly plant, the auto-
maker didn’t have to look
far to find land.
A short walk from its Jeffer-
son North plant on Detroit’s
east side is 200 acres (80
hectares) of land the com-
pany is eyeing as part of
a $1.6 billion investment to
convert its Mack Avenue
Engine Complex into a new
facility.
Decades of residential
flight, disinvestment and
abandonment have left
the Motor City with some-
thing many others just don’t
have: stretches of available
real estate. Unlike many big
cities where space is tight
and most new buildings
must be vertical, Detroit’s
sprawling empty spaces
appeal to some develop-
ers.
Detroit is now working to
secure the land needed for
Fiat Chrysler. Some is home FILE- In this Feb. 26, 2019 file photo, Jeep vehicles are parked outside the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. When Fiat Chrys-
to an old power plant. A ler began considering where to build its next assembly plant, the automaker didn't have far to look for land.
tree-planting operation is Associated Press
on another part. A large
chunk is privately owned The effort is seen as more About 680,000 people live will include 60 new apart- Washington D.C.-based Ur-
and leased to the auto- good news for the city that in the city — 1.2 million few- ments and retail space. ban Institute.
maker as a lot for new ve- is still rebounding after its er than six decades ago. The land being vacant was “Even if the land is vacant,
hicles. 2014 exit from the largest They’re not cramped for part of the appeal, Brown it’s often owned by multiple
Mayor Mike Duggan said in municipal bankruptcy in space: About 14,800 acres said. entities and some that may
late February that Detroit U.S. history. Bolstered by (5,990 hectares) of land “It’s an asset — at least no longer exist, whether
had 60 days to pull those auto and other manufac- in Detroit — 16.75% of the from our perspective,” he bankrupt companies or
acres together or the deal turing jobs, Detroit nearly city’s 88,800 acres (35,940) said. “We like to develop single-family homes,” Schil-
with Fiat Chrysler could was bursting at its seams by — are considered vacant, on vacant land.” ling said.
sputter. Much of the land the 1950s when the city’s according to Data Driven In the Cleveland area, de- Land banks can help, he
has been secured, with population rose to about Detroit. cisions are made to assem- said.
negotiations continuing 1.8 million. But white people “Really, in some ways for ble vacant parcels, side lots “You’ve got to have a plan
with businessman Manuel started to leave the city for Detroit to grow it had to and lots with abandoned and you also have to have
“Matty” Moroun’s family the suburbs. The outbound shrink,” said Clifford Brown, houses into contiguous a process that really en-
for one section, according tide swelled following a managing partner of pieces that possibly could gages the residents who
to city spokesman Tim Car- 1967 race riot. The black Woodborn Partners, which see redevelopment. live in that neighborhood
roll. The Detroit City Council middle class followed. is building a $16 million “The land becomes valu- to insure they benefit from
is expected to discuss the Tens of thousands of ag- mixed-use development able over time once it be- the regeneration,” Schilling
city’s land acquisition plan ing homes that once held in southwest Detroit. “The comes assembled,” said said.
as early as Monday. families deteriorated. More vacant land is just emblem- Gus Frangos, Cuyahoga “You can’t just do one
A new plant is expected to than 14,000 vacant struc- atic of Detroit needed to Land Bank president. thing,” he said. “You have
add 3,850 jobs. Fiat Chrysler tures — mostly houses — shrink for a while before it But assembling smaller to build new stuff. You have
plans an additional 1,100 have been torn down over could get healthy. Those parcels into larger pieces to reclaim some vacant
new jobs at its adjacent the past five years as part who were optimistic said is complicated, said Joe land. You kind of have to
Jefferson North Assembly of the nation’s largest de- (the city) was just resting.” Schilling, senior policy and do it all at the same time.”
plant. molition program. Woodburn Partners’ project research associate at the q