Development Timeline
1996
MACKINAC CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY
Mackinac Center For Public Policy recommends Michigan get out of the state fair business
2009-02-03
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Governor Granholm announces plans to eliminate funding for State Fair.
2009-05-20
LETTER TO STATE FAIR AUTHORITY BOARD
Steve Jenkins, State Fair Manager - Analysis of Why State Fair Should Remain Open
2011-03-30
DEPT OF LICENSING & REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Magic Plus LLC organized as a Limited Liability Company
2011-06-22
SENATE BILL No. 515 INTRODUCED
State Senator Virgil Smith introduces bill to transfer Faigrounds to Land Bank Fast Track Authority
2011 Fall
J FERGUSON & SELECTED COMMUNITY REPS MEET
Informal meeting arranged by State Senator Virgil Smith and Representative Jimmy Womack with approximately 8 community leaders; Joel Ferguson speaks and shows on a small napkin a schematic of his intended development of the site, (schematic similar to plan MPlus LLC submits for RFP July, 2012)
2012-04-09
LEGISLATION PASSED
Gov. Snyder signs legislation at fairgrounds, enabling the transfer of fairgrounds from Department of Technology, Management and Budget to Michigan State Land Bank Fast Track Authority and creating a state fairgrounds sale advisory committee (FAC).
2012-05-15
SNYDER APPOINTS FAIRGROUNDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (fac) [i]
Gov. Snyder appoints presidents of 5 community associations west of Woodward on FAC.
2012-05-18
MICHIGAN LAND BANK (MLB) ISSUES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
MLB AMENDS RFP CRITERIA
2012-06-21
STATE FAIRGROUNDS DEVELOPMENT COALITION (SFDC) FORMS
Activists officially adopt “State Fairgrounds Development Coalition” name.
2012-06-29
FAC & MLB MEET
Fairgrounds Advisory Committee formed, chair elected, review open meetings act, FOIA guidelines; adopts rules, sets quarterly meeting schedule; votes to reject RFP amendment, and express dissatisfaction with lack of FAC involvement
2012-07-01
FAC MEETS
FAC requests email address for community feedback, reimbursements for incidental expenses, discuss role of committee re feedback from community & community-at-large coalition; FAC requests submission date extension [ii]
2012-07-11
MLB Q&A
MLB rejects requests to extend July 18, 2012 RFP deadline http://www.michigan.gov/landbank/0,3190,7-298-61310-277026--,00.html
2012-07-17
FAC & MLB MEET
FAC Objections: RFP decided before formation of FAC, MLB ignored community ideas, project pushed too quickly; MLB: RFP deadline unchanged, FAC to hold public mtg, then jt. Mtg; request time-line, reminder re e-mail address; recommends holding meeting beyond 5 communities represented on FAC;
2012-07-18
MLB RECEIVES 3 BIDS
MPlus LLC, D-E-T-R-O-I-T LLC, and ICARE II (Community group)
2012-07-19
MLB meets
MLB rejects all 3 proposals, call for corrections and resubmission
2012-08-??
MLB ACCEPTS MPlus LLC bid
2012-09-21
MLB announcement:
MPlus LLC proposal selected, proposes “State Fair Memory Project,” FAC proposes stipulations for the site; complains timeline not provided as requested;
2012-10-17
FAC MEETS
Developers present site plan[iii], review development and investment phases: FAC member FH requests reconfiguration of rail station, LEED-certified bldgs; MLB: rail configuration is up to the State; estimated job numbers: 800 construction, 2,000 perm. &/or part-time
2012-11-09
FAC MEETS
FAC presents critique of MPlus LLC plan; Scheduled presentation by SFDC architects and landscape architects of META Expo concepts cancelled as “inappropriate;”
2012-11-15
FAC-PUBLIC FEEDBACK MEETING
Approx 120 residents attend. FAC presents overview of 3 submitted proposals; FAC reports on MPlus LLC plan. SFDC presents META Expo; 30 public comments, support development of the property, and urge adoption of project enhancements presented by META Expo [iv]
2012-12-??
MAGIC Plus, LLC/REDICO & META EXPO
Presentation of META Expo to developers
2012-12-19
Regional Transit Authority (RTA) LEGISLATION
Regional Transit Authority Act signed into law
2013-01-17
FAC & MLB MEET
FAC PowerPoint presentation to MLB summarizing public feedback; request meeting w/MPlus LLC to get their response to public feedback
2013-01-31
joel FERGUSON LeTteR > FAC
MPlus LLC agrees to hold meeting with FAC but only after approval process by MLB
2013-02-??
FAC GETS EMAIL ADDRESS
2013-02-07
MLB meets
MLB approves MPlus LLC proposal, creates negotiation subcommittee (to include FAC rep)
2013-02-21
2 FAC reps meet w/MLB, REDICO & MSHDA
Discuss desirability of holding design charrette w/Jim Tischler, MSHDA Director of Community Development Division.
2013-04-18
FAC LeTteR > MLB
Requests Jt. Mtg w/MLB & MPlus LLC re: response to public feedback incl. META Expo proposal, confirmation of design charrette proposal, timeline for negotiations committee
2013-07-24
FAC meets
MLB report: will incl. meetings w/MDOT, RTA; MLB proposal for visioning sessions to be organized by Detroit Future City (DFC) team after purchasing agreement and before development agreements; transit groups to assist planning transit; MPlus LLC plan to incorporate feedback; FAC not included in negotiating subcommittee, requests to see stipulations in purchase/development agreement before finalized; agrees to develop communication plan leading to visioning sessions [v] [vi]
2013-09-24
LETTER OF INTENT & PURCH. AGRMNT SIGNED
2013-11-20
State Fairgrounds Development Coalition (sfdc) & J Ferguson meet
Meeting at JFerguson HQ in Lansing to discuss META Expo proposal, MPlus LLC plan
2013-12-10
FAC meets
MPlus LLC/REDICO report: looking for master planning firms; site survey & env’tal assessment underway, plan 5-6 months of community engagement; DFC to run visioning sessions after master planner chosen; purchase agreement done, dev’t agreement in next few months; looking to engage with RTA, AMTRAK, MDOT; supports HUB; will submit community suggestions to master planner; Detroiters to benefit from employment’
2014-05-01
FAC meets
MPlus LLC/REDICO update; selected Smith Group on basis of “TOD experience;” having dialogue w/SEMCOG, DDOT, SMART; in process of selecting firm for market-rate housing; add potential education component; FAC: communication plan to lead to visioning session
2014-05-22
MLB DISSOLVED
Gov. Snyder Ex. Order 2014-8 [viii]
2014-05-24
DEVelopmenT AGREEMENT SIGNED [ix]
2014-06-26
FAC-PUBLIC FEEDBACK
MPlus LLC/Redico present revised “preliminary” proposal showing response to public feedback presented 2012-11-15. 140 residents attended. Developers gave shoddy presentation; plan is near replica of the original. with less detail. Sentiment: “It was insulting.” 33 residents spoke, 90+% rejected the plan, and asked developers to incorporate META Expo proposals - including a transit hub, mixed use & Transit Oriented Development (TOD), walkable streets, and placemaking. No MLB presence.
2014-11-20
FAC-
Magic Plus LLC/REDICO (Craig Willian) project update: Bus Rapid Transit, bus terminal, train platform along W State Fair Ave; up to 700 units market rate housing; mixed use, light flexible retail SW corner, village entertainment district; topography prevents train platform at north end of site by Eight Mile; 3 historically designated bldgs to be re-purposed; no business incubator at coliseum; can’t estimate job #s;
ENDNOTES
[i] Exerpt of Snyder letter:
[ii] Not listed on MLB website
[iii] MPlus LLC project descripton: retail along 8 Mile, mixed use along Woodward, senior living, preservation of some of the buildings and green space, Continued retail along 8 Mile, Large big box retail along the railway, New entrances along 8 Mile, Theater, Coliseum, possibly turned into a business incubator or community center, Parks, Open air market, Residential along State Fair, Maintain amphitheater and auto pavilion, Maintain bus depot on Woodward, Maintain street grid
[iv] META EXPO presentation:
Their goal was to gather community ideas and put them into graphics
• Work closely with State Fair Development Coalition, Emmanuel Community Center,
Woodward Avenue Action Association and member of the various community groups;
• Stated that this is not to be viewed as a competing plan, but instead a complimentary plan;
• “META EXPO” – Michigan Energy Technology Agriculture
• Reviewed the Governor’s “Proclamation on Placemaking”;
• Reviewed the location and what is around it – Penrose neighborhood, Meijer development,
8 Mile Road, Grand Trunk Railroad, residential to the east, cemetery to the west, Palmer
Woods to the west, Woodward Avenue;
• Stressed the importance of connectivity to existing neighborhoods – extend streets from
Fairground property through existing neighborhoods; create connection under or over
railroad tracks;
• Importance of regional transit – site plan shows transit center moved to northeast corner;
• Importance of creating a “place” – use placemaking standards – walkability, design for
pedestrian, make this a development that fits “here” not anywhere;
• A public/private educational component;
• Utilize green technology;
• Importance of Parks, Plazas and Play – create traditional gathering spaces – not just places
to drive to and leave.
[v] The understanding that came out of that meeting is that the RTA:
Does not want the MLB to delay or hold off transfer of the property
Is going to take some time to undertake their master planning
Is going to need voter approval to fund this regional transit
[vi] MLB agrees with public feedback as reported by the FAC, as follows:
to plan for future transit obviously focusing on transit oriented development
creating walkable sustainable communities
that this be a place, not just a strip mall
focusing on green space and parks
more thoughtful parking, not the wide open space
engaging the community in a plan for complete streets
[vii] STIPULATIONS OF THE LETTER OF INTENT
• Communication and/or meetings regarding Transit Oriented Development (TOD) with
the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and other transit entities will continue during the
90 day due diligence period in the Purchase Agreement;
• Community engagement and/or visioning sessions will commence during the 90 day due
diligence period in the Purchase Agreement, regarding:
o Site design enhancements;
o Greenspace and pedestrian friendly considerations;
o Safety and security concerns/measures.
• The Development Agreement, as required in the RFQ, will include provisions for:
o The DNR Pocket Park;
o Future commuter rail access/use.
• Additional maintenance and physical improvements of site may commence once the
Purchase Agreement is fully executed.
[viii] Information made public only after the 6/26/14 mtg.
[ix] Information made public only after the 6/26/14 mtg.
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