Downriver Community Conference outlines brownfield reuse plan for Trenton riverfront

The Downriver Community Conference presented a preliminary brownfield reuse strategy for Trenton’s riverfront on April 21, outlining potential industrial and recreational uses for formerly industrial property including the DTE Trenton channel plant and the Solution Chemical site.

The presentation, led by Jasmine Dancy of the Downriver Community Conference and John Diadonna, the DCC’s brownfield program manager, summarized a regional study of four priority riverfront sites across five Downriver communities, results of public engagement and market analysis, a set of conceptual reuse scenarios for Trenton, and preliminary fiscal-impact estimates.

Why it matters: the DTE Trenton channel plant and the Solution Chemical site together encompass roughly two parcels approaching 100 acres each in places, creating both redevelopment opportunity and environmental complexity. The DCC’s plan links cleanup and reuse with stormwater management, improved public access and phased public investments intended to make redevelopment more feasible and to capture long‑term tax revenue and job growth for the city.

Dancy said the regional effort grew from earlier planning after DTE announced planned power-plant closures. The DCC combined past planning work with new consultant analysis and extensive public outreach. Diadonna described the consultant team selected through a competitive RFP process, including firms covering environmental investigation, market and fiscal analysis, community engagement and funding strategy. He said the team reviewed prior studies, convened local workgroups, held multiple public open houses in 2024 and focused on solutions intended to move toward implementation rather than additional study.

The market analysis showed the highest near‑term feasibility for industrial uses and a moderate feasibility for recreational uses at the four selected sites; residential, office and large-scale retail showed low probability “given the conditions today,” Diadonna said. For Trenton specifically, consultants provided concept maps that illustrated light industrial and general industrial pads, vehicular circulation and public-access trails along the riverfront connecting Elizabeth Park and the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge. The concepts also include stormwater-management areas on land deemed unsuitable for buildings.

Consultants presented a schematic cost estimate for one Trenton concept: roughly $31.5 million for site environmental work and roughly $98.2 million for building construction, a combined development cost in the example of about $129.7 million. They estimated approximately 920 construction jobs during buildout and a range of 40 to 2,010 permanent jobs depending on the final mix of uses. A fiscal scenario presented projected new annual tax revenue building to about $2.6 million by 2058 and an estimated $15.9 million in net new tax capture over 30 years under the schematic shown.

Council members asked when a final report would be available; Diadonna said the consultants expect to deliver a final document in about two months and that the city will receive copies when the reports are finalized and published. Councilman Perugy asked about engagement with DTE; Diadonna said DCC staff have met with DTE and are exploring options where properties are privately owned. Diadonna noted several of the priority parcels are privately held and that land‑control issues will be among the major implementation challenges.

During public and council questions, the presentation team described possible public‑led phasing (starting riverfront improvements first, then expanding inland and along Trenton Creek), transportation improvements tied to future traffic if industrial uses are pursued, and stormwater strategies that would reuse marginal land for detention and wetlands. Diadonna and Dancy repeatedly framed the work as preliminary concepts to be refined in the final report.

The council and presenters encouraged public and council feedback during the finalization period. No formal action or binding commitments were taken at the meeting; the DCC will deliver the final report and supporting data to the city when complete.

The presentation materials and the forthcoming full reports will be made available to the public when finalized, according to DCC staff.