Kalamazoo County brownfield plan targets former Westside Medical site for Subaru dealership
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Summary
The Kalamazoo County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and developer presented a plan to redevelop an 11.14‑acre former medical facility at 6565 West Main into a 49,000 sq. ft. Subaru showroom and service campus; the plan uses tax increment capture under a 19‑year Brownfield plan and requests a county public hearing August 19.
Kalamazoo County officials heard a presentation July 15 on a brownfield redevelopment plan for 6565 West Main Street in Oshtemo Township that would convert a functionally obsolete, former medical building into a Subaru dealership campus.
Macy Walters, representing the Kalamazoo County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA), said the Maple Hill Leasehold LLC plan envisions about 11.14 acres redeveloped into roughly 49,000 square feet of building space, retaining an existing tenant on part of the parcel while demolishing contaminated or lead‑lined portions of the former medical facility.
The developer, Maple Hill Auto Group, estimates roughly $12 million of private investment on the site, retention of about 170 existing jobs and creation of about 31 new full‑time positions. Construction was described as commencing in 2025 with an estimated 18‑month build window and a conservative projected completion in 2026.
Walters outlined the proposed tax increment financing structure under brownfield statute: she reported eligible developer expenses of “a little over $900,000” for environmental due diligence, hazardous‑material surveys and demolition and said the plan models capturing some state taxes (she referenced approximately $128,000 in state capture modeled in the plan) and projected local tax capture just under $8.8 million. The plan length is 19 years, with the last five years directing increment into the local Brownfield Revolving Fund. Walters said the developer would likely be fully reimbursed in about years 14–16 of the plan, and the BRA modeled a 10% administrative capture though actual administrative draw is limited to documented expenses.
Walters told the county board the local BRA voted to recommend the plan on June 26 and Oshtemo Township adopted a supporting resolution July 8. She asked the board to set a public hearing for August 19 and to consider adopting the plan after that hearing. The presentation packet and Brownfield plan were distributed to commissioners in advance.
Developer Jim Vandenberg of Maple Auto Group described the site as an expansion of their existing operations; the company plans community pathways, enhanced stormwater/retention features and energy‑efficient design elements (LED lighting and consideration of geothermal systems). Vandenberg said the project would allow the company to expand onto roughly 15–16.5 acres combined with their existing campus and provide improved roadway access via Seco Drive; he said the site will include public-facing amenities and community meeting spaces that the developer intends to make available to local charities.
Board members asked for clarification on the functional-obsolescence criteria that make the property eligible under Michigan’s Brownfield statute; Walters said a certified assessor’s finding that a building can no longer serve its original use can qualify a site even if contamination is not the sole reason, and she noted this property also had lead‑lined walls requiring demolition.
No county board vote adopting the plan occurred at the July 15 meeting; Walters asked the Board to set a public hearing on August 19 and indicated the BRA and Oshtemo Township already recommended the plan.
Ending: The county will consider setting a public hearing for the brownfield plan at a future meeting; staff and the BRA provided the full Brownfield plan and a finance memo to commissioners for review.
