Board approves first Brownfield amendment for 280 Ann Street waterfront redevelopment

The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved a first amendment to the existing Brownfield plan for the 280 Ann Street Northwest redevelopment, adding housing-eligible activities and potential rent loss to the eligible activity list.

Mackenzie (BRA staff) told the board the original plan, approved in February 2022, supported construction of a four-story, 26,000-square-foot mixed-use addition with 44 residential studio and one-bedroom units and about 500 square feet of ground-floor retail. Total eligible activities were roughly $701,000 under the original plan. The amendment adds housing development activities, demolition, lead and asbestos abatement and infrastructure work tied to potential rent loss eligibility, Mackenzie said.

Jared Belka, attorney at Warner Norcross & Judd, and developer Jack Houdeman described reasons the project paused after initial approvals: unanticipated geotechnical issues and access problems with an adjacent property owner. The developer has since acquired the neighboring hotel parcel and described a broader vision for waterfront redevelopment that may include converting a 162-room hotel tower into roughly 139 one-bedroom and studio apartments and later building an additional four-story, ~60-unit structure after razing a banquet facility.

Jack said the team plans commercial site condominium ownership for separate buildings, with common elements (parking, green space) managed by association documents. The developer also said they plan to preserve more than 1 acre of green space for tenants and that at least some units would be affordable at 80% AMI. Mackenzie said staff would coordinate with the city on riverfront public-access planning. The amendment was approved by voice vote.