St. Clair Shores council approves brownfield plan for former St. Mary’s site, authorizes 14-year tax-capture reimbursement

St. Clair Shores City Council on April 20 approved a brownfield redevelopment plan for 22601 East Nine Mile Road, the long-vacant former St. Mary’s nursing home, authorizing reimbursement of up to $365,261 in eligible expenses over a 14‑year period. The motion passed 6–1.

The brownfield plan covers environmental and demolition work that the developer says is needed to clear the site for redevelopment. “The total project cost that we’re seeking reimbursement for is $295,879 plus a 15% contingency,” consultant Luke Bonner told the council, citing roughly $246,000 for demolition and about $20,000 for asbestos abatement; with the contingency the eligible amount is $365,261. Bonner identified himself as a principal with the Bonner Advisory Group.

The nut of the council’s decision was that making the site financially feasible requires allowing the developer to recoup eligible cleanup costs through incremental tax capture. Jordan Chapman, owner and developer with Allrig USA (the project’s developer), told the council the plan would support a retail…