Big Rapids brownfield plan advances to Nov. 17 city commission; 54-home development described

The Brownfield Redevelopment Advisory Board voted to forward a revised brownfield plan for a 54-home subdivision in Big Rapids to the City Commission for consideration on Nov. 17.

Board members heard a staff summary of changes to the plan and presentations from Michigan Growth Advisors and Allen Urban Homes. City and developer presentations described a roughly 20-acre project on the east side of Bjornson Street that the developers estimate will require about $18 million in private investment, be built over about two years at roughly 27 homes per year, and include six income-restricted rental units reserved for about 15 years.

Sam, the staff presenter, summarized financial changes made since the Aug. 26 application, saying infrastructure support in the plan was reduced from $2,000,000 to $1,000,000. That reduction, Sam said, allowed a greater amount of interest to be captured by the developer; staff described a $277,000 increase in interest…