Developers seek $34.5 million brownfield TIF and 10‑year PA 210 abatement for WNBA practice facility at former Uniroyal site

Developers and city economic‑development staff told Detroit council members that a planned WNBA practice facility and youth academy on the former Uniroyal site at 6000 East Jefferson would cost about $50 million, create an estimated 71 permanent jobs and roughly 291 construction jobs, and require extensive remediation.

At a Committee of the Whole public hearing, David Howell of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation outlined the financial case: the developer seeks a brownfield tax‑increment financing (TIF) reimbursement of about $34,500,000 and a PA 210 commercial rehabilitation certificate that staff recommend for 10 years. Howell said staff estimate a 33‑year net fiscal benefit to the city of roughly $19.4 million and projected about $37 million in new local economic activity tied to the development.

Why it matters: the site is a 42‑acre contaminated parcel that city and state regulators have been partially remediating for decades. The developer’s request would reimburse eligible cleanup and preparation costs from future tax increments rather than provide an upfront grant; staff emphasized that no payments would start until project costs and environmental work are verified.

Environmental safety and access were the chief concerns raised by council members and callers. Adam Patton, the project’s environmental consultant, described recent investigation and cleanup planning: “we came in and did 1,550 additional soil borings across the entire site,” he said, adding that some contaminated material will be removed, a bright orange demarcation barrier will be installed and about 18 inches of tested clean soil will be imported as a protective cover for public fields. Patton said remediation plans and construction controls will be engineered so athletic fields and buildings are safe for users.

Developers and team members emphasized community benefits and access. Richard Haddad, representing Piston Sports Entertainment and W Detroit, said the plan includes a 75,000‑square‑foot WNBA headquarters and practice facility and a 100,000‑square‑foot youth development academy that the team says will be operated by a yet‑to‑be‑formed nonprofit. “We do not plan or anticipate that there will be any cost for Detroit youth to use this facility,” Haddad said.

Council members pressed for written commitments. Councilmember Leticia Johnson asked whether Detroit youth will have guaranteed no‑cost access and whether community benefits rules apply; Planning and Development Department staff replied that the project triggers the city’s Tier 2 community benefits process (not a Tier 1 CBO that would automatically require a formal community benefits agreement). Staff and presenters said they will continue neighborhood outreach and pledged to coordinate workforce development and preferential access for Detroiters.

On process and timing, Brownfield and DEGC staff repeated that reimbursements come only after verified completion of environmental and construction work: invoices, inspections and agency reviews must be approved before any TIF payments are made. The committee voted to send the brownfield and related PA 210 items to formal session with a recommendation to approve, while asking the administration and developers to provide remaining compliance and site‑plan materials before a final vote.

What’s next: the committee recessed the 10:20 public hearing to the call of the chair to allow staff to assemble outstanding documents and scheduled formal consideration at a later session. Developers say site preparation could begin in 2026 and that brownfield‑eligible activities will be completed in about five years if approved.

Authorities and funding: presenters referenced Michigan brownfield statutes (Act 381/Act 381‑style brownfield practices referenced in the hearing), the PA 210 Commercial Rehabilitation Act and state environmental oversight by EGLE (formerly MDEQ). The brownfield TIF would reimburse remediation, demolition, baseline investigations, lead/asbestos abatement and interest, subject to verification by the Brownfield Authority and city staff.

The committee did not take a final adoption vote; members asked for written details on workforce commitments, parking, public‑access guarantees for the youth academy and the city’s verification steps for TIF reimbursement before returning the item to formal session.