Milan work session reviews Stimpson House brownfield redevelopment at 24 W. Main Street

Milan Development Corporation presenters outlined a proposal on April 7, 2026, to redevelop the Stimpson House property at 24 W. Main Street into a 10,519-square-foot, three-story mixed-use building with a restaurant on the first floor and 10 apartment units above. The presenters estimated roughly $5.5 million in total investment and said the project would create about seven new full-time jobs and raise the state equalized value of the site from $10,000 to about $510,200.

The presentation, given at a Milan City Council work session, described environmental conditions on the 0.72-acre site and the remediation steps planned. Triterra consultant Dave Van Haaren presented slides stating soil and groundwater contamination from petroleum-based contaminants exceed non-residential generic cleanup criteria and that redevelopment challenges include managing contaminated soils, groundwater and vapor intrusion risks. The proposal includes demolition if needed, removal of contaminated soils, a vapor mitigation system, engineering controls and contingencies.

Funding for remediation and redevelopment, as shown in the materials, would come from a mix of state and local incentives. The slides list an EGLE Brownfield Grant totaling $1,000,000 (including $350,000 for Stimpson House remediation tasks, $620,000 for city parking-lot-related UST and soil work, and $30,000 for grant administration), an MSHDA MI Neighborhoods allocation of $1,000,000, and an MEDC grant of $1,100,000. The presenters summarized a total state contribution of $3,331,379, a local millage contribution of $505,173 and a grand total of $3,836,552 in proposed incentives.

The materials estimate $736,552 in eligible brownfield costs proposed for developer reimbursement (including a brownfield plan and Act 381 work plan preparation and implementation items and interest up to 5% simple). The slides propose a 22-year Brownfield Plan with 20 years of tax capture to fund reimbursements, and showed an example distribution of captured taxes over the capture period that lists developer reimbursement of $736,552 (79.5% of captured taxes), a State Brownfield Revolving Fund allocation and base taxes not captured for schools and debt millage.

Presenters identified themselves on the record: Adam Karoub of the Milan Development Corporation and consultant Dave Van Haaren of Triterra were among those who spoke during the slideshow presentation. The session record notes that Brandon Plasters, Bruce Johnston and Ron Drzewicki (Revitalize) also participated in the presentation.

There were no public comments during the recorded public-comment period. The council did not vote on the brownfield plan or incentives at this work session. The only formal action recorded was a motion by Councilmember Gress, seconded by Pro-Tem Kerkes, to adjourn the session at 7:01 p.m.; the motion "carried unanimously."