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Marquette Brownfield Authority details TIF-funded projects, cites housing and waterfront development
Summary
The Marquette Brownfield Redevelopment Authority updated the City Commission on tax-increment financing (TIF) projects including waterfront redevelopment, the Vault Marquette, a 14-unit housing project, and the former Marquette General Hospital redevelopment; officials described eligible uses, tax-capture mechanics and recent grant support.
Kelly New, chair of the Marquette Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, gave a detailed annual update to the City Commission on June 29 explaining how tax-increment financing (TIF) is being used to reimburse eligible environmental and infrastructure costs and to support housing and redevelopment across the city.
New described the RDA's role and said eligible activities include environmental site assessments, demolition, site preparation, infrastructure and, under a recent state change, certain housing development activities. She said projects already completed or in progress include redevelopment at Cliff Street, Founders Landing and waterfront improvements, Liberty Way (a hotel project), the Vault Marquette (mixed-use redevelopment of a former savings bank), and the large former Marquette General Hospital redevelopment. New told commissioners an EPA cleanup grant of "just shy of a million dollars" funds monitoring and mitigation for another site and that some projects have captured as much as 45% of taxes through the TIF mechanism.
New highlighted a recent 14-unit housing project at 7th and US-41 (described in the presentation as providing units at 100% and 120% of area median income) and the Northern Hydroponic Store redevelopment, which adds residential units over commercial space on Washington Street. She noted that development agreements require compliance with laws, appropriate insurance and qualified firms, and that captured taxes can feed debt service or be returned to public coffers once capture periods end.
Commissioner Davis asked which projects would next complete and allow tax returns to the city; New named Liberty Way and said staff would provide a schedule. During the exchange Davis recalled the year "2036" in relation to anticipated completion timing, and New said staff can follow up with specific dates.
New also cited coordination among local taxing districts (DDA, LDFA) and the RDA's public meetings (third Wednesday at 9 a.m.). The presentation prompted commissioners to request additional timeline details; no formal action or vote accompanied the presentation.
The commission did not take immediate policy action on any single brownfield plan during the meeting; New invited developers and residents to engage with the authority and provided contact information for staff.
