May 9, 2024
Meridian Township Planning and Economic Development staff received a new concept plan for the Village of Okemos site. The new concept provides two pathways toward vertical construction in 2024. Planning Commission members received the concept plan at their April 22 meeting and gave the developer general comment related to the new proposed plan.
Meridian Township DDA members will have a chance to give comment at their public meeting Monday, May 6, as well as the regular Township Board meeting Thursday, May 9. At the May 9 meeting, the Township Board will have the opportunity to hear from the developer and give comment. This concept plan is not a formal submittal from the development team and does not remove the current approved MUPUD. The development team is looking for comments from the public on whether this concept plan would be supported.
November 2023
Meridian Township Planning, Economic Development, and Executive staff met with the Village of Okemos developers to determine next steps after the loss of the EGLE grant and lack of funding through MEDC. An announcement regarding the project should come within the first quarter of 2024.
October 2023
The Village of Okemos development project submitted applications to the Revitalization and Placemaking 2.0 Grant in May 2023 to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, in an effort to gain support for gap financing. The project was not selected for RAP 2.0 funding in 2023. The existing financing gap continues to delay the start of construction. A deadline of November 1, 2023, was instituted by EGLE in order to hold on to the approved $1.3M grant and $1M loan authorized by EGLE(Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy). Township staff will work with the Village of Okemos development team to pursue financial means to develop the 4.5-acre site.
May 2023
A Community Conversation with the Village of Okemos developers was held on Tuesday, May 9, where they provided an update on the project and answered questions from the public.
A copy of that meeting can be found on HOMTV's YouTube. Due to technical difficulties, the presentation was not shown during the recording; however, the presentation and infographic can be found below.
- May 9 Community Conversation - Village of Okemos Developer Presentation
- May 9 Community Conversation Infographic
November 2022
The Village of Okemos, LLC team presented their proposal for a 19-year capture and reimbursement of the eligible expenses related to the clean-up of the two blocks. This is approved by the agreed upon Brownfield Redevelopment Plan. The Township Board at their November 1, 2022, meeting approved the 19-year plan locally. State tax dollars reimburse 73% of this plan, their approval is necessary to ensure the necessary funding to support the development. The developer will work with MEDC to have their plan reviewed within the first quarter of 2023.
September 2022
The project developer has submitted an amendment to the plan to reintegrate above ground parking structures to the plan and slightly alter the amount of commercial v. residential space in the project. The above ground parking structures had been previously approved and were removed due to cost. They have been proposed to be reintegrated to ensure that enough parking exists on the site for the potential residents. Six residential units are proposed to be added to the project and 6,461 square feet of commercial space is proposed for removal, due to changing market conditions. Access to the rear of each building will continue to be made possible with a pass through off of Hamilton road.
The MEDC did not choose to fund this project under the Revitalization and Placemaking grant program. Staff and the developer will continue to work towards Brownfield Plan approval and a Community Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (CRP) grant/loan request to the MEDC, as part of the overall project funding. A total investment of $100 million is projected to complete the redevelopment project.
August 2022
Major redevelopment of this site has stalled with previous developers due to the aging infrastructure, site contamination and proximity to Okemos Road. Our Community Development Director allowed for the parking decks to return to support adequate parking of the development. The project is approved to support 200 dwelling units and 14,000 sq. ft. of commercial space along Hamilton road.
Access to the rear of each building will be made possible with a pass through off of Hamilton road. The development team alongside the Economic Development Director submitted an application to MEDC for the use of $5 million towards workforce housing on the project. The $5 million would address gap financing in the project as proposed.
MEDC should make formal offers to approved projects in August 2022. The Brownfield Plan, approved Meridian Redevelopment Agreement, Community Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (CRP), EGLE Grant and Loan, Revitalization and Placemaking grant (RAP) will all contribute to the overall project funding. A total investment of $100 million is projected to complete the redevelopment project.
April 2022
The developer has requested the Brownfield Plan recently recommended by the Brownfield Authority on March 17, 2022, be adjusted slightly for new project updates related to support of parking on the project site. A new proposal for the use of Brownfield Redevelopment reimbursement will occur when the developer resubmits an application. The Brownfield Authority will review the application and with support of our third-party consultant make a recommendation for the use of the funds to the Township Board. The proposed plan will support site cleanup and contamination of the project site.
The developer is actively working to identify all the necessary elements of the required site plan. This includes parking, landscaping, building height and the approved public amenities.
A public hearing is set for April 26, 2022, at 6:00 pm for the Township Board to receive public comment on the developer's request to use the Meridian Redevelopment Fund for $1.25M as recommended by the Meridian EDC. The funds of the MRF will be used to support improvements to the public infrastructure around the project site. This contribution of the Township will be considered the public "match" for the application to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for the Revitalization and Placemaking Grant (RAP). On site public notices will be posted.
March 2022
The Village of Okemos LLC submitted a request for $3.2M to the Meridian Economic Development Corporation through the Meridian Redevelopment Fund application process. The Meridian EDC members recommended the creation of a subcommittee to review the application request for intent of the MRF and approve, partially approve or deny the request to utilize the funds for public infrastructure improvements for the project.
The Village of Okemos LLC Meridian Redevelopment Request No. 2 subcommittee held their first meeting Tuesday, March 1, 2022 to review the application and discuss approval, partial approval or denial of the request. The developers are requesting $3.2M in funding assistance to address underground water, sewer, utility work and repaving of Ardmore, Clinton, Hamilton and Methodist at the project site. The request would also assist with payment to the drain office for the creation of a retention pond in the vicinity of the project. The drain office is currently reviewing the proposal from the developer for this improvement. The Village of Okemos, LLC Subcommittee formally recommended to the Meridian EDC board at their regular meeting Thursday, March 3, 2022 to support the Village of Okemos, LLC MRF request for an amount not to exceed $1,250,000. The Meridian EDC also moved to support an additional review of the use of the Redevelopment fund later in the budget cycle for the Township.
The application for the use of the Brownfield Redevelopment fund for $4.3M is under review internally with Meridian Township staff. The application will be reviewed by the Township’s third party Brownfield expert for the intent and parameters of the Brownfield plan. A large majority of the requested Brownfield Tax Increment Financing will be supported by the State of Michigan tax dollars as the project site falls within the Downtown district and the DDA has an active TIF that captures the majority of the local dollars available. The Brownfield plan is under review and will be publicly reviewed by the Meridian Township Brownfield Authority at their next meeting March 17, 2022 at 8:00 am at Meridian Township Town Hall Room.
The Township’s next steps will be a recommendation from the Meridian EDC to the Township Board for their review of the request from the Developer for the use of $1.25M for public infrastructure. Should the Township Board find they are in support of the request, a public hearing no later than 20 days and no sooner than 10 will be established. After the public hearing the Township Board may move to approve, partially approve or deny the request of the developer.
February 2022
Meridian Township Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the Meridian Economic Development Corporation have received applications for funding assistance for the approved MUPUD for the “Village of Okemos” project. These requests for funding will contribute to the overall public benefit of the project. These are funding mechanisms were created by the Township to support the overarching challenges of development when faced with contamination, aging infrastructure and vacated properties.
The project as approved will feature a mix of 200 residential units and approximately 32,000 square feet of commercial suite space. Township staff will review the applications to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to assist the developer with site contamination and clean up in preparation for construction. The cost to contain, remove and absolve contaminated soils is an expense the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority could approve. Should the BRA find the application complete and in good order, recommendation from the BRA to the Township board for public hearing and approval would be the final step.
The Meridian Redevelopment Fund (MRF), a fund created by the sale of the MARC building was developed to assist redevelopment of our Potential Intensity Change Areas, known as PICAs. The application received to the Meridian Economic Development Corporation was supported by the EDC members for a subcommittee to be made to review the request in full detail. Should the MRF subcommittee find the application meets the vision and integrity of the MRF, they will make a recommendation along with the Meridian EDC to the Township board for approval of the use of public funding. The Township board after the public hearing can approve the financial assistance and enter into a development agreement with the developer.
August 2021
The Village of Okemos LLC Development Team requested an amendment to the approved MUPUD as an avenue to move the development forward through current economic conditions in June 2021. Due to the changes requested, the amendment was considered a minor amendment and the Community Development Director gave partial approval for the MUPUD.
Those approvals allow for:
- Removal of a parking garage and allowance of surface parking
- Removal of a Fifth story on all buildings
- Allowance for phased development of residential buildings on Ardmore St.
The approval requires:
- Buildings along Okemos roads for blocks 1 & 2
- Commercial space on Hamilton road blocks 1 & 2
The Developer was notified of the partial approval and has accepted those approvals as they move forward to engineer the building.
Next Steps:
- The next step is to determine the public/private partnership commitment that will support the project. The project site is eligible for EGLE Grant and loan, Downtown Development Authority Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Brownfield Development Authority TIF and the Township’s Meridian Redevelopment Fund. All of these funds have specific requirements for eligibility.
- The Developer is currently providing the financial breakdown for the buildings and will provide these numbers to the Township. The contribution of the Township will be the final approval of the Meridian Township Board through recommendations of the Downtown Development Authority, Economic Development Corporation and Brownfield Development Authority.
July 2019
the Village of Okemos proposed development was approved for a five story MUPUD with commercial retail and office on the ground floor, and residential rental units on the remaining floors. COVID‐19 threw in many delays due to shutdown restrictions and financing options. Progress continued internally and the Village of Okemos LLC, worked to secure approval for reimbursement through the Meridian Redevelopment Fund for up to $85,000. The year 2020 ended with demolition permits being issued to begin removing the six dilapidated properties to make way for the new residential gem in downtown Okemos.