Lawmakers want to offer more incentives to developers building on undesirable land. The legislation revives a law that didn’t pass last session.
Repackaged as the Michigan Thrive Initiative, supporters say the bills would help abandoned buildings, contaminated land, and other underdeveloped areas across Michigan.
But, last session, some criticized the legislation’s apparent emphasis on reviving major cities like Detroit.
Republican Senator Ken Horn is a bill sponsor.
“We have brownfields across the state. This is not just revolving around one city. We have holes that need to be filled. We have buildings that are crumbling.”
Horn says the legislation would mean taxpayers wouldn’t have to shoulder the costs of renovating blighted areas.
Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support. Make your donation to WEMU todayto keep your community NPR station thriving.
—Cheyna Roth is a reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network. Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org
