KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo’s Northside neighborhood could see a much needed investment from a brownfield development plan recently approved by the city.
On Monday, February 17th Kalamazoo City Commissioners voted to authorize funds for mixed-use housing and commercial space on North Burdick Street.
The three buildings were purchased by city resident Kyle Gulau, who says he made the buy with the goal of breathing fresh life into the dilapidated properties.
Brownfield developments, like the one on Gulau’s properties, receive public money from the city to revitalize sites found to have traces of toxic contaminants, obsolete structures, or present themselves as blight to the community.
The four addresses at 708, 714, 718, and 720 N. Burdick street became eligible for funding consideration after oil-based chemicals were sampled from one of the properties.
Remediation work to clean up the site has been planned by environmental officials. Gulau, a WMU graduate who owns the development firm Zooward LLC, told MLive that he already began remodeling work and structural repair to some buildings ahead of the city commission’s vote.
Called for in the approved brownfield plan is the redevelopment of the properties into studio and multi-room apartments, with the addition of a single commercial space. The plan proposes using the space for a not yet determined brewery site.
Estimated funds for the brownfield plan sit at $1,294,154, with most of the money going toward renovation costs.
The authorization was voted on by the Kalamazoo Brownfield Board in January before heading to the city commission. Galau is a current member of the brownfield board and abstained from the earlier vote on the development.
