berrien county michigan usepa revolving loan fund application, 2004

8/8/2019 Berrien County Michigan USEPA Revolving Loan Fund Application, 2004

1/15

APPLICATION FOR BROW NFIELD REVOLVING LOA N FUND G RANTBemen County Redevelopment Authority (Applicant)Benton Harbor Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (Coalition Member)St. Joseph Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (Coalition Member)

The Bemen County Redevelopment Authority is requesting $3 million for a Revolving Loan Fund(RLF) Grant in coalition with its strategic partners, the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph BrownfieldRedevelopment Authorities. Pursuant to Act 381, Public Acts of Michigan, 1996 and resolutionsadopted by their respective units of government, as filed with the Michigan Department of State, allthree entities are recognized instrumentalities of their respective political subdivisions and aretherefore "eligible entities" for the purposes of this RLF Grant application. This application is madewith the formal approval and support of each governmental entity herein described, documentationof which is provided hereto as Exhibit #l.

Prior to the submittal of this application, it is reasonably estimated that over 3,000 peopleattended the numerous bus, helicopter, and boat tours, public meetings, and service clubluncheons conducted in regards to the redevelopment plans specifically described herein. Thehallmark of these efforts was the mutual respect and trust created through the community's. visioning of a "shared developmentJJtrategy, as articulated in the resolutions of support, whichserve to document the most recent public forums in which public participation and comment hasbeen solicited by each of the eligible entities. It should be M e r oted that a summary of thisparticular RLF Grant application has been published in the Benton Spirit, The Herald Palladium,and a full copy of this application has been provided for public comment at meetings of all threeBrownfield Redevelopment Authorities held prior to the submittal of this application. Alsonoteworthy to the public meetings and community notification efforts specifically describedherein, the designated redevelopment project referred to as "Edgewater - River Run", for whichthe majority of funding is being sought under this application, has long been part of the larger"Edgewater Redevelopment Plan", a physical and social redevelopment effort that has beenrecognized by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), FederalEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) and numerous other agencies and organizations as oneof the most successful brownfield redevelopments in the Midwest. As such, it can be furthershown that the redevelopment plans embodied in this particular application have been scrutinizedin hundreds of public meetings, hearings, and planning sessions conducted over the course of thepast several years.-- --Letter from th cr Si iteEnvironmentalAuthority ~ -''I--- IA letter from the MDEQ acknowledging the intent of the applicant to seek federal financialassistance and its plans to establish a revolving loan fund and conduct cleanup activities isattached hereto as Exhibit #2.


2/15

1D. Site,Eligibilityand Property Ownership EligibilityThis section is not applicable, as this proposal is for "Community-wide" RLF Grant funding.

/E. Cleanup Authority and Oversight StructureAll loan and subgrant recipients shall be required to enroll in a state response program underwhich compliance shall be determined by the MDEQ. Cleanup work shall be performed underthe auspices of the Berrien County Redevelopment Authority pursuant to a brownfield RLF thatshall be established and referred to hereafter as g ~ i c h i ~ a n ' sreat Southwest Cleanup Fund".On all sites under which these RLF funds are used, the Berrien County Redevelopment Authority .yshall maintain a lien interest superior to all others in order that it may access the sites and securethe loans and subgrants issued in the event of an emergency or default of a loan agreement ornon-performance under a subgrant, the legal authority of which is demonstrated in counsel'sopinion letter, which has been attached hereto, and described in Section G, below.

IF. Cost ShareCornerstone Alliance, a community-based economic development organization, and WhirlpoolCorporation will collectively provide $3.3 million of funding toward the development costsassociated with the designated redevelopment area referred to herein as "Edgewater- River Run".Included in this budget will be at least $600,000 toward the cost of eligible and allowableenvironmental assessment, cleanup, and expenses requisite to the successful redevelopment of thisarea, consistent with the use of the RLF Grant. =lpool has also offered to commit land it ownsalong the'watdont in theCity ofSt.. Joseph as an anchor for any development opportunity capable---of d4viqg &Ale investment and structural change into the City of Benton Harbogl (The value of- - -2-.- - ---_-__. ____. -- -tliFEXEiis undeve1oped;stateA - b - . - -.s-- .ssessedby, .he community at over $4,000,000.) sIn addition to these local cost share commitments, the State of Michigan, through its CleanMichigan Initiative, has awarded $300,000 for additional site assessr@nt~work n the designatedredevelopment area within Edgewater known as -''lgg~+ter - Harbor ~dwn?, nd an additional$450,000 has been awarded to the City.of St. Jose>h for environmental cleanup on Parcel 4 o,fthe Edgewater development area. The, st#e. has-ialso .committed another $125,000 for a m g ~ u ;paraPd'be:i~on~~cfid$ih~@e4~d"g~~a'tef5d6~e1"&$hdnt&a. #And finally, Cornerstone ~ l l i E7 . -,-and Whirlpool Corporation have further committed $600,000 toward &&elevationof.a vehri,dular 4and -within the Edgewater - River Run redevelopment Teal

/ G . Legal Authority toManage a Revolving Loan FundAn opinion from legal counsel demonstrating the applicant's legal authority to perform theactions necessary to manage a revolving loan fund is attached hereto as Exhibit #3.

RANKINGCRITERIAIA. RLF Grant Proposal BudgetThe following budget represents the anticipated distribution of RLF Grant proceeds among thesubgrant and revolving loan fund segments of this application. Although eligible, programmatic


3/15

costs for activities considered integral to achieving the purpose of the grant have been explicitlyexcluded. All programmatic costs will be incurred by the applicant,pand are considered anadministrati


4/15

EnvironmentalQuality W E Q ) , and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) have allpartnerd with the commdty in helping to bring new inkstructure and businesses into this key,&* w?%"*~a-"development area. &Sin& commencement of the project, new office buildings and residential tdevelopment have become a real ityh the City of St. Joseph, and hearly 1.75 million square feet ofdilapidated manufacturing buildings have been razed to facilitate remediation and redevelopment inthe City of Benton Harbor. Concurrent with these efforts, the Federal EPA has investedapproximately $7 million in the cleanup of the abandoned Aircraft Component Site located along thePaw Paw River.Within the Edgewater area the foundation for a redevelopment effort has been achieved, but now thestructural work of real development must occur. The redevelopment potential on which thisapplication is based is summarized in Exhibit #5. 4Challenges...The City of Benton Harbor is a unique, political, social, and economic dilemma. Located just 55miles directly across Lake Michigan from Chicago, Benton Harbor is a city encompassing lessthan four square miles and fewer than 11,500 people. The dropout rate in high school hovers atan alarming 70% ratio. It is estimated that over 60% of the housing stock in this community issubstandard, with reasonable estimates of 30% of homes shuttered and derelict. In fact, it hasbeen said that no community defines the current social and economic disparity in our nationbetter than that of the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area - win cities whose residents are as diverseas you will find anywhere in the country. Benton Harbor is 94% Afiican American with morethan 40% of its residents living in poverty. St. Joseph is 97% Caucasian with high levels ofeducation and per capita achievement. The impact of Benton Harbor's strife can easily be seenin the adjoining community land values.In areas adjacent to Benton Harbor, planned waterfkont communities are the norm. Yet in theimmediate area, waterfiont land has not been as developed because of the negative perception ofBenton Harbor. As a result, the entire region has not benefited fiom a strong tourism base, or acorresponding economic expansion tied to tourism. Perhaps, this is best illustrated in the medianhousehold income for the 162,000 residents of the Benton Harbor Metropolitan Statistical Area(MSA) being the lowest of all MSAs in Michigan.The hardships of Benton Harbor are evident in any statistical measurement. Every single censustract in the city has a poverty concentration of 50% or higher. According to the 2000 Censusdata, the median family income in Benton Harbor is only $8,965, which is well below BerrienCounty's measure of $37,095 and more dramatically below the state's median family income of$44,221. (The city ranks last in Michigan in this category.) Alarmingly, when compared to thecore city average household income of $17,471, Benton Harbor still ranks 60% lower than thenext lowest core urban city in Michigan (i.e., Saginaw at a rate of $28,015).Literacy is another key area dividing the residents. Based on 1990 Census data and the 1992National Adult Literacy Survey, many adults in the region function at Level 1 or Level 2 literacylevels. Adults at Level 1 can read a little, but they can have difficulty filling out a jobapplication, reading a food label, or reading a child's storybook. Adults at Level 2 usually haveabout the same level reading and problem-solving skills as Level 1 adults, but can also performmore complex tasks like comparing, contrasting or integrating pieces of information.


5/15

From a health standpoint, a 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Study conducted by the Institute forPublic Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University showed that nearly 20% ofBerrien County residents viewed their health as fair or poor. Another 31% of residents statedthat they did not participate in any type of physical activity on a regular basis. In bothcategories, women fared worse than men, and lower-income households were worse off thanmore affluent ones.Just as residents' income levels, literacy levels, and health conditions are diverse, so too are theireducation levels, transportation needs, family structures and recreational interests. The BentonHarbor School System suffers with the inability to invest in millage necessary to replacebuildings constructed in the 1950's. The combination of recycled poverty and a strugglingschool system results in a drop out rate in excess of 70% for all that enter their freshman year,further contributing to the ongoing cycle of joblessness and social decay within the community.Benton Harbor is also a community that is squeezed with acute poverty and loss of tangible taxbase. A strong gentrification in housing and a millage rate that is the second highest in the Stateof Michigan (ranging between 30%-70%, higher than all surrounding communities [2000 Censusdata]) have served as disincentives for new investment. Even more alarming is the fact a recentassessor's office review reveals no home has been sold for more than $100,000 in this city andthe average assessed value is under $50,000 per dwelling.Benton Harbor was once the hustling economic hub of the region. Diverse commerce was thenorm. Yet rapid change occurred from 1978 to 1986 when over 5,500 high-wage, low-skilledjobs were lost and with it, the city lost 22.3% of its population. Whirlpool Manufacturing,VMCorporation, Benton Harbor Malleables, Superior Steel, along with the Auto SpecialtiesManufacturing Company all closed their doors. With the exception of Whirlpool, each entity leftbehind orphaned, industrial buildings that until recently served as a constant reminder of theglory days, and extracted an exhaustive financial burden on the dwindling city treasury.All of these hardships culminated in June of 2003 when the city was besieged by mediaincluding all four major news networks, The London Times, The Los Angeles Times, ChicagoTribune, The Wall Street Journal and CNN reporting on a three day melee involving riots in thestreets and the burning of some 29 dwellings. The paradox of the disturbance was the visiblesigns of progress within the community - a community whose journey of advancement is farfrom over in creating an environment where no one is left behind.Working T ogether to Create Solutions...A city that once had the highest per capita murder rate in the nation (1993-1994) is not without avision for redeveloping itself Over the past six years, significant efforts have been made tocreate a strategy and ultimately a structure by which the community can assemble to createsystemic change. Since 1994, Whirlpool Corporation has pledged $1 million per year that has vbeen matched by otlier(businessorganizations to address regional economic development change 9with special emphasis on Benton Harbor. f The results are tangible. The Main Street cosefrom a 94% vacancy rate to just fewer than 4 5 % ~Several new ,

E-iheeeii?iGeZ'g:6 area. Oier 1,750,000 square feet of abandonedmanufacturing space has been acquired and demolished.


6/15

Unfortunately, the progress being made from an economic development standpoint has notreached far enough into the community to effect change for all residents. $:order to deal with **the issues of diversity and inclusion, the Council for World-Class Conmumties (CWCC) wasTormed in 2001.4 This organization has been actively engaged in bringing the entire regiontogether to focus on the issues of diversity and inclusion, and to implement related strategies forassisting the entire region, especially Benton Harbor.The CWCC has trained hundreds of people to be diversify-with- inclusion^^ facilitators whoconduct on-site diversity training at area businesses, faith institutions and organizations. Its"Bridges to Digital Excellence" program is helping bridge the technology divide by providingfree computers and training to more than 630 Berrien County families (the majority of whomlive in Benton Harbor). Law Enforcement Diversity Training has also been held to help improvethe relationship between area law enforcement agencies and residents.Collectively, the CWCC, Cornerstone Alliance, the United Way of Southwest Michigan, and ahost of other~orgaiizations ave engaged literally hundreds of individuals in helping to transform r,the City of Benton Harbon By working cooperatively, these entities will continue to build uponthe revitalization of downtown Benton Harbor, and also the shared development opportunitiesarising throughout Michigan's Great Southwest.TheNext Step.. .The applicant recognizes that development opportunities in the City of Benton Harbor must beviewed within the limitations and obstacles described above. Therefore, the regional strategyembodied in the Edgewater -River Run project creates a development opportunity by which thehigh millage rates in the City of Benton Harbor will not be a disincentive. By accessing enough .land to breate the 'critical mass needed for structural change, and by incorporating a high-end&

-> --*-**A *-community and all of the planned amenities that are associated with such a development,,including ,recreational boating----&.--ccess, the Wget market purchasers of homes and commercial +centers .%il not be deterred by rthe~bhi~&er..thanverage property taxes.$ Ultimately, the projectwill generate the type of development that will create jobs .by cap


7/15

Company among others, Berrien County has the second largest number of identified brownfieldsites in the state of Michigan (as measured by the MDEQ). 'Given the historical dependence o$industry on watemont locations, the situation -has now 'developed whereby these orphaned {,b"rb&e'lds are more than just unappealing to the eye; they are limiting accessibility to what are +otherwise highly desirable waterfiont locations. 4The work to be undertaken and outlined in this application is seen as the linchpin in synergizingthe community efforts to date. The Edgewater - River Run project and the ensuing brownfieldremediation efforts will juxtapose the economic revival of a community in which substantive andstructural change is desperately needed.

IC. Site Selection ProcessBackground Leading to the Selection of the Edgewater -River Run Site...It's hard to overcome the paradoxes found in the cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. Amaster strategy known as -$e Harland Bar(ho1omew Study mas commissioned in late 19884hatoutlined a strategy capitalizing on the river and waterfiont areas of both Benton Harbor and St.Joseph with an eye on driving development along Business Route 94 and Main Street to assistthe City of Benton Harbor. Numerous follow-up studies were conducted and several initiatedattempts at redevelopment occurred between 1989 and 1995. The stumbling block to thesedevelopments was both hdamental as well as philosophical.The hdamental challenges rested with the over 1,750,000 square feet of orphaned andcondemned manufacturing buildings that lay fallow between the two cities. In addition, theremains and foundations fiom the former Auto Specialties Manufacturing site remained clearlyvisible fiom the 3ean Klock Park areqas well as the City of St. Joseph, which further served tolimit private inv eh en t.The road systems, including an antiquated state highway (M-63) built over the top of theEdgewater area with access ramps encumbering a massive 20-acre interchange at Jean KlockRoad (built originally to support heavy traffic to the once bustling manufacturing centers), allserved as an impediment to the creation of a viable redevelopment strategy.The philosophical challenges occurred as a result of the differences between these two sistercities. Several development strategies had more tax base located in the City of St. Joseph andother strategies required that development occur in St. Joseph fust to drive and stimulate thedevelopment in Benton Harbor.The philosophical rift that was created was due solely to a lack of trust. In 1996, theredevelopment efforts were rekindled. A consulting firm was retained to conduct a three-daycharret involving all elected officials, employees, and selected community residents to helpdefine a long-term vision that could be "shared" by both communities.The outcome of this process was the ~~dgeyater:Redevelopmentlan", a complex strategy to,redevelop an expansive area connecting.the5citigs f Benfon Harb~ rnd St. Joseph that -included,what was once knowh as "the eighth most contaminated site .in Michigan" by the MDEQ.,component of the p dation of housi~~g.n the :g mc ri i : &a d area of$

. *-pr, the Edgewater,- WvCr Run fifbject is considered integral to the"Edgewater Projeq. Accordingly, two-thirds of the funds available under I 1 ,


8/15

the Michigan's Great Southwest Cleanup Fund will be earmarked by the applicant tod 5?/3- - , d . " ^ * . - . P L ~ ' Q W ~ ~ ~ ~ &Comerstone Alliance$aW-+"&mwlli.ot-for-profit).,.. intermediary that will oversee the Edgev&.$~;&ivve~&gg-~ ++

-project on-behalf of the Benton flarbor and St. Joseph, Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities. b,;The Process of Selecting Other Borrowers and Subgrantees...While two-thirds of the community's RLF will be earmarked for .Edgewater- River Run, theremaining funds will be accessible through the Berrien County Redevelopment Authority, withinformation as to their availability being published on the county's website, through marketingbrochures, presentations, and special information packets which shall be provided to all of thelocal units of government within the County's jurisdictional boundaries. This material willconvey general information about brownfield risks and the benefits of reuse, a s well as how-toinformation needed by target constituencies. Proposals will be received four times per year fiompotential developers and small businesses who partner with these local units of governmentandor individual brownfield redevelopment authorities.Projects/sites will be prioritized and selected based on the strength of community partnerships, asevidenced by input of local units of government and their financial andor staffing participationin the planning and application process. To ensure public involvement, applicants will berequired to consciously identify the stakeholders network specific to their project by completinga Worksheet for Stakeholder Identification such as that attached hereto as Exhibit #6. Aprioritization model based upon an applicant's submission of a ProjectlSite Profile Form and thecompletion of a Site Prioritization Worksheet similar to those attached hereto as Exhibit #7 shallprovide the basis on which applications are screened. Computer software will be used to apply asimple weighted sum methodology whereby each projectkite can be evaluated against how wellit fits up to 10 weighted, predetermined criteria established by the County based on localcommunity input. Furthermore, subgrant applicants must clearly demonstrate a 20% cost share,and loan to value ratio& must not exceed 80%. Liens shall be filed by the Berrien CountyRedevelopment Authority on all loan recipients.Applicants will receive priority scores of as much as 20% if redevelopment efforts are takingplace in those locations where the unemployment rates for the immediate census tract area are120% or higher of the countywide average. Further, projects will be given additional prioritycontingent on signed investor andor developer agreements such that tangible taxableinvestments are committed subsequent to the cleanup.Community Involvement...Applications will be compared to community redevelopment objectives, in which the citizens'employment opportunities, neighborhood and housing options, commercial and retail space, andrecreational and cultural facilities are described and prioritized. Consideration will only be givento projects demonstrating a consistency with the community's economic development goals, arerealistic in their ability to achieve these goals, are focused on longer-term objectives (with a view10 to 20 years ahead), and which are supported by community consensus.

1D. Description Target Market and Business Plan forRLF and SubgrantsMrhir!pool Corpoi-ation,, in partne of Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Berrien 6County, and Cornerstone A1,lianc abk'kd to ,underwrite a project aimed atidentifying tangible development opportunities in and around .Klock Road, North Shore Drive,


9/15

and the Higman Park Road areas-- .- of the City of Benton Harbor.? The Melrose Company, a South &Carolina - based master developer has been retained bf%%irlpool and has been working with thgI dcholas Group and Michael Redd & Associates to .develop_ _ * _ _ everal* l.-C--.trategies capable-ofdriving "taxable investments along the shared river arteries of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph$ Over thepast 12 months, over $500,000 has been invested in completing the preliminary market study pnecessary to evaluate the possibility of a planned, integrated, recreational and residentialcommunity predominately located inside a designated (targeted) redevelopment area of BentonHarbor called "Edgewater - River Run". An additional budget of $3,000,000 has been identifiedto move this project into the underwriting and development phase. Additional budgeting andplanning information pertaining to this project are attached hereto in.:E@ibit'#5.The Edgewater - River Run project will link Lake Michigan to the Paw Paw and St. Joseph s8h e r s inside the designated redevelopment Area .through the construction of a Nicholas (9;~)/Signature Golf Courseand with it the residential components necessary to stimulate tax base andadjoining commercial and industrial development within the City of Benton Harbor andadjoining communities.In order to bring formal structure to the Edgewater -River Run redevelopment plan, a LimitedLiability Corporation (LLC) will be formed involving Whirlpool Corporation, the BerrienCounty Redevelopment Authority, the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph Brownfield RedevelopmentAuthorities, and Cornerstone Alliance. Given the frnancial strength of Whirlpool Corporationand Cornerstone Alliance, the loans and subgrants provided by the applicant in support of theEdgewater - River Run project will be both highly collateralized and reinforced by an overallfinancial capacity normally reserved for much larger projects. By earmarking two-thirds of thefunds to such a strong credit worthy and multi-jurisdictional project as Edgewater - River Run,and by balancing the remaining one-third across smaller loans throughout Berrien County, thefinancial viability and impact of the RLF Grant will be assured.

v u i t a i n a b l e Reuse of Brownfields ,Through necessity and by choice, the community has become skilled at addressing the challengesof brownfield redevelopment. The redevelopment strategy described herein for the Edgewater-River Run project serves as the community's model for the sustainable reuse of brownfields inwhich a collaborative effort links environmental protection, economic growth, and communitygoals in a coordinated, comprehensive, and consistent manner. This model reflects theco~nmunity's proactive efforts to overcome the hurdles of developing brownfields and itscommitment to sustaining the reuse of these properties through a coordinated communicationseffort aimed at clearing-up misperceptions and educating stakeholders on the benefits ofbrownfield redevelopment. To date, these efforts have included, but are not limited to thepromotion of an education, awareness, and information exchange utilizing the technical supportof the Federal EPA-sponsored Great Lakes Environmental Finance Center, and throughcommunity meetings, seminars, and publications. Sq~port@g-thesefforts, a centralized point.of ,?qontact or brownfield ombudsman.has been establfi;hed within the redevelopment authohties ofeach conibuniq. Going forward, sustainable reuse will be further ensured by continuing toprioritize projects that retain or create the largest number of better paying jobs, are unlikely to beremediated and redeveloped in a timely manner without RLF support, have the greatest potentialto foster additional capital investment in the area, can be developed in ways that will not add to


10/15

pre-existing contamination in the area, and are located in relatively close proximity to theavailable labor pool.Like Edgewater, the community recognizes the importance of integrating brownfieldredevelopment strategies with existing community plans and objectives geared toward jobcreation, capital investment, improving neighborhood quality, preserving sensitive ecologicalresources and farmland, maximizing the use of existing public services and infrastructure, andreducing risk to human health, safety and the environment. In this manner, the community mayleverage other public and private hnds to the greatest extent possible, and ensure the sustainablereuse of its brownfield sites.Removing disincentives (and creating incentives) for voluntary remediation by facilitating accessto tax credits, deductions and other financial benefits, and continuing to support theestablishment of reasonable standards for risk-based remediation, broad liability protection forinnocent purchasers, and additional funding at the state and federal levels, and loan pools bycommunity-based lenders required to meet their Community Reinvestment Act obligations willall help to support a sustainable brownfield initiative in the community. Further, the communitywill remain supportive of the environmental management practices embodied in IS0 14000standards that minimize hazardous substance use, prevent site contamination, and reduce wastein a manner that improves the hture use of properties. To this end, energy efficient "greenbuildings", open space, conservation, easements, and oiher innovative planning techniques ,capable ,of ,c.ontributing, to the -quality of life both now and in the distant future will beencpwaged. aThe sustainable reuse of brownfields is a priority within the applicant community. As noted4above ,and- hroughout this docurhent, the community has committed itself to a basic strategy-built on co&unications and public involvement, strengthening and building the capacity of thelocal goyernmental units and---onprofits such ai Cornerstone kliance, supporting streamlined-regulati~~~,eiii&~~~~g~$rivate-sectornvestment, improving access to public financing,preventing pollution, and influencing regional planning.

/F. Creation andor Preservation of GreenspaceIOpen Space or Nonprofit PurposeCleanup and redevelopment is an important objective and the primary basis for this application.However, given the socio-economic challenges existing within the City of Benton Harbor (seeSection B, above), this is but one part of a larger set of quality-of-life issues, not the least ofwhich is the creation and preservation of open space for public purposes.A ke~~findingf t h ~ orpoiat'e Properties,Sfudy (described in, Section G , below) was the need to,--diversify thgLrecreation mix in the community by developing strategies that would link the%riverfront in B&o-bo_r_apd St. Joseph to the exi~ting~residentialeighborhoods. The Stud8also:conc6%d that the need to incorporate .the Jean J.$Jqck Park area into a development strategy*was' crucial to stimulate new investmeht in a region pl aged by population and economic out- vmigration.*"Bqilt around .a golf course and *residentialdevelopment, the Edgewater- River Ruqv

;project will accomplish these objectives, and exemplify a livable community in which vital T," *,&. - . - - m . w - T * % &P*r-U . r . -resource land ~s~t~"bf*e"d' ;~~sus ta inableransportation trends are reversex and energy and non-.+,d h m ' , arenewable resources we conserved. M a t s currently a hodge-podge of former abandoned

manufacturing sites, old junkyards, and substandard buildings will be converted into


11/15

sensitive" community in which the residents and visitors alike will benefit fiom integratedwalking trails, landscaped roads and dedicated wetland peas.And while the,City of Benton Harbor has long had an outstanding.- . public facility in Jean Klock ,PZk, due to fiscal restraints, the community is not able to mahtain the park in its hi&est andPbest usel statusdThe development of the mixed-use recreational venue Edgewater - River Runwill not only provide the funding- o maintain this important community asset, but will result 'in at t.lea3*L$~&llionof additional park land being dedicatedAf&public purposes throughout the :

berrien county michigan usepa revolving loan fund application, 2004

Documents