DTE Power Plant
Why we need a plan: Maintain tax base, plan for County Free Bridge upkeep, protect our environment
Successful Coal Power Plant Transitions
Power Plant Live
Mixed-use adaptive reuse of former coal plant
Created thriving tourism industry in Baltimore
Bailey Power Plant
Epicenter in creation of Winston-Salem’s innovation quarter, which was focal point to attract even more development in investment
Mixed-use with retail/entertainment in basement, upper level offices
Public park use of coal pit
Creation of "destination” development, including 100 room hotel, retail/office, restaurants, and marina with pedestrian walkways
This developer also submitted a proposal to purchase the McLouth Steel Property
“Marysville officials credit DTE with making sure it found a buyer that would have a 21st century vision for what riverfront property could be.”
-- Crain's Detroit Business
Why adaptive reuse?
Maintaining cultural heritage
The Trenton Channel power plant’s smokestacks are iconic, and recognized by anybody from the region. As the world changes, it’s a monument to the hard work and labor that Downriver contributed as the backbone of the industrial revolution.
2. Increasing development speed
Reusing the current site will allow for a development that is integrated onto the tax rolls far quicker than a demolition - and if a new development takes more time, the property’s assessed value could be lower without a building
3. Reduced Waste
MWA believes in waste reduction - if the building is demolished, the debris would likely be placed in the Riverview landfill, or Sibley Quarry that DTE owns and currently uses for coal fly ash waste. The property could be remediated to a safe standard as is (and would save DTE the costs of demolition)
Why mixed-use?
Infrastructure Maintenance
Without industrial activity, Wayne County could build a fixed-span bridge to replace the county free bridge to Grosse Ile - which would save on maintenance costs, and be far less expensive than maintaining the currently costly county free bridge
2. Greater Taxable Value
W.F. Whelan warehouse
17423 W. Jefferson
30.67 acres
Assessed value: $501,000
Taxable Value per acre:
$16,335
Trenton Towers co-op
2645 Riverside Dr.
3.734 acres
Taxable value: $3,665,664
Taxable value per acre:
$981,699
Mixed-Use development creates a more diverse and robust business ecosystem that has more economic resiliency in the face of broader economic trends. A more diverse development portfolio mitigates the risks of the economic bottom falling out of the industry in the area
3. Environmental Resilience
Industrial use has the potential to negatively impact the nearby International Wildlife Refuge, and the Detroit River’s world-renowned Walleye Fishing industry