Thom Linn is the head.

Site off Michigan. Community members mow the grass and maintain the field in the absence of coordinated development.

Carl Levin got a 3.8M earmark in 2009 to support redevelopment at the site. The conservancy submitted a proposal to keep the funds before the September 30, 2011 deadline. The proposal was approved by Housing and Urban Development even though the conservancy has not won legal authority to use the site from the City. The funds may have to go to other projects in Corktown instead.

In March 2011, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation rejected a plan called "The Corner Development" for a charter school, retail, and housing on the site put forward by the Conservancy and other organizations.

In September 2011, Chevrolet offered to pay for the rehabilitation of the site. They would work with the Conservancy and provide volunteers to maintain the space as a park for youth baseball. The DEGC rejected the offer, saying it would interfere with plans to use the site "for a comprehensive development that will bring a substantial investment and new economic activity to the city." No plan for the site has been announced. The offer still stands.

George Jackson, president of the DEGC, says that the Conservancy was given three extensions to create a viable plan and failed. He said the extensions cost taxpayers about $500,000, but the source of the costs was unclear. He said the DEGC and Chevrolet will work to find another site to rehabilitate.

A portion of the earmark will be used to support entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Corktown area. Zachary and Associates, which is managing the applications, scheduled  an informational meeting for July 17, 2012. 

Sources

 

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