The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) has requested $1 million from the Michigan Community Revitalization Program to acquire the former site of the Buick City auto plant in northeast Flint and convert it into an industrial park, featuring walking and bike trials.

Incorporating an additional $5.5 million equity investment from the MSF Investment Fund in BC Leasing LLC would allow development and operation of the property, consisting of more than 360 acres at East Hamilton Avenue near East Baltimore Blvd.

Closed since 2010, the plant was used for vehicle production for more than 100 years and was transferred to the RACER Trust as part of General Motors bankruptcy.

Environmental remediation will be needed at the site, officials say.

Conversion of the plant, which has been identified in a report as “the most significant opportunity for economic redevelopment within the region,” would help eliminate a neighborhood eyesore, potentially becoming 300,000 square feet of warehouse and light industrial space with adjoining paths accessible to residents in surrounding neighborhoods.

The C. S. Mott Foundation supports the redevelopment effort, projected to cost a total of $23 million, announcing a $1.5 million grant.

“The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is always looking for ways to help expand economic opportunity and improve quality of life in Flint,” says Kathryn Thomas, vice president of communications. “We can see the Buick City site from our office, and we can also foresee that it could be an important property for revitalization efforts.”

Saying funds will be used for “due diligence activities, including land surveys, title work, preliminary engineering, market analysis, accounting and other investigation,” Thomas adds Mott is hopeful the proposed redevelopment is feasible.

Master development of the site will further combine resources and efforts of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., City of Flint, Michigan Department of Transportation and other agencies.

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