Ad Hoc Citizens Committee for Water Street Redevelopment Area

The City of Ypsilanti convened the Ad Hoc Citizens Committee for the Water Street Redevelopment Area to discuss the redevelopment plans for the Water Street site, focusing on community engagement and the drafting of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for developers. The meeting included presentations on the site's history, environmental remediation efforts, and community needs, wants, hopes, and fears related to the redevelopment. Key concerns raised by community members included affordable housing, displacement of minority and homeless populations, preservation of open space and riverfront access, and recognition of indigenous history. The committee's role is to refine community benefits criteria for the RFQ, review developer qualifications, and negotiate community benefits agreements. The meeting also involved a public nomination process for committee membership, emphasizing diverse representation including residents, business owners, and experts. The process aims to ensure that redevelopment aligns with community priorities and addresses social equity and environmental considerations.