Services: Maybe Right Here
If the city were looking for nothing more than a 10- to 20-acre parcel of available land, there are literally hundreds of sites that could house the city services currently headquartered at
However, there are fewer than a dozen sites that will fit the unique characteristics city officials will likely seek in a new location, provided the city observes its four-year-old Master Plan. City officials have yet to contact any property owners concerning the possible relocation and have not indicated what they would seek in a property.
1. Market Avenue
The city's Wastewater Treatment Plant, Environmental Protection Services and an impound lot are housed at 1300, 1550 and 1600 Market Ave. SW. The Kent County Waste-To-Energy Facility is a block east. Neighbors include a junk yard, rail yard, steel distributor and asphalt company. Only a few minutes from the current location, this site has easy access to downtown and is a block away from the I-196 Market exit. There is some unused land already on the city property, and adjacent property is currently on the market.
This site presents an opportunity to consolidate some facilities.
2. Butterworth Dump
The area surrounding the 120-acre former Butterworth Dump is earmarked for use as park land in the city's Master Plan, and the adjacent land off
Locating here would be a departure from the Master Plan, but could save the city from future relocation of the services housed here.
3. Oak Industrial
The Oak Industrial corridor is a central location with easy access to downtown and both highways. The city has some facilities in the area, housing its Water Department in a new facility at
The tract of land on the city's southeast side that runs along
The Madison Square Renaissance Zone runs through part of this neighborhood, including a 10-acre parcel of land currently listed for sale by Delta Properties. This could be a unique opportunity for the city to use the relocation for economic development.
5. Buchanan-Hall
Bounded by two railroads, the area surrounding
The area is a large part of the Division-Buchanan Renaissance Zone and has instant access to the highway.
Junkyards and obsolete manufacturing facilities characterize the Renaissance Zone neighborhood north of the Alpine Avenue and
There is very little available land adjacent to the Kent County Department of Public Works site at
8. Ionia-Division
There are several currently available properties along