Brownfield Redevelopment of Former Ford Plant in Wixom, Michigan

The Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Wixom functioned for 50 years before ending operations in 2007. When demolition activities began in 2013, only rubble from former concrete building foundations, driveways, and building slabs areas remained, along with several former pit and basement areas. For years the Wixom Ford Assembly Plant was Ford Motor Company’s largest plant in North America.

During the 1980s, it was also Ford’s most profitable plant churning out thousands of Lincoln Continentals and Town Cars with peak production in 1988. From 1957, when the plant opened, to 2007, when the plant closed, nearly 20 types of vehicles had been built.

In 2018, PM Environmental was retained by the developer, Industrial Commercial Properties LLC, to perform environmental due diligence, due care activities, and prepare a Brownfield Plan and Act 381 Work Plan. In March of 2019, the Oakland County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved Brownfield Tax Credits and a Brownfield Plan for the project, which is a new tech and manufacturing park.

The newly developed site consists of six buildings that take up 1.3 million square feet with associated parking, sidewalks, drives and utilities. Once the site has been fully redeveloped, the taxable value of the property is expected to increase by an estimated $14.58 million. Job creation estimates based on the square footage and use range from 500 up to 1,000 jobs.

The redevelopment will act as a major catalyst in future reinvestment in the Wixom Road corridor and will assist the city in reaching their Vision 2025 goals. The $150

million dollar project is eligible for up to $24.2 million in reimbursement from tax increment revenues.

$12.2 million for Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and approximately $12 million in tax credit through the formerly approved Brownfield Michigan Business Tax (MBT) credit for the property.

IMPORTANT ASPECTS

• A Brownfield Plan and Act 381 Work Plan were approved by the Oakland County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
  • Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF) reimbursement for $12.2 million
  • Approximately $12 million in tax credit through the formerly adopted Brownfield Michigan Business Tax (MBT) credits for the property

SERVICES PROVIDED

• Brownfield Plan
  • Economic Incentive Consulting
  • Baseline Environmental Assessment (BEA)
  • Water Sampling