One big makeover for downtown building

The Borden Creamery Building in Mount Pleasant has wasted away before
residents’ eyes for more than 40 years.

Revitalizing the historical building will rectify the city’s failure
to fix it in the past and boost economic development for the area, said
Mayor Adam Miller.

“It’s the first of its kind in the nation and in the state,” Miller
said.

City officials propose that the factory, located at 320 W. Broadway,
be revamped to its original 1908 style, preserving history and
attracting more tourism and business to downtown Mount Pleasant.

The bank and the bars are the only places anyone will see Mount
Pleasant sophomore Jennifer Young when she goes downtown.

“It’s not a hangout place and it should be,” Young said.

Some students on campus are not very knowledgeable about what the
downtown area has to offer.

“When I was a freshman, I didn’t even know there was a downtown,”
said Romeo sophomore Amy Kotulski.

City officials hope the renovation will attract more students to the
downtown area.

An exterior makeover — including roof replacement, building a new
entryway and cleaning up ground contamination around the building —
would make the building look brand new.

However, this would cost $6 million; a price tag that the city’s
budget cannot cover and could lead to higher taxes.

The city is trying to cut down the cost by receiving tax incentives
and the state has already funded the project with $600,000.

City Hall would have to become the tenant for the project to start
and the current city hall building would sell for about $1.3 million.