Mount Pleasant Center legislation still pending on environmental, appraisal reports
Legislation on the Mount Pleasant Center property has stalled with the delay of environmental and appraisal reports.
State Rep. Bill Caul, R-Mount Pleasant, said he has drafted legislation that would allow the city of Mount Pleasant to purchase the property located at 1400 W. Pickard St., for less than market value. But still, the environmental and appraisal reports have not been returned to the city.
“We’ve notified (the Office of) Management and Budget about that,” he said.
If the legislation is approved, the city could purchase the property of the former mental institution from the state for as low as $1. If the city sells the property to a private entity, the city could only keep 60 percent of the profits.
“They would have to return 40 percent to the state,” Caul said.
He said the legislation is fully supported by State Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-Dewitt, who represents Mount Pleasant. Caul said Cropsey has no issues with the drafted legislation.
City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said there has not been any formal discussion on the property’s future use.
“We have not drafted a specific master plan for that property,” she said. “I’m sure there are coffeehouse conversations about what could be done. The city has not been contacted by any developers.”
The center closed in September as part of an effort to pair down the state’s budget. The building has been vacant since then, and police have reported several trespassers. The city of Mount Pleasant shut off water in the building in late January.
Grinzinger said the building has some issues, but the environmental report should not contain anything officials do not already know.
“There is asbestos and lead paint in the older buildings,” she said. “We don’t expect to find any surprises.”
Kurt Weiss, public information officer for the state’s office of Technology, Management and Budget, said the environmental report was submitted last month, and the appraisal report was sent Friday to Grinzinger.
“I don’t think that there’s anything in the report that will catch the city off guard,” he said.
