A cleanup of last January’s Buena Vista hotel fire site is planned with funds through the Saginaw County Land Bank Authority, but a specific timetable still is not in place.
“The environmental review is in the works,” Treasurer Tim Novak wrote on Oct. 26. “We are working with a local environmental company and have been in contact with necessary HUD officials as well as Congressman Kildee’s office this week. We also are submitting other required documents this week as well.”
We have tried repeatedly since then, without success, to obtain a schedule and the identity of the local company.
The location is adjacent to Buena Vista township offices on Outer Drive, and Superintendent Torrie Lee began asserting early last summer that residents — unaware of all the ins and outs — are blaming the trustees and herself for the lingering eyesore, unfair because the funds are controlled by the feds via the county land bank.
An arson at the abandoned Welcome Inn took place only days after Kildee announced a $2.4 million federal grant to demolish rundown properties across the county, including $500,000 for the BV site. At that point, Novak said that if the fire reduced the demo cost, Buena Vista possibly could use the remaining monies to knock down other less-conspicuous eyesores. This is another question that remains up in the air.
Kildee’s press secretary, Tom Grandon, wrote on Oct. 23, “HUD has indicated that an environmental review is necessary before the award is finalized. The Saginaw County Land Bank would have the most up-to-date information about what steps need to be taken to meet federal requirements, including the environmental review.”
For her part, Lee says, “Yes, all parties are aware that there is an environmental review that must be done. This must be handled by the County because they are the grantee for the funding. To my knowledge no steps have been taken to address the matter. That is the information that was relayed to me.”
Through Grandon, Kildee issues a prepared statement, “Blighted properties have been eyesores in Saginaw County for far too long, attracting crime and negatively impacting the quality of life for residents. I secured funding to clean up properties across Saginaw County, including the former Welcome Inn in Buena Vista. I will continue working to ensure this funding is delivered to the community as quickly as possible to help clean up blighted properties and make Saginaw a safer place to live.”
All officials quoted above were responding to Saginaw Daily’s previous report three weeks ago. To view, click here.
