KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners is delaying approval of a land deal for the new arena project downtown to see if they can get a better deal.
Catalyst Development needs land the county owns for the $300-million project, but before agreeing to the sale, Commissioner Jen Strebs has now proposed that they press for more details on a proposed training program and for a redefinition of which economically disadvantaged groups would be eligible to avoid legal challenges later.
She also wants a larger discount on commercial space at the facility for minority vendors, from 30 to 50%. She also proposed other changes.
Other commissioners were ready to go ahead with the sale last night, citing the importance of the proposed project to the community and the jobs it will create. That included board chairman John Taylor, who technically already had the board’s approval to sign the agreement, but wanted board input first.
Streb’s motion failed on a 4-4 vote, with one commissioner absent.
Calling it a “tricky situation” Taylor agreed to hold off signing the contract until they pitch Streb’s new proposals to the developers.
But he added that he doesn’t want to be on the board that gets in the way of this huge project and the economic growth it promises. Taylor says waiting two weeks might be a problem, because Catalyst is facing a tight deadline to secure other properties soon or risk losing their options.
The board is planning a special meeting Thursday night to take up the issue again, when they will have a chance to have a full board present to settle the issue.
The county’s attorney will be contacting the developers immediately to see if they are agreeable to the proposed changes.
reporting from John McNeill
