Project requires grant funding and community participation to become reality
By Mark Tower
The Saginaw News
SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) - The three-story building in downtown Saginaw that once housed The Saginaw News has sat vacant since newspaper staff moved out in 2010.
But a partnership forged between three local groups aims to breathe new life into the structure, providing both outdoor and indoor space for a year-round farmers market in downtown Saginaw, according to the newspaper.
The partnership between SVRC Industries, the Saginaw Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown Saginaw Farmers Market, as well as that group's vision for the property was announced recently in a press release.
The group's plans include redeveloping the parking lot across the street from the building, along the Saginaw River. That property will become the outdoor home for the Downtown Saginaw Farmers Market, the release states.
The future of the existing farmers market location has been increasingly uncertain as leaders eye the publicly-owned parcel for future development. A string of properties that includes the farmers market's present site have been presented as a possible location for the downtown Saginaw campus of Delta College.
The vision for the space on the first floor of the former Saginaw News building includes a year-round indoor farmers market.
The remainder of the building will be developed as a marketplace, office space available for lease, commercial kitchen space that will be offered for rent, space for training programs and other offerings to complement downtown.
According to the group, redevelopment of the property will be done in phases. The first phase will include restoration of the building's infrastructure, construction of the public farmers market space on the riverfront and the redevelopment of the first floor into space for retailers and food vendors.
The project will need grant funding and community participation to become a reality, according to the partners. A capital campaign to fund redevelopment of the outdoor farmers market space will be announced in the near future.
According to the press release, SVRC's goal in redeveloping the property is to "continue to invest in the rebirth of downtown Saginaw into a thriving city, creating a place for the community (to) enjoy, providing a location for the downtown farmers market and access to fresh food in the downtown area and providing quality employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in Saginaw."
SVRC is a nonprofit that provides vocational rehabilitation services in Saginaw County and the surrounding community, according to its website. It is based at 919 Veterans Memorial Parkway, though the organization operates four locations in the community.
It collaborates with the Saginaw/Shiawassee Intermediate School District, Community Mental Health, State of Michigan, National Industries for the Severely Handicapped, Michigan Works and businesses in the Tri-County area to provide "quality outcomes for persons with disabilities and other barriers to employment."
The Saginaw News moved to its present-day home in the Ippel Building, across from the Saginaw County courthouse, in 2010.
In 2012, the old building was sold to 203 S. Washington LLC, owned by Bingham Farms-based ProVisions. ProVisions President Murray Wikol branded the property as "Riverview Center" in 2013 and stepped up efforts to sell or develop the property.
SVRC Industries Inc. purchased the structure for $500,000 on Dec. 30, according to Saginaw County property records.
The building is nearly 100,000 square feet, including its basement. In 2014, it had a taxable value and SEV of $242,104, records show. The land, nearly an acre, is valued at $86,597.
Published: Thu, Jan 15, 2015
