Water Street Redevelopment Area
The Water Street Redevelopment area is a 32-acre, City-owned site adjacent to Historic Downtown Ypsilanti, between Ann Arbor and Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). The site is bounded on the north by 1500 feet of Michigan Avenue frontage (US-12 Business Route), and on the south and west by 1/2 mile of Huron River frontage. The City of Ypsilanti is currently seeking a developer for the site or several developers for portions of the site.
Water Street Ad Hoc Committee
The City of Ypsilanti has established an Ad Hoc Water Street Redevelopment Area Community Benefits Committee. Meetings will begin soon.
2025 Community Engagement
Those who are unable to attend any of our community engagement sessions are encouraged to fill out the Water Street Community Engagement Survey: https://cityofypsilanti.com/waterstreetsurvey
Video Recordings
Real Estate Panel September 22, 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp5YRr96SR0&t=7s
The History of Water Street April 16, 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8cgnOAPAZw
Brownfield Redevelopment and Water Street April 23, 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVl5YnvGQg0
The Future of Water Street May 1, 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLMwJBWxCHw
2025 Community Engagement Session Findings
In the spring of 2025 and then later that fall, the City of Ypsilanti along with Carlisle/Wortman Associates hosted first four sessions discussing Water Street followed by four additional focus groups seeking community input on the future of Water Street. The first three sessions were panels on the History of Water Street, Brownfield Development and Water Street, and The Future of Water Street. The final four Focus Groups were to gather additional public input on the future of Water Street. Participants were asked about their hopes and fears and needs and wants for future development on the site. The tables below show the common themes from all five groups discussing the future. You can find a detailed report from the first focus group here. For details from the groups in the fall, see the report here. The feedback from participants will help the City of Ypsilanti draft a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to find a developer(s) to redevelop the site.
HOPES AND FEARS
Hopes | Fears |
Mixed income mixed use development | Displace minority populations |
Riverfront remains open to the public | Unaffordable |
Community and recreation center | The site continues to sit empty |
Preserve trees/open space | Suburban style development |
Small businesses | Auto-oriented |
Affordable housing | Low density/single-use structures |
Be an extension of downtown and look and feel like Ypsi |
|
Recognize the Indigenous populations that were once on site |
|
Transit oriented / walkable |
|
NEEDS AND WANTS
Needs | In between | Wants |
Dense, mixed-use neighborhood as an extension of downtown | Space for small/micro-businesses | Recreation |
Affordable housing | Public recreation indoor/outdoor | Green space/parks |
Trails and Walkability | Communal space | Retail/Entertainment venues/theaters |
The space along the river should remain public |
| Fits the character of the city |
Affordable and mixed housing (low to high) |
| Restaurant/Café overlooking river |
Tax-generating |
| Green development standards |
Connection to surrounding neighborhoods |
|
|
Transit oriented/Walkable |
|
|
General Site Information
To date, the City of Ypsilanti has performed property acquisition and assessment and completed demolition. Remediation continues using various Michigan and Federal grants and loan programs, Neighborhood Stabilization Funds (NSP), and municipal bonds.
Brownfield Plan
The Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority has approved a Brownfield plan for the site with an estimated total of $22.9 million in reimbursable costs. Contamination remains on the site, but mitigation can be reimbursed through Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (see below).
Redevelopment Goals
The community would like to see the site redeveloped in a mixed-use, urban form that is in keeping with the adjacent historic downtown area and neighborhoods. A biking and walking trail connects Riverside Park to the north with Waterworks Park to the south, serving as part of a 37-mile-long trail running through Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and adjacent communities.
The following 2010 aerial image shows the redevelopment area; however, no structures remain on the site.