Detroit leaders nix Uniroyal and Stone Soap redevelopment deals

• The terminations pave the way for new ideas to be brought to these sites.
• Developers often cite cost increases, tough environmental work and challenging economic conditions for delays.

State of play: City Council unanimously approved terminating brownfield redevelopment plans for:

• The old, contaminated Uniroyal site along the east riverfront near the bridge to Belle Isle. The deal was 20 years old, with a variety of iterations, redesigns and extensions over the years.
• The Stone Soap redevelopment in Rivertown with condos and retail, based around an old industrial building that has since been demolished. The project's brownfield plan was established in 2019.

Between the lines: Brownfields are blighted, likely contaminated sites that can receive public financing for redevelopment. Detroit's brownfield redevelopment authority also recently voted to terminate the plans.

• Mayor Mike Duggan mentioned Uniroyal earlier this year as one of few remaining giant blank slates left in the city.