A state grant announced Tuesday will help renovate a historic building in downtown Chelsea.
The long-vacant Chelsea Rockwell building was constructed in 1909 and operated as a stove manufacturing warehouse as well as other industrial uses the through the years. Chelsea Rockwell, LLC plans to renovate the three-story historic building.
A $1.5 million Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based grant will help support the renovation, which once completed will feature 51 market-rate apartments, with a total capital investment of $8.8 million.
According to a statement issued Tuesday, the project “will serve as a catalyst for additional revitalization in the community and bring walkability and increased foot traffic to downtown Chelsea.”
The Michigan Strategic Fund also approved a request by the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority for $239,891 in state tax capture for the reimbursement of brownfield activities at the site.
In addition, the city of Chelsea is supporting the project through the approval of the local tax capture and a Commercial Rehabilitation Act tax abatement valued at $658,000.
A $463,140 Brownfield Grant was previously awarded by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
The city of Chelsea is also engaged with MEDC’s Redevelopment Ready Communities program.
“The city of Chelsea is excited to learn about the $1.5 million MCRP Performance-based Grant Award awarded to the Chelsea Rockwell project,” said Chelsea City Manager Roy Atkinson. “This project will renovate a long-time vacant former industrial building into 51 residential rental units, activate over 43,000 square feet of space in downtown Chelsea and result in a total capital investment of over $8.8 million. The city and the community are looking forward to this project!”
