Image

The City of Saline will buy back the 3.5-acre parcel at 207 Monroe St.
City council emerged from closed session Monday night and voted unanimously to buy back the land from High Meadows Development LLC for $200,000 - the price developer Damian Farrell paid for the property when he and the city finally executed a purchase agreement for the property.
After almost a decade of dealing between the city and the developer, the only progress on the site was the removal of an old home and the installation of a retention pond that is encircled by an orange plastic fence that's often falling down. Toward the back of the property is a large mound of soil covered in overgrown weeds.
Mayor Brian Marl said the city will clean up the property and then look to find a developer for the property.
"If this motion is approved and if the closing is executed the city's first and primary goal will be to improve the safety and aesthetics of that site," Marl said before council voted. "Secondarily we look forward to moving expeditiously to find a competent qualified developer who can execute a quality project on that site."
Farrell wanted to build a development of modular condominiums on the property - drawing the concern of neighbors as the density of his development increased over time. The most recent plans called for a 30-unit development - although Farrell pressed for 40+ units at one point.
The development fizzled when, Farrell said, the manufacturer of his modular units ceased business. Plans to revive the development were hurt by COVID-19, Farrell told council last year. The most recent plan had the backing of Ron Weiser, the U of M Regent and founder of McKinley Associates.
Council grew tired of the eyesore on South Monroe Street and Farrell's inability to meet deadlines in the development agreement and decided in 2021 against extending the purchase and development agreement with High Meadows.
The city originally bought the property for $100,000 in 2011. The city considered using the property to expand People's Park or expand Oakwood Cemetery. Instead, it decided to sell the property for residential development.
The motion to repurchase the property was made by Councillor Kevin Camero-Sulak and seconded by Jim Dell'Orco.
No, the motion to approve & adopt was made by Ceo, seconded by Lesch. If you're interested in an unedited/unredacted version of Monday's meeting, the link to the video recording of our budget work session and regular meeting is provided below -
Thank you to those Council members who support the citizens and the Rec Center.
Please note, the rec center now requires 1/3 to almost 1/2 of its operations be funded by the City of Saline taxpayers. Approximately 10% of our City population uses the facility, while 2/3 of the members are non-resident. It’s time the non City residents of the Saline community pays its fair share.
What happened with the funding for the needed repairs at the Recreation Center? With all of the programs and community services provided at the Recreation Center, the nearby communities spending tens of millions of dollars to build new Recreation Centers, and the number of members/high usage for the Center and part
The mayor and city council love to spend taxpayer dollars frivolously. More and more $$$ into the rec center, that needs to stop. We still don’t have drinkable water and yet the city keeps raising rates. Can’t speak for everyone but I would much rather have clean water than a “lazy river!”
Sorry, Toby Crotty. Do not align to your assessment or thoughts. While nearby communities are spending tens of millions of dollars to build Recreation Centers (because of their value to citizens and communities), Saline is in the fortunate position of already having a very good facility in place which now needs to
You avoided my main point. The rec center is a nice amenity for those that use it. However, it is not a necessity. Clean safe water that we pay exorbitant rates for IS a necessity for EVERYONE!
The unprofessional behavior while in the supposed role of being a journalist when talking to that protester is ridiculous. The incorrect information and “facts” you spewed during the conversation are just par for the course. Thanks for showing up!
I agree with your comments about this journalist. I use the word journalist loosely here, as a journalist should be bringing forth the views of the people they are interviewing, not bringing their obvious bias into every forced conversation.
I understand the right 4 peaceful protests, why expose children to hate and show disrespect to our flag, what is that teaching the children. As a Korean Veteran I oppose anyone disrespecting our countries FLAG, shame on the protesters,