The City of Kalamazoo’s Parks and Recreation Department will host its 2018 Safe Halloween event Saturday, October 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Bronson Park in downtown Kalamazoo (200 South Rose Street).

This year’s event is presented by Kellogg Community Credit Union and promises to be a great time for all, with activities such as pumpkin racing, pumpkin carving demonstrations, costume contests, fall themed games, and much more! Complimentary cider and donuts will be available while supplies last and there will be plenty of candy! Food will also be available for purchase via food trucks.

Safe Halloween is a family friendly event that provides an alternative to trick-or-treating in a safe and action-packed environment. Although the activities are geared towards families with children, all community members are welcome.

“We are really excited to welcome the families in our community to Bronson Park for another year of fall fun,” said Sean Fletcher, Director of the City of Kalamazoo’s Parks & Recreation Department. “It’s always wonderful to see the community come together, the children dressed in creative costumes, and everyone having a great time.”

For more information including costume contest rules and activity information, please visit the Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation website at http://kzooparks.org or call (269) 337-8191.

On Saturday, September 29, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) will host an informational “Meet and Greet” event to discuss the upcoming hiring process for Public Safety Officers. This informal get-together will run from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Walnut & Park Café coffee shop located at 322 W. Walnut St., Kalamazoo, MI. This is a great opportunity to meet current officers and learn what KDPS and the City of Kalamazoo have to offer. Interested candidates will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a recruiter to discuss the upcoming hiring process as well as career and advancement opportunities.

KDPS will be accepting online applications for the position of Public Safety Officers starting October 3. Applications will be accepted through October 16. The application process consists of an application, a written test, a background packet, physical agility test, and several interviews throughout the process. Once these steps are complete, it is anticipated that an offer of employment would be given in March, 2019.

Applications may be submitted online only at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/kalamazoomi.

To be considered, applicants must be a U.S. citizen and have a High School Diploma or GED equivalent, a valid driver’s license, and be 21 years old at time of appointment (March, 2019). Applicants will also be required to pass a written and physical test, and an extensive background investigation. Applicants are not required to be MCOLES (Police) certified to apply.

Kalamazoo Public Safety Officers are cross-trained as police officers, firefighters, and medical first responders. They respond to calls for police, fire, and medical emergencies, along with performing other duties.

Advancement/additional opportunities include Detective, Canine Handler, Community Policing Officer, Narcotics Investigator, Crime Lab Technician, SWAT Team, Bomb Squad, Honor Guard, and Command Officer.

Applicants do not need to have prior police or fire certifications to be considered as KDPS will sponsor them through the police academy and provide fire training, if needed. A training wage may apply to those who need to attend the Police Academy. Additional benefits include a Spanish language bonus, veteran on-the-job training education benefits and the federal direct student loan forgiveness program.

Information about KDPS is available at www.kalamazoopublicsafety.org and questions can be submitted through the “Contact” link at the top of the Home Page.

On September 20, the City of Kalamazoo Brownfield Redevelopment Authority unanimously voted to move three projects forward:

• The sale of BRA-owned property to Schupan & Sons for the purpose of expanding their facilities
• An Agreement with Hollander Development Corporation for the development of a mixed-used project at 1101 Portage Street
• A Purchase and Sale Agreement with Harrison Circle LDHA LP (NOMI Developers, LLC) for the development of a mixed-use project on vacant parcels at 525 and 535 Ransom Street and 617 Harrison Street.

pdf Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Agenda Packet, September 20, 2018 (864 KB)

Harrison Circle Building

City staff has been working with NOMI Developers, LLC (Developer) on a mixed use project on the vacant parcels owned by the City of Kalamazoo Brownfield Redevelopment Authority at 525 and 535 E Ransom, and 617 Harrison Street. The attached Brownfield Purchase and Sale Agreement (Agreement) was negotiated with the Developer’s attorneys to ensure the terms within the agreement meet the standards required for MSHDA Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)* application. The total purchase price for the properties mentioned shall be $130,000.00 with a required $5000.00 deposit.

This would be NOMI Developers’ fourth project built on Brownfield Redevelopment Authority land in the Rivers Edge District at the northwest corner of the roundabout at Ransom and Harrison streets. The developer has invested over $10,000,000 in the Rivers Edge District and the proposed Harrison Circle Building will bring an additional $13,000,000 to $15,000,000 investment along with the potential of two food related businesses.

This new project, Harrison Circle Building, will be a mixed use development. It will consist of potentially two food-related businesses totaling 5,000 square feet and 80 apartments. The apartments will be a mix of LIHTC, Workforce and market rate housing. This approach continues NOMI’s commitment to building a community where people of all walks of life are able to live work and play.

The project will have 80 residential units. Of the 80 units, 64 will be Tenant Area Median Income (AMI) Restricted MSHDA Project Based. This translates into 16 one-bedroom units at 30% AMI with a monthly rent of $313.00; 11 one-bedroom units and 1 two-bedroom unit at 40% AMI with a monthly rent of $443.00 and $530.00 respectively; 15 one-bedroom units and 1 two-bedroom unit at 60% AMI with a monthly rent of $662.00 and $794.00 respectively; 19 one-bedroom units and 1 two-bedroom unit at 80% AMI (Workforce Housing) with a monthly rent of $959.00 and $1150 respectively. There will be 15 one-bedroom units and 1 two-bedroom unit at Market Rate with a monthly rent of $1000.00 and $1500.00 respectively. This project will add much needed Affordable Housing to this up and coming area.

*For purposes of the PILOT and the LIHTC application, Developer established Harrison Circle LDHA L.P., an organization formed to secure Low Income Housing Tax Credits and mortgage financing through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Therefore, the attached Agreement is with Harrison Circle LDHA LP with Developer agreeing to fulfill its terms.

The Creamery Project

City staff has been working with Hollander Development Company on a mixed use project on the vacant parcel owned by the Kalamazoo County Land Bank at 1101 Portage Street. The attached Brownfield Plan Development Agreement highlights the complexities of the project by providing affordable housing for 29 of the 48 rental units for which Developer will pay the City a PILOT as approved by the City Commission on August 20th.*

Since the project addresses many needs the City has targeted, further assistance through the capture of tax increment revenues is needed. Therefore, in order for that portion of the project to qualify for TIF, Developer will establish a condominium subdivision for the remaining residential units and commercial spaces – broken down as: (i) 19 market-rate units; (ii) approximately 5800 square feet dedicated for a 24-hour drop in childcare facility; and (iii) approximately 2400 square feet of leasable commercial space. Other key features of the project include indoor bicycle parking, rooftop green space, on-site solar energy and space for public art with the goal to qualify the project as LEED Platinum.

The Agreement covers 16 years with estimated costs for the eligible activities at $ 676,586.

*For purposes of the PILOT, Developer established Kalamazoo Creamery Limited Dividend Housing Association Limited Partnership (Creamery LP), an organization formed to secure Low Income Housing Tax Credits and mortgage financing through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Therefore, the attached Agreement may be with Creamery LP with Developer agreeing to fulfill its terms.

4233 Davis Creek Court and 3603 Kilgore Road, Schupan & Sons, Inc.

In 1999 BRA acquired under a quit claim deed from the City vacant approximate 6.8 acres and 0.482 acre parcels of real property with frontage on Davis Creek Court and Kilgore Road, respectively, in the City of Kalamazoo. Schupan owns a manufacturing/recycling facility located at 4200 Davis Creek Court, which abuts the Brownfield Property. Schupan has plans to expand the operations it conducts at their existing location, and its purchase of the Brownfield Property will benefit its expansion plans by utilizing the BRA Parcels for storm water management.

The planned project involves: (i) an addition of approximately 40,000 square feet to the existing building; (ii) landscaping and site improvements to the parking areas on the Schupan Parcel; and (ii) construction of the storm water management system.

With Davis Creek bisecting the 4233 Davis Creek Court Property most of the 6.8 acres is not separately developable. And with the expansion Schupan will create additional well-paying manufacturing jobs. Taken both these factors into account were considered by staff in negotiating the $10,000 sale price.

The Agreement covers 25 years with estimated costs for the eligible activities at $800,000. And this project will require an amendment to the Revised Brownfield Plan as new chapter 52, among other amendments/additional chapters covered in a separate memo.