BATTLE CREEK – Battle Creek Unlimited on Monday unveiled its strategy for redeveloping downtown Battle Creek – lead by investments in food science, technology and education, and featuring a six-story “Green” office building that will be leased by Kellogg Company.
BCU officials estimate that its downtown revitalization plan could require more than $86 million in new investment. It is pursuing various public and private sources of funding.
Other elements of the vision articulated by BCU include:
Infrastructure improvements to enhance the aesthetics of downtown, including a gateway enhancement project on M-66, lighting enhancements and more useable public spaces.
Establish a research center to promote the formation and attraction of new companies and jobs by increasing research, development and commercialization of new technologies in food sciences and food protection in Battle Creek. Program details may be announced by BCU in December.
Explore the potential of relocating and expanding the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center to downtown Battle Creek. This well-respected and innovative educational option for students from area school districts is operated by Battle Creek Public Schools.
Support collaboration efforts underway between the Battle Creek Y-Center and the city�??s Parks and Recreation Department that would include the creation of a first class fitness and recreation center in downtown.
“We’ve been working diligently over the past year with a group of stakeholders on a plan to revitalize the downtown area,” said Karl Dehn, Marketing Director of Battle Creek Unlimited. “The plan has a number of integrated elements to increase the number of people who work in the central business district by leveraging our strong competencies in food science, technology and education. The increased concentration of people and spending power will benefit our existing businesses and will also enable us to attract additional restaurants, retail, professional offices and residential activity.”
As a part of this strategy, the development company McCamly Office, LLC plans to construct a �??green�?� office building adjacent to Kellogg Company’s headquarters in downtown Battle Creek. Contingent upon securing local and state incentives, the six-story, 122,500-square-foot building will be financed and built by McCamly Office, LLC, and leased long term to Kellogg Company. The project represents an estimated private capital investment of $22.5 million. It will enable Kellogg to relocate approximately 600 employees who currently work in its Porter Street office complex to downtown Battle Creek. The new office tower, expected to be operational in late 2010, will be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.
“The new office space will enable us to consolidate our employees downtown and create a campus-like environment,” said David Mackay, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kellogg Company. “We believe this is the right thing to do for our Battle Creek-based employees and that it can significantly contribute to the growth and revitalization of Battle Creek�??s central business district.”
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, meanwhile, has approved up to $35 million to support various aspects of this redevelopment effort. This money will be invested as opportunities arise that resonate with the Foundation’s mission and vision of building a nation where all children thrive.
“It’s a natural fit for us,” said Sterling Speirn, the Foundation�??s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We have a historic commitment to investing in the assets of the community in which we are based. We also have a rich legacy of funding food science and healthy living programs, as well as education. By building on both our legacy and existing community assets, this project will help position Battle Creek as a world leader in food science research and place innovation at the center of the community’s ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.”
Speirn said that the Foundation is pleased with the plan developed by Battle Creek Unlimited and looks forward to helping leverage the investments being made possible by Kellogg Company and other partners in our community. Over the next several months, he said, the Kellogg Foundation will be taking a closer look at the project as it unfolds and deciding how its investments can best help the community achieve its goals. The Foundation is committed to working with Battle Creek Unlimited to strengthen the downtown economy by improving its aesthetics and reactivating commerce, he said.
“We’re particularly excited about the potential for building a community that actively engages scientists, young people and educators in learning and discovery around the critical issues of food supply and safety,” Speirn said. “We believe the Battle Creek New Vision project will help transform the hometown of our founder, W.K. Kellogg, into a 21st Century community with a global purpose �?? one that ties together its health and wellness legacy with the growing challenges of food quality, safety and protection,�?� Speirn said. �??These are important issues for the Kellogg Foundation and we look forward to supporting this effort in meaningful ways.”
BCU officials estimate that its downtown revitalization plan could require more than $86 million in new investment. It is pursuing various public and private sources of funding.
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