County-Wide Survey Results

Detailed results and citizen comments

• On Brownfield Redevelopment

Discussion

Reusing abandoned land (brownfields) in the urban area was preferred by almost 50% of the survey. This preference was strongest, not surprisingly, in the jurisdictions with the most brownfields (62% of the City of Kalamazoo respondents and 56% of the Kalamazoo, Parchment, and Comstock Township respondents). Preference was weakest in the villages (40% in Augusta, Galesburg, Vicksburg and Schoolcraft sample area). One small town resident said, "we need to make sure that we use those brownfield sites in the city first…Before we tear something else up, and pollute something else, let's pollute what we've already polluted."

Greater Kalamazoo Community Convention Outcomes:

[About the Convention]

Statements agreed upon by 100% of participants:

• We stand for reusing, revitalizing, and redeveloping previously developed and abandoned land (brownfields).

Strategies for achieving what "we stand for," overwhelmingly supported by participants:

• Promoting in-fill development in downtown Kalamazoo and asking for more funds from state and federal government to supplement this development.