Welcome to the official site for Dan Kildee for Treasurer
The Durant Hotel has stood empty for 35 years.Once the symbol of prosperity, it is the symbol of decline. Though forgotten and neglected, it is still a strong building-with "good bones" as they say. So wait, this is the story of our city? Success turned to abandonment? Well, no.
The story is not over yet. Not for Flint and not for this building either. Because the Genesee County Land Bank and our private investor partners have started the redevelopment of this building. After 35 years of emptiness and deterioration, we are bringing this building back to life. Using the unique combination of Michigan's brownfield financing tools, the Land Bank Act, state and federal tax credits, and other private and public sources, this building will have a third life. No longer the symbol of the manufacturing era, no longer the reminder of our failure, this building will soon be home to 111 new apartments, aimed primarily at students, staff, and graduate students from the University of Michigan-Flint (which now is right across the street from the Durant), empty nesters looking for an urban lifestyle and downtown workers looking to save time and precious gasoline as they live within walking distance of the workplace.
In its third life, the Durant will become a symbol of the "knowledge economy" as it serves as home to young talented "creative" people looking for the affordable urban lifestyle they did not think they would ever find in a place like Flint. And the focus will now be on a creative class of people drawn to downtown Flint by the University and the knowledge economy. Using the existing assets of the community we have already built, where there are already streets and parks and water and sewer lines, and even an existing eight-story building. Get it? Rebuilding for the knowledge economy using our existing assets.
Join in the fun at the Dan Kildee Blues Bash!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
5-7 PM
Churchill's Food and Spirits
340 S. Saginaw St
Downtown Flint
Suggested contribution: $25 per person
Some people think things are fine the way they are. Dan Kildee isn't one of those people. Dan knows we can do better. That's why Dan has been a leader in bringing new ideas to Genesee County and Michigan.
As County Treasurer, he has saved taxpayers millions of dollars with smart financial management. He also created the first land bank in the State of Michigan. Dan Kildee has always had new ideas on how we can change our community for the better.
Dan Kildee's commitment to us has never wavered. To save our tax dollars, he led an unprecedented increase in the county's bond rating for 5 consecutive years. He's helped save over 2,000 families from foreclosure with the best prevention program in the state. Our neighborhoods are cleaner because of the nearly 1,000 abandoned properties that have been demolished. Dan Kildee will continue getting results for us.
