LANSING, MI. (WOWO) A Michigan lawmaker is urging state economic developers to stop tearing down houses on a planned megasite in Genesee County, arguing the state is spending millions without a confirmed manufacturer committed to the project.
Rep. Steve Carra, R-Three Rivers, sent a letter to the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance— the group assembling the 1,300-acre site—expressing “disappointment and disgust” that demolition continues even after a major deal collapsed earlier this year. The state has used $261 million in public funds to buy properties across Mundy and Flint townships, near Bishop International Airport, with plans to create a massive industrial campus according to Bridge Michigan.
Roughly 200 homes sit within the megasite footprint. Demolition began earlier this year, with bulldozers clearing houses ranging from older farm properties to homes in newer subdivisions. State documents show about $31.6 million is budgeted for demolitions, tree removal, and site leveling. More than 1,270 acres have already been purchased at a cost exceeding $100 million.
The aggressive land assembly was initially driven by a confidential negotiation with Sandisk, which considered building a $63 billion semiconductor complex on the site. State officials offered more than $20 billion in incentives—including a 50-year tax-free zone and free land—but the deal fell through in July. Many residents said they were kept in the dark about the proposal until after details surfaced.
Carra argues the state is now demolishing viable homes and productive farmland without evidence another major manufacturer is preparing to step in. “Why would we continue to demolish houses and tear apart valuable assets,” he said, “especially if we don’t have a guarantee of a route forward?”
Economic developers disagree, saying they are following state instructions to make the megasite “turnkey” for a future company. Tyler Rossmaessler, executive director of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, said the team is proud of its work preparing what it believes could be one of the most competitive industrial sites in the country.
The money for the project flows through the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve, a $2 billion economic development fund that lawmakers voted to defund this year amid escalating controversy over large-scale land acquisition. Several megasite efforts across Michigan—including projects in Marshall, Eagle Township and near Big Rapids—have faced fierce community opposition, lawsuits and political scrutiny.
Whether the Genesee County megasite could still be offered to a future company at no cost remains unclear. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. says incentive decisions depend entirely on the project seeking the land. For now, officials frame the effort as “site readiness,” emphasizing that the property is being marketed without a listed asking price to maintain flexibility.
Carra rejects the idea that the state must heavily market or subsidize the property. If the site is truly as valuable as developers say, he argues, companies should compete for it without billions in incentives or continued demolition.
With demolitions ongoing and no public signs of a replacement project, many residents hope the effort will be abandoned. Others worry that years of investment—and the loss of entire neighborhoods—may continue with no guarantees of a future employer.
