The old General Motors location “Chevy in the Hole” may get a makeover if former Mayor Don Williamson has his way. The property is now owned by the city after Delphi donated it to the city late last year.
Williamson wants to bring the plot of land back to life, but in a different way. “There are two things the City of Flint needs,” he said in an interview via phone with NBC25. “A beautiful football stadium, baseball- I mean an all-types sports center. And when that is running, the property across the street would have to be used for parking, when it’s not (open), you should put a drag strip in there,” Williamson said.
Williamson has his vision set. However, he would need to acquire the property back from the city. NBC25 spoke with Acting Mayor Mike Brown’s office Monday for comment into the matter. Reports suggest Brown did not know of the city purchase before taking office. Representatives with his office say Brown has ordered a review of the acquisition. Further, his staff said the mayor does not have plans for “Chevy in the Hole” development in his current city agenda, which focuses on spending freezes and overall reform.
Lastly the mayor is concerned over possible environmental contamination after years of manufacturing on the site. Williamson said that should not be a concern.
“The people that pollute the property are responsible for it. The next person is not responsible for it,” he said.
Williamson said even if the land is polluted, that should not stop development there, referring to a site at Hemphill and Saginaw Streets as a precedent.
“That’s the most polluted property in the world, filled with paint, etc,” Williamson said. “That’s where old Fisher Body was. They made millions of bodies. They built on top of that didn’t they?”
Meanwhile the city’s review is on going. Williamson has already contacted current city leaders about his interest via letter.
“I told them I’d pay ten times what they paid for it. They didn’t pay anything so ten times nothing is nothing,” Williamson said.
