"We're seeking a qualified developer, who can take this quickly off the ground. We're expecting the requests back by July 13," Lenart said.

He said the site, which now has some commercial properties and vacant parcels, is a hodge-podge of zonings. Also, the infrastructure has fallen apart and lost its efficiency, he said, and the current arrangement of properties makes it virtually undevelopable, Lenart says.

A baseline development and other due diligence is being performed on the parcels, he says. The Environmental Protection Agency is financing a phase I and II environmental assessment, Lenart adds.

"The emphasis would be on an urban plan, since we're so near the Downtown. However, a large reason for this new development is to collect enough properties to form river access for public park use," Lenart says.

The city's economic development corporation has paid more than $1 million for the recently acquired parcels. Also, Ypsilanti received a $3.7 million grant from the state through the Clean Michigan Initiative program for the project.