Vote Approved for $252M Conference Center

TROY, MI-The Troy administration is drafting language for a ballot proposal that would allow the sale of 11 acres of city property for the development of a conference center and hotel project. After decades of wrangling with what to do with a patch of a city-owned site along Big Beaver Road, across from city hall, plans for a $252 million public-private project seem to be moving ahead.

City Manager John Szerlag said to jump-start the project, 11 acres of city land must be sold for the development. He said the City Council has directed him to create language for the public to vote on the proposal. “It’s my understanding the council would want to have the vote during the city’s next general election in April 2004,” Szerlag said.

The move was made after six local developers reviewed city development plans for the property, according to Szerlag. Most of the developers believe a performing arts theater portion of the project, which also includes a large conference center and hotel, should be removed or set back as a second phase. The developers include: Acquest Realty & Management, Frankel Associates, Garfield Taub Development, Hines, Liberty Property Trust and the Marriott Corp.