Battle Creek Unlimited Announces Major Downtown Transformation Plan

Battle Creek, Mich. (Vocus) November 24, 2008 -- Battle Creek Unlimited (http://www.bcunlimited.org) (BCU) today unveiled its strategy for redeveloping downtown Battle Creek. The plan calls for leveraging current and future investments in food science, technology and education to revitalize downtown. Elements of the vision articulated by BCU include:

• A new six-story "green" office building to be financed and constructed by a local developer and leased by Kellogg Company.

• Infrastructure improvements to enhance the aesthetics of downtown, including a gateway enhancement project on M-66, lighting enhancements and more useable public spaces.

• Establish a research center to promote the formation and attraction of new companies and jobs by increasing research, development and commercialization of new technologies in food sciences and food protection in Battle Creek. Program details may be announced by BCU in December.

• Explore the potential of relocating and expanding the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center to downtown Battle Creek. This well-respected and innovative educational option for students from area school districts is operated by Battle Creek Public Schools.

• Support collaboration efforts underway between the Battle Creek Y-Center and the city's Parks and Recreation Department that would include the creation of a first class fitness and recreation center in downtown.

"We've been working diligently over the past year with a group of stakeholders on a plan to revitalize the downtown area," said Karl Dehn, Marketing Director of Battle Creek Unlimited. "The plan has a number of integrated elements to increase the number of people who work in the central business district by leveraging our strong competencies in food science, technology and education. The increased concentration of people and spending power will benefit our existing businesses and will also enable us to attract additional restaurants, retail, professional offices and residential activity."

As a part of this strategy, the development company McCamly Office, LLC plans to construct a "green" office building adjacent to Kellogg Company's headquarters in downtown Battle Creek. Contingent upon securing local and state incentives, the six-story, 122,500-square-foot building will be financed and built by McCamly Office, LLC, and leased long term to Kellogg Company. The project represents an estimated private capital investment of $22.5 million. It will enable Kellogg to relocate approximately 600 employees who currently work in its Porter Street office complex to downtown Battle Creek. The new office tower, expected to be operational in late 2010, will be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™.

"The new office space will enable us to consolidate our employees downtown and create a campus-like environment," said David Mackay, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kellogg Company. "We believe this is the right thing to do for our Battle Creek-based employees and that it can significantly contribute to the growth and revitalization of Battle Creek's central business district."

"Revitalizing our cities is a key component of our strategy to grow Michigan's economy and create jobs, but it requires a strong partnership between public and private sectors," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "I applaud Kellogg for its vision and generosity to make Battle Creek a dynamic city of the future."

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, meanwhile, has approved up to $35 million to support various aspects of this redevelopment effort. This money will be invested as opportunities arise that resonate with the Foundation's mission and vision of building a nation where all children thrive.

"It's a natural fit for us," said Sterling Speirn, the Foundation's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We have a historic commitment to investing in the assets of the community in which we are based. We also have a rich legacy of funding food science and healthy living programs, as well as education. By building on both our legacy and existing community assets, this project will help position Battle Creek as a world leader in food science research and place innovation at the center of the community's ongoing downtown revitalization efforts."

Speirn said that the Foundation is pleased with the plan developed by Battle Creek Unlimited and looks forward to helping leverage the investments being made possible by Kellogg Company and other partners in our community. Over the next several months, he said, the Kellogg Foundation will be taking a closer look at the project as it unfolds and deciding how its investments can best help the community achieve its goals. The Foundation is committed to working with Battle Creek Unlimited to strengthen the downtown economy by improving its aesthetics and reactivating commerce, he said.

"We're particularly excited about the potential for building a community that actively engages scientists, young people and educators in learning and discovery around the critical issues of food supply and safety," Speirn said. "We believe the Battle Creek New Vision project will help transform the hometown of our founder, W.K. Kellogg, into a 21st Century community with a global purpose - one that ties together its health and wellness legacy with the growing challenges of food quality, safety and protection," Speirn said. "These are important issues for the Kellogg Foundation and we look forward to supporting this effort in meaningful ways."

"I'm very pleased to see BCU's exciting vision and strategy to transform our downtown area with economic development, education and quality of life components," said Battle Creek Mayor Mark Behnke. "This is an enormous opportunity for Battle Creek to create a very special and vibrant downtown area while capitalizing on our unique food science technology concentration." BCU officials estimate that its downtown revitalization plan could require more than $86 million in new investment. It is pursuing various public and private sources of funding.

Attachment #1

BATTLE CREEK UNLIMITED

DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMATION PLAN SUMMARY

Infrastructure & Gateway

The new challenge will encompass the downtown area's walking urbanity which will necessitate an extreme emphasis on cleanliness and public safety. Even so, new forms of winter resistant transportation and walking paths are needed to facilitate an all weather working and living environment. Small parks, green space, and the application of new green technologies should dramatically enhance the efficiency and appeal of the walking urbanity strategy. Pedestrian walkways should be installed along predominant pedestrian pathways.

Walkable urbanity is a term that originated in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the

Brookings Institution. Recognizing that any urban concept is not a "one size fits all" application. Approaches must be customized based upon unique physical conditions, institutional assets, consumer demand, history, and civic intent.

Walkable urbanity requires mixed use development--an almost bewildering mix of overnight accommodations, retail, condominiums, education, entertainment, office space, restaurants, and culture. These different uses often come together in new physical developments called "lifestyle centers." This concept will be a consideration in design and implementation of infrastructure improvements.

With one of Michigan's premier bicycle retail outlets already in the downtown, the public infrastructure needs to be upgraded to account for increased bicycle commuting and recreational bicycle use on the linear park. This must include tasteful bicycle rack deployment for the convenience of commuters and recreational bicycle riders. The possible linkage of the linear park to any National or State Trail system needs to be flushed out for possible grant opportunities.

The gateway to the downtown and the project area is the Sojourner Truth Memorial Parkway (M-66). In order to beautify the approach to the gateway, it is vitally necessary to screen the M-66 entrance to downtown. The east entrance to the downtown is already being renovated by the new I-94 Business loop project. Complementary developments should take place.

A major emphasis will be placed on cleanliness and safety of the entire downtown area to enhance the success of this overall plan. A safe, well maintained, and friendly environment is critical to urban development. The appeal of cleanliness and safety is significant in the attraction of knowledge workers and students to the central business district.

Battle Creek Area Math/Science Center

For several years, the location of the Battle Creek Area Math/Science Center has been an issue. BCU supports exploring new opportunities to enhance and expand the BCAMSC programming and curriculum. The M/S Center is currently located in a neighborhood west of the central business district. Given the success of the M/S center, a location should be considered providing a highly visible area where it can stand as a significant asset and testimony to the community's belief in the importance of education.

A location should be explored where it can facilitate better relationships between students and some of the area's most premier employers, such as the Hart Dole Inouye Federal Center, Kellogg Company and others. The area will have a much better chance to retain and attract talent - including families relocating to the region and through college graduates returning to the area. This is best accomplished by linking students up to internships and coop opportunities, thus, showing a career path with Battle Creek employers.

BCU regards better and more accessible education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as a means to better prepare our young people for rewarding careers in the globalized economic system. BCU believes this may be the best way to address intractable issues like racial equity and income disparities. Therefore, part and parcel of a new and relocated M/S center will be a disproportionate emphasis on attracting minority students to the center.

Internship opportunities

Enhance opportunities for internships, shared research efforts, teaching and mentoring partnerships with higher education institutions related to food testing, food research, and food science curriculum.

This project can provide a variety of non-automotive employment opportunities that will require a higher degree of education. Nonetheless, there will be new employment positions ranging from scientists to administrative to transportation to hourly employment.

With the establishment of a food science technology development and commercialization program, Battle Creek Unlimited plans to collaborate with area educators and employers to establish internship programs that will allow area students the opportunity to increase their awareness of career options available locally. Also, Battle Creek Unlimited has been collaborating with area educators to enhance curriculum focused on food testing, food research, and food science in an effort to prepare area youth for such careers.

Battle Creek Family YMCA and Battle Creek Parks and Recreation

While Battle Creek Unlimited has been working on creating the framework for a new downtown vision, the Battle Creek Family YMCA and Battle Creek Parks and Recreation have been working on a collaborative plan for their organizations. The concept plan would consolidate much of both operations at the current Full Blast site in downtown Battle Creek. Although this move would require a significant amount of capital investment it would also lead to the modernization of the Family YMCA facility and reduce the immediate need to address the current YMCA's aging infrastructure. The collaborative effort would lead to more efficient facility use and would align with the new vision for downtown Battle Creek.

As part of the new vision, JB Research Company recommended a state-of-the-art fitness center be incorporated. The proposed consolidation plan would reinforce healthy lifestyles, create efficiencies, reduce costs, and help reduce unnecessary duplication.

Full Blast, owned by the City of Battle Creek, is centrally-located in downtown Battle Creek. The proposed collaboration could allow for each organization to maintain autonomy while improving and expanding programming, growing partnerships, and reducing operational expenses. Additionally, the current YMCA location is not viewed as being walkable from the downtown. The Full Blast site offers easy access for downtown employees, students, residents, and visitors.

The current YMCA facility is located at the northeast gateway into the downtown. Battle Creek Unlimited would desire an action plan whereby the main YMCA facility is demolished or renovated for another use to avoid possible dilapidation at the northeast gateway. Battle Creek Unlimited will work with the YMCA to identify potential uses for the building.

Battle Creek Unlimited supports the proposed collaborative plan and commits to working with both parties to ensure that an appropriate evacuation of the YMCA facility be implemented.

###

Comment on "Battle Creek Unlimited Announces Major Downtown Transformation Plan"