Kent County Building Authority authorizes environmental assessment for proposed Cedar Street medical examiner site

At its June 10 meeting, the Kent County Building Authority authorized a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment for a potential medical examiner facility at 1401 Cedar Street and reviewed a feasibility study that staff said supports the site.

Facilities Management Director Tim Bradshaw summarized a TowerPinkster feasibility study and said the leadership team is pursuing an option to purchase the Cedar Street property. Bradshaw told the authority the facility would have sufficient square footage for the medical examiner and for Michigan State University (MSU) and its medical students; he said a sally port would be added and that the overall project budget remains on target at $18.5 million.

Board members asked whether the site provides adequate space for the medical examiner’s operations locally and regionally; Bradshaw replied that it does. Bradshaw also said that, if acquired, the county would own the property and MSU could potentially operate and maintain the facility under a partnership arrangement.

Scott Conners moved and Colin Schiefler supported a motion to authorize Fishbeck to perform a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment at 1401 Cedar Street for an amount not to exceed $10,000; the motion carried. The assessment is the next step before negotiating acquisition costs and any further design or environmental work.

The authority’s next steps include completing the Phase 1 assessment and continuing negotiations on acquisition terms if results are acceptable. No formal acquisition was approved at the meeting.