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Humbug Marsh today.
A sampling of one of the condo buildings that local start-up company, Made In Detroit Inc, wished to construct on current-day Humbug Marsh.
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Downriver's greatest natural resource preservation of the 20th centuryToday, Downriver is proudly home to the last remaining wildlife refuge on the Detroit River. Humbug Marsh is a federally-protected wetland habitat located adjacent to Gibraltar Bay and hosts various, uncommon wildlife habitat both on land and on water.
This area's pristine atmosphere exists due to the never-ending championing for its cause: several years of battle between the nearby cities and an unproven Detroit-based developer which wanted to use 409 acres of the land to build a new subdivision, commercial area and 18-hole golf course which would have abutted both Gibraltar and Trenton, adding much to each city's tax base. However, Humbug Marsh reigns supreme as Downriver's biggest environ-mental victory, as the area sought to reverse decades of neglect and ruin due to the various industries located upriver for generations. The impact of this wetland cannot be underestimated, even these many years later. As detailed elsewhere in this forum, the riverfront cities became home to Downriver's first notable industries. These complimented the initial farming industry in a big way, with iron works, steel mills and chemical companies cropping up in the latter half of the 19th Century. They were undoubtedly our biggest contributors to the positive welfare of our residents. In the early part of the 20th Century the riverfront was at its most active, producing raw materials that could be used here as well as shipped to other areas of the Great Lakes.
The resulting sludge, however, was damaging the courses of the Detroit River and polluting the nearby islands. At one time, pollutants in the river were measured at a level so high, the river would no longer freeze over completely during the winter months. Even in the 1970s, a trip down the Wyandotte riverfront would reveal no more than huge ice flows marching downstream amongst liquefied water, whose color was a depressing brownish-green even on its best days. |
Almost from the beginning, it was cited the costs of controlling pollutant disposal were too high to start a conservation movement. In 1961, the first notable step was made with the creation of the Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge, sponsored by then-16th District Congressman John Lesinski Jr. This would place the first substantial restrictions on riverfront industries to control their waste disposal methods, and also secured government funding to help clean up the river at any cost (for the time).
The worst part of the pollution was occurring at the end of the Detroit River - the mouth of Lake Erie - where dozens of waterfowl were killed by oil slicks and other sludge bunching together at this location. In spite of the foresight of Congressman Lesinski Jr., the industries did not take kindly to this legislation, saying it would have a negative impact on their business and reputation.
A turning point may have come in 1970 with the sudden suspension of all fishing operations from the St. Clair River southward to Lake Erie due to a bloated amount of mercury contaminants. This resulted in panic as disaster appeared imminent for the Great Lakes fishing industry, still considered a major area contributor at the time. This brought attention from the U.S. Congress, which sought to spur conservation. However, the area controlled by the Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge was confined to Grassy Island and no further. Conditions there were deplorable despite the small attempts to battle the problem, as the increasing sludge from Detroit and the Rouge factories were finding their way around the island, threatening its habitat as well as those of neighboring islands.
The worst part of the pollution was occurring at the end of the Detroit River - the mouth of Lake Erie - where dozens of waterfowl were killed by oil slicks and other sludge bunching together at this location. In spite of the foresight of Congressman Lesinski Jr., the industries did not take kindly to this legislation, saying it would have a negative impact on their business and reputation.
A turning point may have come in 1970 with the sudden suspension of all fishing operations from the St. Clair River southward to Lake Erie due to a bloated amount of mercury contaminants. This resulted in panic as disaster appeared imminent for the Great Lakes fishing industry, still considered a major area contributor at the time. This brought attention from the U.S. Congress, which sought to spur conservation. However, the area controlled by the Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge was confined to Grassy Island and no further. Conditions there were deplorable despite the small attempts to battle the problem, as the increasing sludge from Detroit and the Rouge factories were finding their way around the island, threatening its habitat as well as those of neighboring islands.
The last vestiges of the BASF South Works was the old Wyandotte Cement, closest to Pennsylvania Road. Once demolished, the land was reclaimed for public use as a Brownfield Zone.
By the 1980s, the problem began reversing itself - ever so slightly - due to the nature of general business. Closure of the BASF South Works facility by 1981 did much to alleviate some of the pollutants heading downstream. The area bordering Eureka and Pennsylvania Roads were phased out as BASF began rethinking its long term priorities for production in the area. As buildings along the South Works were razed and cleared, small stations were constructed which would constantly measure the level of ground pollutants and attempt to contain them before being released into the river. This is a program which is still used today and was considered a local pioneering movement to restore these areas, known as Brownfield Zones, back to normal conditions for the public's use. The reward here was the construction of Wyandotte Shores Golf Course in the 1990s.
Although the various industries were slowly beginning to recognize the impact these discharges had on the river and surrounding habitat, the resulting changes were just that: slow in coming. And damage was continuing to be done. Despite the small concentrated efforts to return the river to its natural state, there had been no legislation recently enacted to restore this part of the river. Eventually, the Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge would be taken over by a bigger entity which had the power and funds to do more for cleanup, which would undoubtedly take decades.
However, one project proposed in the late 1990s threatened to set all these efforts back by many years, and it would take the sheer determination of a united public to ensure that preservation would be the keyword for the future of the Detroit River, the environment, and the welfare of the public.
Although the various industries were slowly beginning to recognize the impact these discharges had on the river and surrounding habitat, the resulting changes were just that: slow in coming. And damage was continuing to be done. Despite the small concentrated efforts to return the river to its natural state, there had been no legislation recently enacted to restore this part of the river. Eventually, the Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge would be taken over by a bigger entity which had the power and funds to do more for cleanup, which would undoubtedly take decades.
However, one project proposed in the late 1990s threatened to set all these efforts back by many years, and it would take the sheer determination of a united public to ensure that preservation would be the keyword for the future of the Detroit River, the environment, and the welfare of the public.
Prologue: Project introduced to the Public via the News-Herald, July 7, 1996
Although the project, when first announced, did appear on the front page, it was limited to the right-hand column, thereby not making the big headline.
The project was advertised as being a joint development, involving the cities of Gibraltar and Trenton, which could change the face of the area. Among its first known boosters was then-mayor of Gibraltar, Scott Denison, who remarked, "it looks encouraging," referring to Made In Detroit's initial site plans. The project could have received a site-plan kick-off date as soon as late-summer 1996.
This project would have been located both in Gibraltar and Trenton. The acreage was unspecified at the time, but some of the offerings would include: a Marina, a Performing Arts Center, an Equestrian Center, ride trails, an 18-hole golf course, and areas for residential, retail and recreation.
The island in focus was not even referred to as Humbug Island (or Humbug Marsh) as it is today; the newspaper referred to it as "Duck Hunter's Island."
A land purchase agreement had already been signed with Chrysler Corportation, operators of Trenton Engine Plant, for a 66-acre parcel last occupied by Acustar Chemical Processing, located at West Jefferson and Vreeland Roads. This land had already been cleaned up. An additional land purchase agreement was in process between Made In Detroit and Waste Management for another 433-acre parcel in Gibraltar; land that was utilized as a landfill for McLouth Steel's Gibraltar facility. Approvals would still be needed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, each city's Planning Commission, plus needed financial backing. The DEQ was already involved in the process, determining how to best treat the wetlands which would be affected.
The original groundbreaking would have taken place in the spring of 1997 and taken two years to complete the project. A range of 200-250 jobs were estimated to be permanently created. A total of 220 condominiums and 35 larger homes would have been built. A bridge would serve to connect Duck Hunter's Island with the mainland.
According to Made In Detroit spokesman William Merriweather, "The hot thing (now) is to turn brownfields into greenfields." He also espoused the idea of the Equestrian Center, citing recent research on horseback riding as a therapeutic exercise, going so far as to mention it assisted in the recovery of Jim Brady, former press secretary for President Reagan, who was shot in an assassination attempt in 1981.
Although there was no opposition made in this edition of the newspaper or in those following, the seeds of question were being planted. Made In Detroit did not have a major building project complete to its credit at the time, although the company was also trying to firm up plans to provide a housing development on Belle Isle. As Gibraltar City Administrator would ironically comment in 1996: "They have a long way to go, and we wish them well." And, in perhaps the first area of irony, the initial announcement by Made In Detroit was postponed until a further, unannounced date.
The project was advertised as being a joint development, involving the cities of Gibraltar and Trenton, which could change the face of the area. Among its first known boosters was then-mayor of Gibraltar, Scott Denison, who remarked, "it looks encouraging," referring to Made In Detroit's initial site plans. The project could have received a site-plan kick-off date as soon as late-summer 1996.
This project would have been located both in Gibraltar and Trenton. The acreage was unspecified at the time, but some of the offerings would include: a Marina, a Performing Arts Center, an Equestrian Center, ride trails, an 18-hole golf course, and areas for residential, retail and recreation.
The island in focus was not even referred to as Humbug Island (or Humbug Marsh) as it is today; the newspaper referred to it as "Duck Hunter's Island."
A land purchase agreement had already been signed with Chrysler Corportation, operators of Trenton Engine Plant, for a 66-acre parcel last occupied by Acustar Chemical Processing, located at West Jefferson and Vreeland Roads. This land had already been cleaned up. An additional land purchase agreement was in process between Made In Detroit and Waste Management for another 433-acre parcel in Gibraltar; land that was utilized as a landfill for McLouth Steel's Gibraltar facility. Approvals would still be needed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, each city's Planning Commission, plus needed financial backing. The DEQ was already involved in the process, determining how to best treat the wetlands which would be affected.
The original groundbreaking would have taken place in the spring of 1997 and taken two years to complete the project. A range of 200-250 jobs were estimated to be permanently created. A total of 220 condominiums and 35 larger homes would have been built. A bridge would serve to connect Duck Hunter's Island with the mainland.
According to Made In Detroit spokesman William Merriweather, "The hot thing (now) is to turn brownfields into greenfields." He also espoused the idea of the Equestrian Center, citing recent research on horseback riding as a therapeutic exercise, going so far as to mention it assisted in the recovery of Jim Brady, former press secretary for President Reagan, who was shot in an assassination attempt in 1981.
Although there was no opposition made in this edition of the newspaper or in those following, the seeds of question were being planted. Made In Detroit did not have a major building project complete to its credit at the time, although the company was also trying to firm up plans to provide a housing development on Belle Isle. As Gibraltar City Administrator would ironically comment in 1996: "They have a long way to go, and we wish them well." And, in perhaps the first area of irony, the initial announcement by Made In Detroit was postponed until a further, unannounced date.
The project would spend the better part of the following two years out of the public eye. In December 1998, the State of Michigan officially denied the project based on the evidence shown. At the time, the project plans still showed 409 acres encompassing, with 112 acres of those being coastal wetlands. A request was pulled from the table on December 3rd as Made In Detroit sought to expedite a wetlands permit. In an additional effort to make the project appear more feasible to the eye, the developer vowed to modify the proposed bridge to Humbug Island so the easement could be left alone. Despite the apparent victory, William Merriweather was targeting Gibraltar when he stated that construction had to start that year, or the city would risk losing all funding. A total of 7,000 communications had been fielded up to this point; less than 10% were in favor of the project. A movement began to grow insisting now was the right time for either an existing land trust - or a new one - purchase the island and surrounding area to afford conservation.
Fast forward to May of 1999, and the project was still very much alive thanks to a major oversight by Gibraltar: in their rezoning efforts for Made In Detroit, they had neglected to inform all property owners having frontage within 300 feet of the boundary that the zoning proposal to modify from Single Family Residential to Planned Residential Development was in the works. The process would have to start all over again from scratch. They would ultimately decide to have a mass mailing and public hearing; one which would be scheduled at Yack Arena in Wyandotte for May 5th. The five owners in question were DSC Steel (McLouth Steel's property successor), Conrail, Humbug Marina, Marina Bay Apartments, and Patrick Denison -- brother of Gibraltar Mayor Scott Denison. Patrick Denison spoke out against the project, saying that vegetation around his property had already been cut down. Five additional acres of wetlands would themselves be destroyed by roadway crossings proposed. Made In Detroit, as it would later prove consistently, cried foul, saying the mistake was a "subterfuge for delaying issuing the wetlands permit." For the upcoming meeting, they expected around 5,000 project supporters to show up, with it being further suggested such a forum would require a venue seating 10,000 or more -- the Yack Arena was only capable of seating 2,300 spectators.
At the May 5 meeting, the main word was "racism," not environment or care for native animals and species of Humbug. Proponents of the project said that African-American projects needed a footprint in order to be seen and respected. Since the beginning of the timeline, the proposed project was said to be the largest African-American development in the history of North America. The meeting itself reached several hot points, but none that warranted police intervention. Speaking out against Made in Detroit were representatives from the Sierra Club, Ducks Unlimited, the Audobon Society, and Citizens' Environmental Alliance. On the opposing side was Sandy Hudson, manager of the Vision 21 group (which was one group seeking to rename Downriver "Metro Shores") who stated, "Let the landowners proceed for the benefit of the region." Made In Detroit was quick to jump on the race card throughout their comments, claiming they were blackmailed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Army Corps of Engineers. They accused these and other agencies of over-scrutiny. Blair McGowan, who would go on to be one of the most outspoken critics of the proposal, would later say this was due simply to lax enforcement in recent environmental law.
On June 7, 1999, in a 2 1/2 hour meeting between Made In Detroit and representatives from the State, modifications to the proposal were agreed to. These included issues solved with wetland creation, flood plain concerns, and a fencing question, where the DEQ modified their fence requirements from a six-foot fence height down to four feet. The DEQ had denied an earlier permit on June 4th, but had left the door open for a "modified permit." This was seen to many as no more than a faceless gesture meant to appease the agency's standing with environmental activists. The project itself was whittled down from 409 acres to encompassing 340 total, and the proposed 27-hole golf course was shortened to nine holes. MID Spokeswoman Tina Bassett optimistically predicted a groundbreaking on-site within two weeks. Blair McGowan was more blunt: "The state's decision," he said, "discloses a tragic mindset. The leaders of the DEQ and the Governor of Michigan are... woefully out of touch..."
It appeared that the end of the road for Made In Detroit came August 31, 1999, when the Feds officially denied the project in spite of the compromises. The Army Corps of Engineers would not bend on their refusal to have the bridge constructed to Humbug Island, and continued to discourage development there. "(The) overwhelming adverse impact on the environmental in that area was the deciding factor," according to the official release. MID Chief Merriweather blasted this decision: "This is clearly a racist attempt to stop African-Americans from achieving the same economic equality afforded to... other permit holders." By now, the Army Corps of Engineers had fielded 2,000 queries on the property, where the normal amount of comments for similar projects averaged no more than five. Two lawsuits were in various stages of development: one between the State and developer, and one between the environmentalists and the State. Sure to be added soon was one between the developer and the Army Corps of Engineers. They claimed the Federal Agency had no jurisdiction over upland development projects. Gibraltar Mayor Scott Denison's tone softened somewhat, as he stated "The system works," with regard to the decision, noting that he'd be more comfortable with the idea if it followed all State and Federal mandates.
Fast forward to May of 1999, and the project was still very much alive thanks to a major oversight by Gibraltar: in their rezoning efforts for Made In Detroit, they had neglected to inform all property owners having frontage within 300 feet of the boundary that the zoning proposal to modify from Single Family Residential to Planned Residential Development was in the works. The process would have to start all over again from scratch. They would ultimately decide to have a mass mailing and public hearing; one which would be scheduled at Yack Arena in Wyandotte for May 5th. The five owners in question were DSC Steel (McLouth Steel's property successor), Conrail, Humbug Marina, Marina Bay Apartments, and Patrick Denison -- brother of Gibraltar Mayor Scott Denison. Patrick Denison spoke out against the project, saying that vegetation around his property had already been cut down. Five additional acres of wetlands would themselves be destroyed by roadway crossings proposed. Made In Detroit, as it would later prove consistently, cried foul, saying the mistake was a "subterfuge for delaying issuing the wetlands permit." For the upcoming meeting, they expected around 5,000 project supporters to show up, with it being further suggested such a forum would require a venue seating 10,000 or more -- the Yack Arena was only capable of seating 2,300 spectators.
At the May 5 meeting, the main word was "racism," not environment or care for native animals and species of Humbug. Proponents of the project said that African-American projects needed a footprint in order to be seen and respected. Since the beginning of the timeline, the proposed project was said to be the largest African-American development in the history of North America. The meeting itself reached several hot points, but none that warranted police intervention. Speaking out against Made in Detroit were representatives from the Sierra Club, Ducks Unlimited, the Audobon Society, and Citizens' Environmental Alliance. On the opposing side was Sandy Hudson, manager of the Vision 21 group (which was one group seeking to rename Downriver "Metro Shores") who stated, "Let the landowners proceed for the benefit of the region." Made In Detroit was quick to jump on the race card throughout their comments, claiming they were blackmailed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Army Corps of Engineers. They accused these and other agencies of over-scrutiny. Blair McGowan, who would go on to be one of the most outspoken critics of the proposal, would later say this was due simply to lax enforcement in recent environmental law.
On June 7, 1999, in a 2 1/2 hour meeting between Made In Detroit and representatives from the State, modifications to the proposal were agreed to. These included issues solved with wetland creation, flood plain concerns, and a fencing question, where the DEQ modified their fence requirements from a six-foot fence height down to four feet. The DEQ had denied an earlier permit on June 4th, but had left the door open for a "modified permit." This was seen to many as no more than a faceless gesture meant to appease the agency's standing with environmental activists. The project itself was whittled down from 409 acres to encompassing 340 total, and the proposed 27-hole golf course was shortened to nine holes. MID Spokeswoman Tina Bassett optimistically predicted a groundbreaking on-site within two weeks. Blair McGowan was more blunt: "The state's decision," he said, "discloses a tragic mindset. The leaders of the DEQ and the Governor of Michigan are... woefully out of touch..."
It appeared that the end of the road for Made In Detroit came August 31, 1999, when the Feds officially denied the project in spite of the compromises. The Army Corps of Engineers would not bend on their refusal to have the bridge constructed to Humbug Island, and continued to discourage development there. "(The) overwhelming adverse impact on the environmental in that area was the deciding factor," according to the official release. MID Chief Merriweather blasted this decision: "This is clearly a racist attempt to stop African-Americans from achieving the same economic equality afforded to... other permit holders." By now, the Army Corps of Engineers had fielded 2,000 queries on the property, where the normal amount of comments for similar projects averaged no more than five. Two lawsuits were in various stages of development: one between the State and developer, and one between the environmentalists and the State. Sure to be added soon was one between the developer and the Army Corps of Engineers. They claimed the Federal Agency had no jurisdiction over upland development projects. Gibraltar Mayor Scott Denison's tone softened somewhat, as he stated "The system works," with regard to the decision, noting that he'd be more comfortable with the idea if it followed all State and Federal mandates.
The Pros and Cons of potential development of the Humbug Marsh site:
PROS:In spite of the massive press and the general view of the public that the Humbug Marsh land should be left pristine, a member of the Gibraltar Planning Commission thought otherwise. From a News-Herald editorial in 1996, here, in part, are his views:
"The proposed plan also calls for what few wetlands there are to be preserved. "It never ceases to amaze me that some people, and even some biologists, can make profound determinations about a piece of property they may never have seen and for sure have never been on. "If you drive through Lake Erie Metro Park, part of which is in Gibraltar, you will see lots of marsh and wetlands that do all the things for migrant birds and water fowl that wildlife enthusiasts like to see. This is not the type of land to be developed in Gibraltar. "... If people are really interested in preserving an area for this wildlife, they should start a plan to save Celeron Island right now!" "... If there were 10 million adult walleyes in the Detroit River at this site this year, I'm sure there will be 10 million every year after those 300-plus home(s) are built. "Does Gibraltar really need this project? The answer to this has to be a resounding yes. We recently lost 460 acres, which were made into wetlands... Another 60-plus acres were spoiled for future use by McLouth (Steel) in the unlicensed landfill they used for many years... In other words, we have already lost too much land for future development and need to use our last waterfront property for what is good for Gibraltar. "Will this 300-home project spoil our small-town image we all love so much? Our present population is about 4,600 people. With this (project) we will grow to about 6,000. "Let's not let other people tell us what we need in Gibraltar." 
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CONS:Around the same time, the News-Herald printed a "Rush To Judgement" themed article. The Humbug issue was perhaps the most polarizing issue Downriver at the time. The newspaper cautioned against snap-judgement by people after the last rumor circulated regarding the project's possible demise:
"...Last week plenty of people Downriver put themselves in a tizzy over the latest - but surely not last - rumor circulating about the $750 million proposed Gibraltar Bay development. "This one had made a dead issue of Made In Detroit's 650-acre, 350-home project on Humbug Island and the land adjacent to Humbug Marsh. The rumor said that state officials were not going to approve a permit for the property... "Of course, the project is NOT a dead issue. Discussions are still under way... The development as proposed is not permittable... But that doesn't mean that ongoing talks will not make it a permittable project eventually. "It is a shame that so many usually knowledgeable and caring people got so caught up in erroneous information because they put what they seek ahead of better judgement. Even the office of State Rep. George Mans confirmed last week's rumor was dead without checking it out, an inexcusable mistake. "So the next time you hear a rumor about Made In Detroit's Gibraltar Bay project, relax and save yourself some aggravation. "...Soon enough, the agencies negotiating with the developers will come to a hard, fast conclusion on the project. And we'll report it accurately in the newspaper, at which time you will either be happy because you supported the development or happy because you opposed it. "But your blood pressure won't be rising over nothing more than a rumor." Unbiased editorial, to be sure. But this still did not sit well with the overwhelming majority, and the controversy surrounding the project continued unabated for the short term. 
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