Marathon Petroleum develops green space expansion program and commits to $5 Million in spending in 2021.
DETROIT, Dec. 17, 2020 – Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) has announced that it will offer to purchase residential properties in the Boynton neighborhood of Southwest Detroit in 2021, with the objective of creating a green space in the area and providing residents a buffer from I-75 and the area’s industrial neighbors. The purchase program is focused on homes closest to I-75, including Edsel and S. Patricia Streets. MPC is also negotiating with the City of Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA) to purchase or lease 38 abandoned homes and approximately 140 vacant lots owned by the city or the DLBA in the north Boynton neighborhood, with the objective of demolishing the abandoned homes and maintaining all vacant lots.
“We take great pride in being a part of Southwest Detroit, and we are committed to continuing our partnership with the community to improve the quality of life here,” said Dave Leaver, general manager of MPC’s Detroit Refinery. “We are happy to make this property purchase option available to accommodate those who would like to participate in the program. Our intent is to work with residents in the target area to secure property and create green space at the north end of the neighborhood.”
MPC has contracted with Community Interaction Consulting (CIC) to handle the purchases and will provide all eligible residents with a comprehensive purchase program book. CIC will establish an office in the neighborhood in January to assist residents in the purchase process.
MPC has committed $5 million to the property purchase effort in 2021 and will review extending the program yearly as part of the company’s annual capital budget evaluation.
The home purchase program represents the refinery’s latest effort to enhance the quality of life for Southwest Detroit residents. Past initiatives include a $2 million contribution to the renovation of the Kemeny Recreation Center, ongoing support to a number of organizations in the area including La Sed, Alternatives for Girls, Starfish Family Services and the Fort Street Bridge Park project, and a planned upgrade to the air purification system at the Mark Twain School for Scholars. The refinery has also invested nearly $500 million in technology upgrades over the last 10 years to reduce emissions and improve the facility’s environmental performance.
For complete information, please visit: Boynton Property Purchase Program