Mott Community College is reaching across Longway Boulevard again in an effort to help clean up city-owned property near campus.
MCC has agreed to lease four parcels of land north of Longway for the next 30 years in an effort to improve the appearance on one of its campus entrances.
Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley signed a resolution on Oct. 8, sealing the deal, in which the college will pay the city $1 annually.
“We’re going to mow the grass” and clean the lots, said MCC spokesman Michael Kelly. “We’re taking responsibility to make the campus entrance more pleasant.”
Kelly said the agreement is the formalization of an arrangement that’s already begun and extends the college’s efforts to beautify the area around it.
In addition to maintaining the new lots, MCC has developed the baseball field at Kearsley Park, is developing a softball field there and purchased what was a city-owned armory near the park for $1 in 2009.
Kelly said the college is trying to emphasize the use of Longway as an entrance to campus and want to put its — and the city’s — best foot forward.
“If you fight blight in your area, you’re helping the entire city,” he said. “We’re trying to be a good neighbor.”
The four parcels are divided among Longway and Kansas Avenue.
The agreement between the college and the city says Flint and MCC will work collectively to apply for grants for capital improvements to the property.
Implementation of any improvements on the property will be the responsibility of MCC but will only be undertaken after approval from the city, the agreement says.
Source: Mlive.com