The Detroit City Council has approved a rezoning plan for a new $130 million pump station in the Jefferson Chalmers community. The Freud Pump Station Improvement Project, which has been in development for about two years, aims to improve reliability in both dry and wet weather conditions and reduce surcharging and combined sewer backups.

Community Concerns

Some residents have voiced concerns about the project, including the construction activity taking place without final city rezoning approval, inadequate upfront community outreach by the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), and the aesthetics of a utility pump station in their neighborhood. Lifelong resident Vanessa Cartwright, 63, has lived in her current home for 30 years and said the pump station is directly across from her front door.

Cartwright expressed concerns about the project, stating that she doesn’t trust the water authority and believes that the project description and its impact on flooding in the community has changed over time. She also mentioned that an independent review found that three GLWA pump stations, including an existing facility on Freud Street, suffered electrical and mechanical failures during the June 2021 storm.

Community Benefits

District 4 Council Member Latisha Johnson said that several entities have agreed to provide benefits to the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood, including a $5-million investment in street, curb, sidewalk, and other right-of-way improvements from GLWA and $75,000 for neighborhood beautification and mini grants.

Johnson noted that the project is just one part of the solution to help bolster the system and minimize the likelihood of backups in the wake of the 2021 pump station failure. She also mentioned that efforts are underway to bring together 25 community organizations in the Jefferson Chalmers area to ensure decisions are being made collectively.

Original reporting: BridgeDetroit — read the source article.