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发帖数: 170 | 4 Chinatown in works near Ann Arbor
Investors to build 415 upscale homes off U.S. 23 targeting Chinese
immigrants
By Karl Henkel
The Detroit News
Developer's display model of the proposed development. )
Milan Township— Southeast Michigan may become home to a veritable Chinatown
, a planned community of 415 upscale homes for Chinese immigrants, off U.S.
23 south of Ann Arbor.
The idea behind the proposal is to encourage Chinese investors to open
businesses here and take advantage of in-state tuition at the University of
Michigan, saving tens of thousands of dollars per student.
Sino Michigan Properties LLC, a U.S.-based Chinese investment firm, has
purchased 220 acres in Milan and London townships — about 20 minutes south
of Ann Arbor — for $1.9 million in cash, according to Milan Township
officials.
While details of the project remain under wraps, three investors from the
firm have met with Milan city officials to discuss extending public water
and sewer lines into the townships. They also have shared a blueprint and
pictures of a miniature scale version of the community, complete with
Chinese and American flags flying at the entrance along Darling Road.
"Chinese developers want to build some kind of high-end residential houses,"
said Milan Mayor Kym Muckler.
The investors also have met with the Michigan Economic Development Corp.,
the state's public-private marketing group and incentive agency, to discuss
the project. The company is not seeking local or state tax subsidies, the
MEDC said.
The MEDC said the project is being tailored to Chinese families looking to
qualify for in-state tuition at U-M.
But the massive project faces several hurdles. They include complying with
federal immigration laws to gain state residency and winning over neighbors,
many of whom oppose the project.
The investors have not met with officials from London or Milan townships,
which would have to rezone the land from agricultural to residential.
"There's been no official approach," said Phil Heath, Milan Township
supervisor. "Everything is pure rumors, speculation."
Arthur Dudley II of the Detroit-based Butzel Long law firm, who represents
Sino Michigan Properties, declined to discuss the development.
The project comes as Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder tries to court Chinese
investors to boost Michigan's economy and create jobs. Snyder visited China
last year and met with the country's next president, Vice President Xi
Jinping, in Iowa on Feb. 15.
The Chinese have directly invested $637 million in Michigan since 2003, the
seventh highest amount in the nation, according to the Rhodium Group LLC, a
New York firm that monitors Chinese investments.
Immigration laws a worry
The biggest obstacle for the planned community may be U.S. immigration and
citizen laws.
Joe Zhou, a liaison to Sino, said the group of investors is struggling to
meet the requirements of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' EB-5
Immigrant Investor Program.
The program works like this: Would-be immigrants can obtain a green card if
they invest $1 million and create at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying
U.S. workers within a period designated by the federal immigration and
citizenship agency.
Milan and London townships are attractive to the Chinese investors because
they are designed as a "targeted employment area" — a rural area or an area
with high unemployment. The minimum investment in such areas is $500,000
per investor.
Sino represents more than 400 investors, Zhou said.
That means each of the investors in the community would be required to
invest $500,000 in a home or condominium there and create the required
number of jobs to receive a green card and, ultimately, state residency and
a tuition break.
In total, Sino and its investors would need to create about 4,000 jobs.
Zhou said the group is looking at ways to meet the jobs criteria.
U-M spokeswoman Kelly Cunningham said residency status is recognized only
for individuals who are "clearly and verifiably" residents of the state.
Residency applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.
"There's a huge increase in the number of wealthy Chinese sending their kids
to undergraduate education and sometimes high school education in the U.S.,
" said Mary Gallagher, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at U-M. "
In order to that, they do make investments in the U.S., often to facilitate
the education."
Township residents wary
Milan Township residents said they take no umbrage with the prospect of new
neighbors, but they are disturbed about what they see as a level of secrecy
surrounding the project.
They also said they are upset at the perception of a "members-only"
community in the middle of their hometown.
"When they give the image to you as a community that, 'We have our own place
,' it's saying that 'We (the newcomers) don't have to participate in your
community,'" said Jean Early, 76, a retired secretary.
Residents, though, understand development interest in the townships.
The stretch of U.S. 23 is one of the last undeveloped areas off the highway
south of Ann Arbor, which has experienced a 20 percent swell in its Asian
population in the past decade, according to U.S. Census statistics.
At least one neighbor sees the economic potential of the Chinese development
. The owner of 43 acres across the street — Keenan Fields of Signature
Associates in Toledo, Ohio — hopes to sell his property for development.
But plans for any development haven't been formally submitted.
"It's all so preliminary," Muckler said. |
