Marathon to buy homes near Detroit refinery expansion

[SpartanDem]

Source: Detroit

With a $2.2 billion expansion of its 80-year-old refinery under way in southwest Detroit, Marathon Petroleum Co. officials have instituted a home purchase program for the nearby Oakwood Heights neighborhood, the company announced Wednesday afternoon.

An estimated 1,200 people live in more than 300 homes in the target area, which sits just east of the refinery — the last such facility operating in Michigan. After purchasing homes in Oakwood Heights, the company plans to tear them down and leave behind green space as a buffer between the plant and residential areas.

It is also a means of avoiding possible future legal hassles that may arise as Marathon's Detroit Heavy Oil Upgrade Project continues. The expansion includes new equipment that will allow the refinery to process heavy crude oils and increase capacity from 106,000 barrels per day to 120,000 barrels per day.

Marathon's formula for purchasing homes has several factors.
Homeowners will be offered the average price of two appraisals or $40,000 — whichever amount is greater — as the base purchase price



Read more: http://detnews.com/article/20111102/METRO01/111020425/Marathon-to-buy-homes-near-Detroit-refinery-expansion#ixzz1cb1Q3YEu

---

I wouldn't be suprised if residents jump at the offer, it's an area of home to most of the heavy industry in Detroit. It's a zip code that is consistantly rated with the worst air quailty in the state.


Google map of area. The refinery is in the center, other industry in is Ford Rouge plant to north, the city wastewater treament plant and on Zug Island Island US Steel mill

http://g.co/maps/6hqrw