Graphic Packaging facility to be demolished, land donated in support of river naturalization

BATTLE CREEK — A vacant manufacturing facility on the banks of the Kalamazoo River will soon be torn down.

New Mill Capital Holdings and Battle Creek Unlimited are partnering to demolish the 350,000-square-foot Graphic Packaging International facility at 79 E. Fountain St. It's a key step in the city's vision to naturalize the north branch of the Kalamazoo River through downtown Battle Creek .

GPI's recycled paperboard mill closed its doors in August 2022. Work has been underway on the interior for months and major demolition work is set to begin within weeks, officials said. Upon completion of the demolition, New Mill Capital Holdings will donate the land to support the overall river naturalization and redevelopment plan.

The demolition, projected to be completed over 10-month period, will include the removal of the parking lots between the former Ralston/TreeHouse facility and GPI. New Mill Capital Holdings previously donated the 450,000-square-foot TreeHouse facility to BCU to support the river naturalization and development project.

“New Mill Capital Holdings is proud to partner with the Battle Creek Community and BCU on this monumental redevelopment effort," Greg Schain, principal of New Mill Capital Holdings, said in a statement. "We believe we have created a win-win for everyone involved and although the full-on naturalization/redevelopment may be years out, we are excited to see the naturalization project come to fruition."

Built in the late 1950s and 1960s as a flood control measure, the 4,000-foot aging concrete channel runs southeast from East Fountain Street to its convergence with the Battle Creek River near Hamblin Avenue. By all accounts, it has exceeded its lifespan.

The hopes is to making this stretch of water more recreationally available. In its current state, the water flow along the concrete channel is too strong and would be a danger to anyone going in the water.

Battle Creek Whitewater Inc., a nonprofit that wants the river restored to a natural-looking state, has proposed installing public parks along the river as well as a whitewater course for kayaks.

BCU currently controls nearly 40 acres along the river, all of which will be a part of the overall river naturalization and redevelopment of the area. In 2022, BCU secured $13 million from the state budget for activities associated with beginning the process to naturalize the river and additional grant dollars are now being pursued as the project evolves.

“Partnering with New Mill Capital Holdings on these donations have given us a leg up and has shaved years off the process to naturalize the river," Joe Sobieralski, president/CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited, said. "It has also allowed us to stretch the $13 million grant from the state and make those dollars go further. We are grateful for their partnership and understanding of Battle Creek’s vision to redevelop this area.”

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Graphic Packaging facility to be demolished, land donated in support of river naturalization