Saugatuck May Purchase South Denison Dunes

Denison Dunes(Photo by kmh1967. The author or licensor of this image does not endorse me or my work and their image is protected under an attribution license)

from a news release of the Grand Rapids Press, "Saugatuck agrees to apply for state grant to help buy southern portion of Denison duneland," by Dave Muller, Jan 12, 2009 and other sources

Following a public meeting on January 12, the city of Saugatuck has agreed to attempt to raise $25 million to purchase 160 acres of the property commonly known as the Denison Dunes.

Billionaire Aubrey McClendon agreed in July 2008 to sell the southern portion of the parcel to the city. Previous negotiations had either ended unproductively or with McClendon offering to lease the land to the city.

Now, the city plans to apply for $15 million from the Natural Resources Trust Fund. The approval for that plus an additional $10 million need to be acquired before March 2, when the offer expires. The Nature Conservancy and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan are helping with the negotiations.

The parcel of land in question includes the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, and is considered one of the last great undeveloped treasures in west Michigan.

also see Billionaire may be willing to part with 160 acres of ex-Denison dune land, Grand Rapids Press, Jul 31, 2008
Deal Would Let Saugatuck Lease Part of Dunes Land
Sides Step Back from Denison Dunes Confrontation
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