TRAVERSE CITY -- Environmental clean-up to begin soon on the proposed Hotel Indigo site in Traverse City.
Jean Derenzy, the Brownfield Coordinator for Grand Traverse County tells 7&4 News that there is significant water and soil contamination at the site, much more than anticipated.
Officials say they don't know where the pollution is coming from.
Wednesday night developers and consultants met at the Inside Out Gallery to discuss cleanup options that will be paid for by the Environmental Protection Agency. It could cost anywhere from $500,000 to $3 million depending on what option is chosen.
Derenzy tells 7&4 News that consultants and developers are leaning towards excavating and disposing of the soil at a landfill. That options would cost anywhere from $500,000 to $600,000.
As for water contamination consultants and developers are leaning towards a barrier that would wrap around the hotel's foundation. This option would lower the water table temporarily.
The hotel is expected to be complete by January 2014.
The county will host two public meetings on October 31st at the Grand Traverse County Governmental Center. The first meeting is at 8a.m. and the second is at 7p.m.
Derenzy says they will continue to investigate where the contamination is coming from so that future development will not be as costly.
