Old terminal at MBS International Airport (KMBS) is terminal

FREELAND, MICHIGAN — A $55 million terminal at MBS International Airport opened three years ago.

In the coming year, airport leaders will work on a financial plan to have the old building demolished. Airport Manager Jeff Nagel said the old terminal, which opened in the mid 1960s, is no longer of use or value to the airport.

"We took a look at the value of the site with the building, and then we took a look at the value of the site without the building. And, really, the site is more valuable to the airport without the building there," he said.

"The building was designed as an airline terminal. It can't be converted for use as a hangar."

Nagel said a potential tenant looked at the building this year, but it didn't meet the prospect's needs.

"We've attempted to re-purpose it, but it's just not going to work," he said.

Nagel said the building could come down in 2016 or 2017.

"It's a great site for future aeronautical development," Nagel said. "In fact, we're in the middle of our master plan process, so we're looking at the development of that whole side of the airport, the general aviation, private aviation side, for future use. And removing the building is part of that."

Telephone and gas service would need rerouting as part of the work, he said. Early cost estimates are $600,000 to $700,000.

"We were very successful in getting FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) grants to build the new building," Nagel said. "The FAA will not allow those grants to be used to remove the old building, so it's a matter of putting together a plan to finance that."

- Source: http://www.mlive.com