Detroit city council has voted to not transfer hundreds of properties needed to build a new border crossing between Windsor and the Motor City.

During a city council session Tuesday afternoon, councillors denied a proposal crafted by Detroit’s emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, to sell 301 parcels of land to the Canadian government in exchange for $1.4 million.

State Representative Rashida Talib says councillors denied the proposal because the deal didn’t contain reassurances for the community of Delray.

“City council will be working with the community to come up with an alternative offer,” says Talib. “The community’s role is making sure there is going to be a legally-binding community benefits process, along with the RFPs that go out for the bridge process.”

Council will have until Sept. 16 to make a counter-proposal to a state emergency loan board. The board will then decide between Orr’s original proposal and council’s counter-offer.

However, under Michigan state law, Orr can legally veto council’s vote and approve the sale of the properties to the Michgian Land Bank. Talib is encouraging the Canadian government to intervene and allow the democratic process to take place.

“Canada should urge the state to go back to negotiating with the residents in making sure this gets done properly,” she says. “Canadian officials would have every right to say look, the $1.4 million should be used to purchase the property but it should also be directed to the host community and the impacted area.”

Essex MP Jeff Watson says the Canada government remains dedicated to the Detroit River International Crossing.

“As has been the government's path since the DRIC process first launched, nothing changes our determination and resolve to see this project through to completion, because it is critical to our economy and national security,” he stated.

Council didn’t address a $1.5 million proposal made by a real estate firm, with ties to the Ambassador Bridge.

CTV Windsor contacted the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, the agency charged with land acquisition for DRIC, but were told to contact Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s officer for comment. Our calls to the State have so far gone unreturned.

The 301 parcels of land are needed to build a custom’s plaza on the U.S. side.