YPSILANTI, MI - The Ann Arbor League of Women Voters and the A2Y Chamber are teaming up to host a debate on the Water Street millage facing Ypsilanti voters.

The debate will focus on the Water Street Debt Millage proposal. It takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 19 at McKenny Hall on the Eastern Michigan University campus, 878 W. Cross St.

Similar to last year's event, will look at the proposal and hear the issue debated by students from the debate team at Washtenaw Technical Middle College.

It is free to attend and registration is requested.

The Aug. 8 ballot proposal asks for 2.3 mills to repay debt related to the Water Street Redevelopment Project. The city currently is repaying the bond debt with money from its general fund at a cost of about $1 million a year.

"Passage or failure of this millage will have major outcomes for the City of Ypsilanti, its residents, and businesses," the event description said.

Last August, voters turned down a similar 2.3 millage request by 39 votes. A larger millage of 4.94 mills, that would have included a city income tax, was also turned down in 2012.

Water Street is a 36-acre property located in the heart of Ypsilanti that the city purchased for redevelopment but has had issues with contamination on the property. Part of the property is now occupied by a Family Dollar.

City officials are working with a foreign investment company that has proposed a huge residential and retail development on the property designed to attract immigrants, primarily from Asia.

The project proposal is a $150 million to $300 million mixed-use residential and retail property with an Eastern-inspired structure and philosophy. Up to 3,000 people could live at the site called International Village.