A big white empty building that fronts Ford Road in Garden City could be a diamond in the rough for the community's downtown in the making.
The 1960s-era Penske building, which is owned by Sears Holdings and was once an automotive repair business, sits surrounded by a parking lot in front of a K-mart, the first in Michigan.
While it screams has-been, some city officials and the Downtown Development Authority see opportunity and are negotiating with Sears on a purchase or lease of the property, says Stacey Tobar, interim director of the
Garden City Downtown Development Authority.The building can no longer be used for its original purpose due to zoning changes, and at 14,000 square feet it is too large for most business owners looking for new digs.
It's with that in mind that the city is talking about several options, including renovating the building for a shared workspace or business incubator, where small companies, work-from-homers and the like can share space, equipment and possibly ideas, Tobar says.
There is also talk of using it for a Farmers Market, moving the DDA or Chamber of Commerce offices there, or relocating the library to the space. Retail is also a possibility.
"We have made an offer. We've begun the real estate portion. It may take a month to get through their hierarchy," Tobar says. "Even then we've got to look at our expenses as well, inspect the building, make sure this makes sense."
"Nothing is in stone at all," she adds. "It might take a year or two to get it where it's looking inhabitable. We understand that it's not a compete turnkey thing. We'll have to go in and clean it out, renovate it…but there's definitely a lot of potential."
Source: Stacey Tobar, interim director, Garden City Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Kim North Shine
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