Ferndale's Legato live-work project nearly sold out
Source: metromode, 10/30/2008
It appears the Legato development in Ferndale has a leg up on the competiton now that more than half of its units are sold.
Of the 25 units at the Legato @ Brickly Place and Legato @ Webster Place, 14 are spoken for. All of the live-work units are sold, leaving 11 'straight' condo units. Of those 11 units, five are in Brickly Place and the other six are in Webster Place. Earlier this year, only four of the units were sold.
The Novi-based The Terra Land Group's development features townhouse-style condos, many with retail space built into them. Those units are versatile enough to give their occupants multiple options for space usage.
The development features two types of homes. There is the 1,371-square-foot loft condo, which sells for $159,000, and the live/work condos, which range in size from 1,530 to 1,680 square feet and are priced at $219,000.
Each condo comes with a two-car garage and full range of appliances. Many of the units also come with balconies.
For information, call (248) 624-5400.
Source: Kim Veenstra, sales director for the Terra Land Group
Writer: Jon Zemke
Pontiac installs LED streetlights, expects big savings
Source: metromode, 10/30/2008
It's getting cheaper to keep the lights
on in Pontiac, at least since the city has finished installing its
first LED streetlights.
The LEDs are part of the $2 million
reconstruction that took place this summer. The project rebuilt 1 mile
of Baldwin Avenue between Cesar Chavez Avenue and Montcalm Street, just
northwest of downtown. That includes replacing the road, sidewalks and
36 light polls.
LED
lights are going in all of the new cobra-head street lamps. The LEDs
cost $21,000 and are partially funded by federal and state grants.
The
36 lights are expected to significantly cut expenses because LEDs are
more energy-efficient and longer-lasting. LEDs typically cut electric
bills in half because they use less energy. They mostly produce light
that is visible to the human eye. Normal incandescent lights produce a
significant amount of ambient light that isn't. They also last much
longer.
"It really cuts down on the maintenance cost," says
Allan E Schneck, director of the department of public works for the
city of Pontiac.
Oxford-based Relume Technologies and its distributor Lumeco provided the LEDs. The company also provided the LEDs for Ann Arbor's downtown.
The
technology is already widely used in traffic lights, TVs and brake
lights for cars; as well as those expensive flashlights you find at REI.
Ann Arbor is in the process of installing them in all its downtown
streetlights. Those lights are expected to pay for themselves through
energy savings within 4.2 years.
Ann Arbor is also looking to
eventually install LEDs in all of its streetlights within the next few
years. Other cities like Ferndale, Wyandotte and Ypsilanti are
seriously considering similar options.
Source: Allan E Schneck, director of the department of public works for the city of Pontiac
Writer: Jon Zemke
Developer sweetens deal for remaining West Deaborn lofts
Source: metromode, 10/30/2008
Two new lofts developments in Dearborn's
West Downtown are nearly full, and the developer is willing to make a
deal to finish them off by the holidays.
Only six of the units
at Gateway and Horizon lofts are left, which is down from nine just a
week ago. Those lofts are mainly 2-bedroom units. The developer is
willing to lower the security deposit from $1,000 to $500 and knock as
much as $150 a month off units that are priced as high as $2,100.
"My goal is to have all of these occupied by Thanksgiving," says Amer Zahr, leasing agent for both developments.
The
developments are some of the most progressive Dearborn's West Downtown
has seen in a long time. They are built up to the lot line and feature
ground floor retail space underneath residential space. They also blend
in with the historic structures along Michigan Avenue.
Horizon Lofts
is at the corner of Michigan and Howard Street. It features 24 homes on
the second, third and fourth floors of the 4-story building. Many of
the occupied units in that building are in the upper floors. Most of
the ground floor retail space is also filled with the likes Buffalo Wild Wings and Panera Bread.
The
units at Horizon Lofts range in size between 1,000 and 1,700 square
feet. Prices for one-bedroom lofts start at $1,300 a month while
two-bedroom lofts go for $1,900 a month. It also features a recently
finished fitness center and an in-the-works roof-top deck. Both Horizon
and Gateway lofts offer free Wi-Fi.
Gateway Lofts
is on the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Military Street, a
stone's throw away from Horizon Lofts. The new 2-story building
features eight lofts, ranging in size from 1,100-1,500 square feet.
They all have one bedroom and a den. Prices start at $1,000 per month
and go as high as $1,550.
Caliente Grille,
a Mexican food restaurant, is on the ground floor. There is enough
retail space on the ground floor to accommodate up to four other
businesses.
Source: Amer Zahr, leasing agent for Horizon and Gateway lofts
Writer: Jon Zemke
Birmingham, Troy move forward with transit center plans
Source: metromode, 10/30/2008
The slow train of mass transit reform may still be a bit in the distance, but it's picking up steam in Birmingham.
The city is working with Troy to create a $6 million transit center just on the Birmingham side of the border between the cities. Although still in the planning stages, the cities hope line up funding for it soon and start putting shovels in the ground within a few years.
The transit center building will cost about $4 million and will facilitate a variety of modes of transportation. It will be built along heavy rail tracks that will eventually become part of the proposed northern leg of the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line. It will also facilitate buses, cabs, bicyclists and pedestrians.
There has also been talk of building a streetcar line in an east-west direction from the transit center. Such a line would connect Troy's Somerset Collection and Pavilions of Troy to Birmingham's booming downtown, Rail District and Triangle District.
The other $2 million would pay for a tunnel underneath the tracks that could connect both communities.
Source: Mark Nickita, member of the Birmingham Planning Board
Writer: Jon Zemke
New residents set to move into Grosse Pointe Park Brownstones
Source: metromode, 10/30/2008
The new residents at The Brownstones at the Park
in Grosse Pointe Park are set to move into their new homes in mid
November as workers finish up construction in the project's first phase.
The
developer also just opened the sales office and model unit for the
22-brownstone condo development. Only two of the first six condos
are remaining
and those are now being offered with a $15,000
discount from the starting price of $170,000. The rest of the
brownstones will be built as they are sold.
The brownstones, built by Bloomfield Hills-based Robertson Brothers,
replace seven early 20th Century duplexes that were razed earlier this
year along Lake Pointe Drive. It's part of an effort to replace older
rental housing with new owner-occupied units.
The development is
roughly one block away from city hall, the police station, the library
and about one block north of Jefferson Avenue. It's also a 15-minute
drive from downtown Detroit.
Each condo has two bedrooms and
2.5 bathrooms inside of 1,600 square feet. Either a two-car garage or a
large one-car garage comes with each unit. There will also be more
on-street or on-site parking spots for a total of 55 spaces.
The sales office is open Friday through Monday, noon to 6 p.m. For information, call Erica Napolitan at (248) 640-4274.
Source: Michelle Byron, spokeswoman for Robertson Brothers
Writer: Jon Zemke
New bridge links sections of Orchard Trail in Macomb County
Source: metromode, 10/30/2008
If you're not in a vehicle, crossing
a highway can mean taking your life into your own hands. That's no
longer the case with the M-53 freeway in Romeo.
Macomb County recently opened a $2.2 million pedestrian bridge over the highway that will link two sections of the Macomb Orchard Trail. The bridge, which was paid for with federal funds, is just north of 32 Mile Road.
The
Macomb Orchard Trail is one of the crown recreation jewels in Metro
Detroit. The 23.5 mile path, the longest in Macomb County, stretches
from 24 Mile Road in Shelby Township to Washington Township. It's so
popular with non-motorized traffic enthusiasts that a recent
ribbon-cutting ceremony was accessible only to pedestrians, bicyclists
and in-line skaters.
The trail is also one of the longest in
Southeast Michigan, covering 236 acres of linear park. It connects
users to parks, downtowns, businesses, schools, homes and open spaces
it runs east/west across Macomb County. It also connects to trails in
Oakland County to the west and St. Clair County to the east.
Source: Macomb County
Writer: Jon Zemke
Wayne County revives abandoned properties with new land bank
Source: metromode, 10/30/2008
If there is an Island of Misfit Toys, then the Wayne County Land Bank is the Island of Misfit Properties.
The
land bank has taken property after property that people have discarded,
lost or given up on and turned them into functioning, tax-paying land
in private hands. The land bank has helped leverage more than $300
million in investment and 2,500 jobs in its first two years.
Helping
make this happen is the land bank's Transforming Underdeveloped
Residential & Business Opportunities, or TURBO, program. TURBO
provides incentives for new developments and improvements on some of
the land bank's properties. For instance, a developer could receive a
one-year tax exemption during construction and a 50 percent
reimbursement of an amount equal to the real property taxes for the
next five years.
Among some of the successful projects that
have come from the land bank are The Shops at Woodward Place in
Highland Park (120 new jobs), Parts Galore in Detroit (50 new jobs) and
Sysco Foods in Canton (650 jobs retained, 130 new jobs).
Source: Wayne County
Writer: Jon Zemke
AATA to take over WALLY commuter rail project
Source: Concentrate, 10/30/2008
The proposed commuter rail project north
of Ann Arbor took a major step forward last night when the AATA decided
to take it over.
Excerpt:
The commuter rail project WALLY is set to take some serious steps forward now that its future is no longer up for grabs.
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
took control of the project last night and will serve as the agency to
take it forward. Proponents of WALLY have been pushing to set up a new
authority consisting of Washtenaw and Livingston counties, but
officials from Livingston County (where most of the stations will be
located) have balked at the idea.
"There's lot to be done but this really gives it some firm ground to stand on," says Terri Blackmore, executive director of the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study.
Read the rest of the story here.
Construction nearly completed on downtown Ann Arbor's Sudworth building
Source: Concentrate, 10/30/2008
The latest renovation to downtown Ann Arbor will be ready to open in the next few days.
Excerpt:
Work is nearly finished on the Sudworth building in Ann Arbor, bringing another historic structure back to the top shelf of downtown structures.
The Blue Tractor Brewery and Barbeque is set to open in early November in the ground floor and basement. The second and third floors of the 3-story structure will be ready for office occupants soon, too.
"The upper floors are also very close," says Greg Lobdell, co-owner of the Sudworth Building. "They will be ready a few weeks after the restaurant comes online."
Read the rest of the story here.
$2.3M artist's center opens in NW Detroit
Source: Model D, 10/30/2008
The Arab and Chaldean Council opened an Artisana and Adult
Learning Center on Seven Mile Road in Detroit, just east of Palmer Park.
Excerpt:
The $2.3 million building joins three others built in the last decade:
the agency's Detroit headquarters, a youth center and a club house for
a total of a $14 million investment into their stretch of street.
Construction began a year ago on the building, which features a first
floor gallery and a Middle Eastern-themed café. There is also work
space for artists that will encourage interaction between different
ethnicities and social and economic backgrounds. "As they do work side
by side, they will learn from each other, learn about each other's
backgrounds," says ACC executive director Isa Hasan. School field trips
will also allow students to interact with these same artists as they
work.
Read the entire article here.
Ground breaks for new Greenleaf Trust building in downtown Birmingham
Source: metromode, 10/23/2008
Today, the shovels go into the ground to start construction on the latest building in downtown Birmingham. Tomorrow, the Greenleaf Trust building will start to rise, overlooking Woodward Avenue.
The 5-story, mixed-use structure will replace an old abandoned gas station at the corner of Woodward and Maple. The building is seen as a key piece of the puzzle toward bridging Birmingham's vibrant downtown and its emerging Triangle District.
The building, designed by Kalamazoo-based Eckert Wordell Architecture, will feature space for retail, commercial and residential. Five rental apartments will go on the fourth and fifth floors. The second and third floor of the 50,000-square-foot building will be dedicated to office space. Kalamazoo-based Greenleaf will move its Metro Detroit offices to the third floor. The first floor will be occupied by Zazios, a modern Italian restaurant based in Kalamazoo.
The building will also be the latest in what is becoming a lengthy line of environmentally friendly structures in Birmingham. The Greenleaf Trust building is going to silver LEED certification with a variety of environmentally friendly features, such as a 1,500-square-foot green roof, natural lighting and numerous water- and energy-efficiency fixtures.
Work is set to finish by May 2010.
Greenleaf is a 10-year-old bank that manages 7 billion in assets for individuals, foundations, endowments and corporations. The Kalamazoo-based bank specializes in personal trust, wealth management and employee benefits.
Source: Greenleaf Trust
Writer: Jon Zemke
Sterling Heights lands SmartZone to develop more new economy biz
Source: metromode, 10/23/2008
The business incubator, it's the latest
must-have for communities interested in serious economic development.
Add Sterling Heights to that growing list of cities looking to foster
the next Google.
Sterling Heights is teaming up with Macomb County and Oakland University to implement Macomb County's first SmartZone, one of three the Michigan Economic Development Corporation recently awarded. The one for Sterling Heights will go in the Venture Industries building on 15 Mile Road.
SmartZones
let cities create a business incubator that offers services and support
for new economy start-ups. Think of firms that specialize in developing
new technologies for the likes of the defense industry and homeland
security.
Sterling Heights' incubator will provide
entrepreneurs with office space and access to laboratories. These will
reduce overhead for new companies, giving them a better chance at
success and creating more jobs. It will also allow them a communal
space to form relationships, partnerships and to network.
The concept has worked at other places in Metro Detroit, such as Ann Arbor SPARK and Detroit's TechTown.
Officials
estimate the business incubator will serve as the home to a dozen new
companies and 130 new jobs within two years. That number should shoot
up to 55 new companies and about 600 new jobs by 2015.
Source: Luke Bonner, economic development manager for the city of Sterling Heights
Writer: Jon Zemke
Old Ward's building comes down in Dearborn, new building set to go up
Source: metromode, 10/23/2008
What was once the old Montgomery Ward's building in Dearborn's east downtown is no more. Well, almost. The rubble makers are nearly finished razing the historic structure, a job expected to be done by early November.
They are making way for the future, a 125,000-square-foot, mixed-use building that will stand in its place at the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Schaefer Road. Southfield-based Redico plans to begin building the structure soon after the last of the old structure is cleared away.
The $45 million project will serve as the new home for Oakwood Healthcare System and Midwest Health Services, creating about 500 new jobs in the core of the downtown.
The 3-story structure will feature 20,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. A 500-space parking deck will be built behind the new building and 100 to 120 units of senior citizen apartments will be built behind that so it melds in with the surrounding neighborhood filled with single-family homes.
Work is expected to wrap up midway through 2010.
Montgomery Ward opened the store in 1937. Over the years the business expanded into 93,000 square feet until it went belly up in 2001. It has been vacant ever since. The developer originally tried to incorporate the structure into the project but failed to make it work.
Source: Randy Coble, spokesman for the city of Dearborn
Writer: Jon Zemke
Developer puts finishing touches on Briggs Building in Birmingham
Source: metromode, 10/23/2008
One of downtown Birmingham's most innovative redevelopments is wrapping up its final loose ends. The last of the businesses will move into the Briggs Building in November.
Fuller Central Park Properties gave new life to the historic building at the corner of Old Woodward Avenue and Maple Road. It added a third floor and filled in an adjacent parking lot with a 5-story addition.
Today the project features 42,000 square feet of Class A office space, 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail space and another 10,000 square feet of luxury apartments. It's a big step up from the 2-story office/retail building constructed in 1930. It's also an even bigger step forward that the entire structure is leased and occupied in this tough economy.
A 175-space structure behind the building replaces 165-space surface parking lot, helping create more density in the already vibrant downtown.
Office tenants that mainly consist of money managers and attorneys will occupy the second, third and fourth floors. Universal Watch and Tactical Alliance Group (commonly known as TAG) will occupy the ground floor retail space facing Old Woodward.
Source: Ted Fuller, developer of the project
Writer: Jon Zemke
Farmington Hills plans to build new, environmentally friendly city hall
Source: metromode, 10/23/2008
It seems like a little more space is
added onto Farmington Hills' City Hall every few years. The original
1950s structure has received 4-5 additions, increasing the space from
6,000 square feet to 34,000 square feet.
"Some of them have been little dinky things," says Nate Geinzer, management assistant for Farmington Hills.
Little
things that have created big inefficiencies and bigger headaches for
city officials. It's the main reason why city officials plan to
renovate the existing structure and add yet more space. It's a project
that promises to make the City Hall more efficient and greener.
"We're looking at everything and anything," Geinzer says. "We're still pretty early in the design phase."
One
thing city officials agree on is that they want the new City Hall to be
as environmentally friendly as possible. City officials are aiming for
gold LEED
certification with the project. Among the green stripes they are
looking at are geothermal heating, solar panels and a green roof.
For
now city officials are conducting public meetings to see what city
residents and employees want. They have yet to decide on how big the
addition will be, let alone what environmentally friendly features they
will use.
Plans are to start construction in the spring and finish by end the of year in 2010.
Source: Nate Geinzer, management assistant for Farmington Hills
Writer: Jon Zemke
Habitat for Humanity aims for platinum LEED certification for newest house
Source: metromode, 10/23/2008
Habitat for Humanity is known for its
sustainable practices, but now the nonprofit is making a name for
itself with its latest sustainable building.
Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County
recently finished work on a new house in Pontiac, 457 Ferry St. What
makes this house standout from the other thousands that Habitat has
built over the years is that it is going for platinum LEED certification.
"It's
a first for Habitat for Humanity and Southeast Michigan," says Sally
LePla, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County.
The 1,200-square-foot ranch house, funded by Chrysler Financial and Gontina Building and Design,
cost about 15 percent more than the average Habitat for Humanity home.
However, it will create about 30 percent energy savings for its
residents annually. That can mean about $1,000 saved each year.
The house utilizes a number of eco-friendly materials such as siding from Auburn Hills-based Microposite,
bamboo and cork flooring, structural-insulated panels and passive solar
design strategies. It also uses energy-efficient windows, is thoroughly
insulated and uses Energy Star fixtures.
Habitat for Humanity
also used recycled materials, purchased them locally and minimized the
amount of waster, recycling whatever it could.
Source: Sally LePla, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke
Kroger invests $2.8 million in Dearborn store renovation
Source: metromode, 10/23/2008
Everyone likes to celebrate when a specialty grocer moves into a downtown area, but there is a lot to be said for reinvesting in a traditional grocery store. At a minimum, it bodes well for the economic health of the nearby community.
Dearborn is doing just that, showing off its newly renovated Kroger just west of Dearborn's east downtown. The supermarket chain has invested $2.8 million in refurbishing the structure at the corner of the Michigan Avenue and Greenfield Road.
The 65,000-square-foot facility now has a new deli and bakery. It also has a natural and organic foods department, a seafood counter and a larger wine department to complement an expanded international foods section.
The investment is creating 12 new jobs at the store.
Source: Randy Coble, spokesman for the city of Dearborn
Writer: Jon Zemke
Smaller 601 Forest gets big approval in Ann Arbor
Source: Concentrate, 10/23/2008
After a long wait and an almost as lengthy debate, the 601 Forest high-rise project is moving forward in Ann Arbor.
Excerpt:
It is over yet? Has the Ann Arbor City Council finally passed judgment on 601 Forest yet? Yes? Finally…
The
City Council approved the smaller version of the 601 Forest high-rise
on development. Call it a downsized victory for the proponents of
vertical, urban growth in Ann Arbor.
The 'adjusted' version of
601 Forest is 14 stories tall. The developers, Hughes Properties and
Omena Real Estate Investments, originally planned for of 26. They also
wanted to build 1,100 beds in 342 units. The new plan calls for 150-175
rooms with 570-610 beds. All of those beds will be marketed toward
students at the nearby University of Michigan.
Read the rest of the story here.
Workers to restore historic St. Andrew’s Church in Ann Arbor
Source: Concentrate, 10/23/2008
Not all of Ann Arbor's development projects are brand new. Some involve freshening up structures that are nearly 200 years old.
Excerpt:
An old beauty of a church near downtown Ann Arbor is getting a facelift and a little interior work done.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is investing $2.8 million in a new roof, windows and a refurbished hall, among other fixes to the 141-year-old stone structure. Most of the heavy work is expected to wrap up by the holiday season, but some smaller improvements will carry on into next year.
"It's going to be quite stunning when it's done," says Mary Bishop, finance administrator with St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
Read the rest of the story here.
Italian bistro to open in Downtown Detroit
Source: Model D, 10/23/2008
Angelina Bistro will open later this month in Downtown Detroit across the street from the Detroit Opera House.
Excerpt:
When partners Tom Agosta and Mike Viviano decided to open a restaurant,
they immediately settled on Italian cuisine because of their shared
Sicilian heritage. Angelina seats 160 and will focus on modern, fresh
Mediterranean cuisine including moderately-priced antipasti, tasting
plates of cured and smoked meats, pizza, pasta, dry-aged cuts of beef,
Mediterranean seafood and free-range poultry.
Agosta and Viviano aim to emphasize local and organic products, including meats, produce, flour, Great Lakes Coffee, Motor City Brewing Works beer and a variety of Michigan wines. Chef Joel Vassalo, late of renowned Five Lakes Grill, brings extensive charcuterie knowledge to the table.
Read the entire article here.