Downtown Plymouth gets new biz incubator space
Source: metromode, 11/19/2009
One downtown Plymouth office landlord is
getting a little creative when it comes to filling empty space.
Trowbridge Realty has created a business incubator of sorts at 705 S
Main for promising, out-of-the-box start-ups.
"We needed something clever to market the building," says Ryan Richmond, vice president of Trowbridge Realty.
The
building was originally built in 1999-2000 and features 30,000 square
feet of Class A office space and a ground floor built for a realty
firm. Well, that real-estate company bit the dust when the housing
market crashed and 705 S Main was left with a lot of empty space.
Now
prospective tenants can rent spaces as little as 120 square feet in
size. The first few months are free as long as tenants have more than
your average business idea. That means more new economy start-ups and
fewer run-of-the-mill old economy firms.
"We're looking for
newer ventures," Richmond says. "Some who can define some long-term
growth. Someone with an out-of-the-box idea."
So far 6,000
square feet has been designated for the incubator, with 10 businesses
already signed up. More could be allocated if the demand grows. For
information, send an email to rrichmond@trowbridgerealty.com.
Source: Ryan Richmond, vice president of Trowbridge Realty
Writer: Jon Zemke
Developer pushes for Mellus; Lincoln Park DDA says 'No'
Source: metromode, 11/19/2009
The future of the Mellus Building and two
adjoining properties in downtown Lincoln Park is still up in the air
after the city's Downtown Development Authority turned down an offer
from a developer to renovate them and bring jobs to the Downriver
suburb.
"Unless he comes up with a new offer quickly, it doesn't
look good for the Mellus and Pollak buildings," says Leslie
Lynch-Wilson, president of the Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance.
An
owner of a Detroit-based home care business has submitted an offer for
the Mellus building and the adjacent Pollak and Dorsey buildings on
Fort Street. All three buildings are vacant and in disrepair. The
developer has stepped forward with an architect and a plan to transform
the three buildings into office space for 20-30 employees.
He
offered to pay $10,000 for each building, claiming he would have to
invest more than $80,000 to make them suitable as office space for his
business. The DDA paid $175,000 for the Dorsey building at the height
of the real-estate bubble in 2005 and another $100,000 for the Mellus
and Pollak buildings. It plans to spend another $30,000 to demolish the
Mellus and Pollak buildings.
The DDA turned down the offer
because it was too low. Some DDA board members said they would rather
see retail businesses on the long-vacant block and questioned why the
developer would want to move into Lincoln Park in the first place.
"Our DDA has been very unfriendly toward them," Lynch-Wilson says.
The
Mellus was built in the 1940s and is on the National Register of
Historic Places. It is an intrinsic part of the downriver suburb's
history, having served as the home of Lincoln Park's local newspaper
for decades. Local preservationists think saving the Mellus and the
adjacent Pollak (named after Pollak Jewelers) building are important
steps toward preserving downtown Lincoln Park's heritage.
The
building on Fort Street still has its original porcelain-enameled
Moderne commercial exterior, while the Pollak retains its terrazzo
entrance sidewalk.
Source: Leslie Lynch-Wilson, president of the Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance
Writer: Jon Zemke
Pontiac sells Silverdome to Canadian developers
Source: metromode, 11/19/2009
One of the major millstones has been removed from the city of Pontiac's neck now that the Pontiac Silverdome has been sold.
The
sale frees the city, which is in receivership, of $1.5 million in
annual maintenance costs for the former NFL stadium. The city has been
trying to broker a sale of the stadium and surrounding property at the
corner of I-75 and M-59 ever since the Detroit Lions left it in 2002.
That led to the recent no-reserve bid auction hosted by Williams & Williams.
A family owned real-estate company based in Toronto came in with the
highest bid of $583,000. The Silverdome was built for $55.7 million in
taxpayer money in 1975.
"We recognized the problem and made the
tough decision to base the sale on reality rather than dreams of higher
sale prices and procrastination," Fred Leeb, the Emergency Financial
Manager for the city of Pontiac said in a press release.
The
80,000-seat stadium and surrounding 127 acres primarily served as the
home for the Lions until the team left for Ford Field in downtown
Detroit. The Pistons also played a few seasons there. Its field also
sported a Super Bowl and World Cup soccer matches.
Source: Williams & Williams
Writer: Jon Zemke
Lincoln Hills Golf Course undergoes renovations
Source: metromode, 11/19/2009
The Lincoln Hills Golf Course is undergoing renovations to its clubhouse in Birmingham.
The golf course is gutting and replacing much of its club house. This includes ripping out and replacing some inner block/brick walls that have suffered significant deterioration.
The
newly renovated building will feature new counters, doors, windows,
roof, decorative fencing along 14 Mile Road, a covered storage area for
carts, landscaping around the building, HVAC system, and updated
restrooms. The parking lot will also be repaved.
The project
began construction last month and will wrap up by March. The golf
course, which is owned and run by the city, is located at 2666 W 14
Mile Road.
Source: City of Birmingham
Writer: Jon Zemke
Downtown Mt. Clemens welcomes new businesses
Source: metromode, 11/19/2009
If small business is the lifeblood of any downtown, then Mt. Clemens has some good pressure in its system these days.
The
Macomb County seat just welcomed two new businesses to its vibrant city
center this month. Madea Lounge is a new nightclub looking to take
advantage of the downtown's booming night life and Detroit Burger
Company plans to go after the established restaurant business.
Madea
Lounge is located at 75 Macomb Place next to the Bath City Bistro. The
contemporary lounge is smoke free and does serve some appetizers.
Detroit Burger Company also opened in a former restaurant space at 39 N
Main.
Source: Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke
Emagine adds moving seats to Metro Detroit theaters
Source: metromode, 11/19/2009
Some viewers at Emagine Entertainment's theaters will be in for a bumpy ride, and that's a good thing.
The
Metro Detroit-based firm is installing new seats in all four of its
theaters (Canton, Novi, Woodhaven and Birch Run) that will move with
the movie to give the viewers a better experience at the cinema. Think
of it as a rollercoaster-style effect for moviegoers.
"It keeps
with our desire to keep at the cutting edge of technology and offering
the best experience possible," says Paul Glantz, president and chairman
of Emagine Entertainment.
About 50 of these seats will be
installed in each theater by Christmas. That will allow some viewers
who pay a small extra charge to use them during the movie.
Source: Paul Glantz, president and chairman of Emagine Entertainment
Writer: Jon Zemke
Detroit Edison upgrades pollution controls at Monroe plant
Source: metromode, 11/19/2009
The Monroe Power Plant is becoming a bit
cleaner these days now that Detroit Edison has installed a new
pollution scrubber in the coal-fired power plant.
This is the
second flue gas desulfurization system installed this year. It reduces
sulfur dioxide emissions by about 97 percent and mercury emissions by
80-90 percent on the plant's No. 3 generating unit. The No 4. unit has
a similar system that went into operation in June. The plant has four
generating units.
Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of Detroit-based DTE Energy,
has also installed other pollution control devices in recent years,
including selective catalytic reduction systems on three of the plant's
generating units to reduce nitrogen oxide output by 90 percent.
The
Monroe facility is the first power plant in Michigan to install both of
these systems. Installation on the remaining generating units is
expected to begin next year. The scrubbers and catalytic reduction
devices are expected to help the plant meet federal and state emission
limits.
Source: DTE Energy
Writer: Jon Zemke
Construction resumes on Upland Green's apt units in Ann Arbor
Source: Concentrate, 11/19/2009
Upland Green is getting ready to open some more apartment living options on the north side of Ann Arbor this winter.
Excerpt:
The
Upland Green project is in much more of a start than a fit these days,
now that work has begun again on the multi-use development on Ann
Arbor's north side.
New investors out of New Jersey have taken
over the project --which has been on-again/off-again since 2004-- with
plans to finish off the residential section by the end of the winter.
Model units should be open by the beginning of the new year, bringing
more life to the Plymouth Road corridor, adjacent to the University of
Michigan's North Campus.
Read the rest of the story here.
EMU teams up with Chevron to make campus more sustainable
Source: Concentrate, 11/19/2009
Who would have thought an oil company would help make Ypsilanti's Eastern Michigan University greener?
Excerpt:
Eastern Michigan University intends to tighten its energy belt by forming a partnership with Chevron Energy Solutions.
The
two will conduct energy audits of the university's 16 buildings. Some
of these buildings are 100 years old or older, but most were built in
the mid-20th Century. Many have gone decades without updating their
infrastructure, if it was upgraded at all.
"We're looking at
more than $30 million in potential savings. And that is just in our
housing buildings," says Steven Moore, energy and sustainability
manager for Eastern Michigan University, a post that was created early
last year. "There is a large potential for energy savings on this
campus."
Read the rest of the story here.
Grand Trunk Pub expanding to neighboring space with Foran's Deluxe Diner
Source: Model D, 11/19/2009
What was once Eph's in downtown Detroit is about to become Foran's Deluxe Diner.
Excerpt:
Fans
of Eph's sandwiches, have no fear: although its current Downtown
location will be transformed into Foran's Deluxe Diner, the deli will
eventually reopen at the Bohemian National House and, in the meantime,
favorites will continue to be available on the new menu. Owner Tim
Tharp, who also is the proprietor of the next-door Grand Trunk Pub,
(formerly called Foran's Irish Pub) says his new spot will focus on
"gourmet comfort food" that is locally sourced. "If it's not from
Michigan, we'd really rather find something else," he says.
To
complement the railroad history exemplified at Grand Trunk Pub, a
former GT ticket office, the diner's decor will be Art Deco. Its metal
facade will remain, with new signage designed and fabricated by Tharp
and local artist Amanda Box. The giant Eph's pickle will not stay, nor
will many of the historic artifacts currently displayed on the walls.
Read the rest of the story here.
Plans for downtown Royal Oak movie theater go public
Source: metromode, 11/12/2009
Plans for a movie theater in downtown
Royal Oak are moving forward after the city's Planning Commission
recommended approving the project Tuesday night. The plans are expected
to go before the Royal Oak City Commission later this fall.
"I
have no question that a well-run, first-class movie theater has a place
in downtown Royal Oak," says Paul Glantz, founder and chairman of Emagine Entertainment.
The plans to build a 2-story, 10-screen theater in the vacant lot on 11 Mile Road behind the Main Art Theatre
have been refined. The 73,000-square-foot building will look like
Emagine Entertainment's theaters in Novi and Canton, clad in brick and
limestone. It will show first-run movies and is not expected to provide
direct competition with an indie-and-foreign movie house like the Main
Art Theatre.
The new cinema's entrance will face the back of the
Main Art Theatre while the section facing 11 Mile will have windows
similar to a traditional storefront but will otherwise be an inactive
space. Traffic will be routed off of 11 Mile around the theater and
then out onto Troy Street.
The $14 million project will house
1,680 seats and a 16-lane bowling alley and bar that are meant to
complement the movie-going experience. There will also be a private
party area/meeting room on a second-floor mezzanine area over the main
entrance. The developer will reconfigure the parking lot between the
Main Art Theatre and the new cinema to accommodate a few more cars
along with landscaping and traffic islands.
The theater is
expected to create 40 new full-time jobs and another 60 part-time
positions. Although smaller than the industry standard for a multiplex
of 18 screens, it is not expected to ever reach full capacity. A study
of comparable theaters show they only reached above 70 percent capacity
five nights a year, mainly on the weekends. The highest daily average
attendance is about 40 percent on Friday evenings and a little over 50
percent on Saturday evenings.
Source: Paul Glantz, founder and chairman of the Emagine Entertainment and city of Royal Oak
Writer: Jon Zemke
Grand Building rises in downtown Farmington
Source: metromode, 11/12/2009
Grand River Avenue in downtown Farmington
is getting a brand new building this fall now that construction is in
full swing on the Grand Building.
Grand Dry Cleaners is building
a 6,300-square-foot structure that will serve as its home on the first
floor. The second floor will house three loft-like apartments. There
will also be one indoor parking space for one of the apartments.
"They have the ability for a loft look with the high ceilings," says Vincent Cataldo, president of St. Clair Shores-based Infuz Limited Architects, the designer of the building.
The
brick-clad building is set to serve as a principal piece of the eastern
entrance to downtown Farmington. Its two tall stories, balconies,
corner entrance, and tower-like features promise to make it one of
downtown's marquee buildings.
"The intent is to bring some energy to that entrance of downtown," Cataldo says.
Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.
Source: Vincent Cataldo, president of Infuz Limited Architects
Writer: Jon Zemke
Westborn Market completes Dearborn store expansion
Source: metromode, 11/12/2009
The Westborn Market in downtown Dearborn is now whole, thanks to a recently completed expansion project.
George
and Janette Anusbigian founded Westborn Market in 1963. It's still in
the neighborhood and now calls 21755 Michigan Ave. home. It expanded to
12,000 square feet in 1983 plus another 8,000 square feet across the
street in 2004.
The latest expansion adds 8,000 square feet to
the main store. The across-the-street annex is closing now that the
lease has run out. From now on, all of the store's functions will be
handled under one roof, including a flower shop and deli counter.
"It's definitely added convenience for their customers," says Margaret Blohm, a spokeswoman for Westborn Market.
Westborn Market has stores in Dearborn, Livonia, and Berkley.
Source: Margaret Blohm, a spokeswoman for Westborn Market
Writer: Jon Zemke
Birmingham looks at redeveloping Kenning Park
Source: metromode, 11/12/2009
A lot of stuff is done at Kenning Park
every day, from youth sports to police sharp shooting. More could be on
the way as Birmingham city officials weigh options for its future use.
City
officials were recently approached by personnel from the local little
league baseball teams and a local school about adding fields to the
21.7-acre park. The park south of Lincoln Street and east of Eaton
Street already houses facilities for soccer, tennis, a police shooting
range, and a skatepark.
Birmingham has issued a request for
proposals from design firms to create a long-term master plan for the
park. That will include a community charrette in the spring to develop a plan next year.
City officials expect to receive proposals for the master plan by December and make a choice on firms by February or March.
Source: Jana Ecker, planning director for the city of Birmingham
Writer: Jon Zemke
Oakland U goes green with new hydration station
Source: metromode, 11/12/2009
Going green could be as easy as offering
people a choice to do so. That's what Oakland University is doing by
adding a hydration station to the mix for its students.
Most of
the time the term 'hydration station' comes across as fancy jargon for
a water fountain. The university replaced one in the Oakland Center
with a water dispenser that makes using a refillable bottle more
convenient and lessens the need to buy bottled water.
"It's designed to refill water bottles quickly," says Richard Fekel, director of the Oakland Center.
The
idea is to encourage more students to carry their own containers
instead of buying disposable plastic ones that too often clog
landfills. While this is the first hydration station on Oakland
University's campus, however, more might be in the future.
"My
guess is this will start a new trend," Fekel says. "We sell a lot of
bottled water on campus so this is just another way for our students to
give back to their environment."
Source: Richard Fekel, director of the Oakland Center
Writer: Jon Zemke
Farmington Hills Parks win environmental award
Source: metromode, 11/12/2009
Farmington Hills green spaces are getting green awards for not going the extra mile to make their grass as green as possible.
The
city's park system and gold club were recognized for their
environmental stewardship by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.
The Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program recognizes
organizations for enhancing wildlife habitats and going above and
beyond environmental compliance.
That could mean preventing
pollutions and protecting waterways by using less fertilizer that
contributes to water run-off pollution and reducing the maintained
areas of the golf course. Other areas of recognition include conserving
energy. For instance, the city received an energy audit of all of its
buildings.
The city also created a new chemical storage room for its golf course,
so spillage is contained in one area. Fertilizer and lawn maintenance
is also limited to areas away from waterways and only done a few times
a year.
"We have very good turf," says Bill Wright, parks supervisor for Farmington Hills. "People are shocked when they hear that."
Only
52 of the 230 properties participating in the Michigan Turfgrass
Environmental Stewardship Program have met the criteria for
certification in Michigan. Farmington Hills is the first municipal park
system to receive it.
Source: Bill Wright, parks supervisor for Farmington Hills
Writer: Jon Zemke
Grosse Pointe reforms downtown zoning for taller buildings
Source: metromode, 11/12/2009
Grosse Pointe is laying the groundwork to make its downtown area denser and more competitive in Metro Detroit.
The
City Council approved zoning changes that will allow for taller
buildings, more density, residential units, and more commercial uses in
the traditionally flat city center. The couple of blocks of downtown
that line Kercheval Street are mainly served by 1-2 story buildings
that feature ground floor retail and office space above.
"The
rules should encourage new development that allows for greater heights,
uses and flexibility in the village," Peter Dame, city manager for
Grosse Pointe, wrote in an email.
The new rules now allow for
residential units above the first floor of a building to encourage more
downtown living. Businesses now may include office space on the back
half of the ground floor of commercial buildings. Retail and
restaurants must still face the street unless offices have already been
grandfathered in.
Developers can now look to build taller
buildings in the center of downtown. Buildings can rise as tall as 52
feet in the center of downtown and taper down to 42 and 35 feet the
father from the center they are. Developers can also make a payment to
the city if they can't provide sufficient on-site parking. The idea is
to make development more economically feasible on smaller land parcels.
Source: Peter Dame, city manager of Grosse Pointe
Writer: Jon Zemke
$10M gift for U-M Law School expansion
Source: Concentrate, 11/12/2009
The lawyers...or rather, the soon-to-be lawyers... are seeing even more money at the University of Michigan's Law School, by way of big renovations.
Excerpt:
The
University of Michigan's Law School scored a big win last week when a
benefactor made a $10 million donation toward its $102 million
renovation/expansion project.
The university's Law School is midway through the project that will renovate parts of the famed Law Quad
and add another 4-story building next to it on the surface parking lot
on Monroe Street next to Dominick's. The university plans to put that
stretch of Monroe on a vacation, which means it will become pedestrian-only. That project is expected to wrap up by 2012.
Read the rest of the story here.
Dominick's looks to expand retail options in Ann Arbor
Source: Concentrate, 11/12/2009
Dominick's in Ann Arbor is about to get bigger and better, but will maintain its charm.
Excerpt:
The light is green over at Casa Dominick's these days now that the city has signed off on its planned-unit-development plans.
The signature bar and eatery next to the University of Michigan's Law Quad
is looking at turning the property that houses the business and two
adjacent houses that serve as student rentals into a restaurant,
residential apartments, offices, and one or more bed and breakfasts.
Read the rest of the story here.
Retail wine shop and tasting bar headed to Woodward
Source: Model D, 11/12/2009
The Woodward corridor in Detroit is about to become tastier with its latest wine business.
Excerpt:
David
Armin-Parcells, armed with 18 years of experience in the wine business,
had a hunch that Greater Downtown residents were hungry for some good
grape. His stint managing Zaccaro's, where he handled beer and wine
orders, proved the hypothesis. "It was the most successful department
there," he says. "This gave me some hard numbers."
Bolstered by the facts, Armin-Parcells will open Motor City Wine
at 608 Woodward's second floor suite. His wine shop and tasting bar
will be located above what is currently Eph's (but will soon be Foran's
Deluxe Diner -- more on that in a future issue) with a separate front
entrance. The space will seat approximately 45, with some two-tops as
well as a large community table. The north wall will be lined with
product shelved in hanging wooden wine crates -- approximately 120
different varieties of wine will be stocked -- as well as rotating
works of art.
Read the rest of the story here.