Lofts at Willow Tree prepares for work in Wyandotte

metromode, 7/23/2009

Upper story lofts will be appearing soon in downtown Wyandotte, with the Lofts at Willow Tree staking out a place at the front of the line.

Gilbert "Gib" Rose plans to build the four-loft development above his Willow Tree Women's Fashions store at 3000 Biddle. The apartments will go on the 3,800-square-foot second floor, which was occupied by a salon until last year. It has been vacant ever since.

"There is just very little demand for second-floor commercial space in small downtowns," Rose says. "There is significant demand for residential space."

The deal hinges on the city passing a special Neighborhood Enterprise Zone tax break for the downtown. The NEZ would allow landlords like Rose to redevelop vacant second-floor-and-above space in commercial buildings into apartments without seeing their taxes go up.

Rose hopes to build four apartments, including a couple of two-bedroom lofts and two single-room lofts. Work is expected to begin after the NEZ is passed, which could be as soon as August.

Source: Gilbert "Gib" Rose, developer of the Lofts at Willow Tree
Writer: Jon Zemke

Downtown Living , Redevelopment , Wayne County

Wyandotte