Port Authority Raises Concerns Over Boblo Building Destruction

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Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority alleges that the Ambassador Port Co. is not taking the appropriate steps toward demolishing the Boblo building. According to the port authority’s law firm, Ambassador Port is acting in violation of its Master Concession Agreement with DWCPA.  The razing of the Boblo building is included in a pending deal between the two parties. The agreement would end the Master Concession Agreement, and Ambassador Port would gain ownership of the dock site from the port authority. In exchange, it would pay $1 million outright, waive the authority’s $2 million debt, and pay $2 million in blight removal and cleanup work. The deal requires Detroit City Council approval to move forward. The possibility of the building’s destruction before the pending deal is finalized is concerning to the port authority.

Landmark Trees To Be Cut For Ann Arbor Subdivision

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In an 8-3 vote, Ann Arbor City Council has agreed to the controversial Concord Pines development. National homebuilder, Toll Brothers, will cut down hundreds of landmark trees to develop a 57-home luxury subdivision. Some argue that the development is not in keeping with Ann Arbor’s sustainability goals. The 30+ acre site includes land owned by Concordia University. Out of 447 landmark trees, 311 will be cut down, as well as 450 of the 741 low-level woodland trees.

Fairlane Town Center and The Mall at Partridge Creek Change Management

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Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn and The Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township are now being managed by Syracuse, N.Y.-based Spinoso Real Estate Group LLC. Spinoso is marketing the two malls for lease. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Partridge Creek was under financial stress when Starwood Capital Partners defaulted on a $725 million loan that included the shopping center and three other mall properties in Michigan. It recently entered receivership. Fairlane Town Center entered receivership last year.

Inadequate Housing Plagues Detroiters

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A new report from the University of Michigan estimates that 90,000 Detroiters live in inadequate housing. The study found that residents of color, rental tenants, people with children and those who earn less than $60,000 annually are impacted the most. The study considers housing inadequate if it has major problems with electrical needs, furnace or heating problems, or a lack of hot or running water. 81% of survey respondents had at least one problem with their home condition.  The greatest complaints included concerns about plumbing, pests, and crumbling porches.

Riverfront Hotel Plans Pivot to Apartment Development

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The Detroit-based City Growth Partners LLC has scrapped its plans for boutique hotel rooms in a Detroit riverfront development. The $136 million vision for the property now includes 478 apartments instead of an original 360 apartments and 120 boutique hotel rooms. The revised number of apartments will make it one of the largest new multifamily projects in Detroit. The development will still include retail space. The Detroit Economic Growth Corp. board will have to sign off on the changes to the development plan because it is publicly-owned land. The changes have yet to be presented to the board.

Self-Storage Real Estate Sector Is On Fire

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The self-storage industry has rebounded from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As people make room in their homes for remote job environments, the home sales market drives an increase in storage needs. Restaurants and offices look for places to stash extra furniture to accommodate social distancing needs. The demand for self-storage is high. With self-storage vacancies down, the rent is also high. However, the self-storage market may be hitting a saturation point. Experts raise concerns about whether Detroit’s population can support an overbuilt self-storage market.

Development Team Buys Auburn Hills and Canton Township Sites

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The development team of Farmington Hills-based Friedman Real Estate and Southfield-based General Development Co. has bought 40 acres of land in Auburn Hills for $3.7 million and 18 more acres in Canton Township for an undisclosed price. This is the same team behind the Oakland Technology Park in Auburn Hills. The team plans to build about 740,000 square feet of new build-to-suit space with 390,000 square feet in Auburn Hills and 350,000 square feet in Canton. The Auburn Hills site is at the former site of the Oakland County Animal Control. The Canton site is in the Canton Industrial Park south of I-275 and east of Warren Road.

 

Detroit Metro Municipalities Flip to Renter Communities

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Inkster, Pontiac and Auburn Hills were once communities where the majority of residents were homeowners. According to U.S. census data, analyzed by the apartment search website RENTCafé,  the municipalities have shifted to become majority-renter communities. Port Huron and Hazel Park are close to having more renters than homeowners, too. The changes occurred in each city as foreclosures jumped and home values dropped. The increase in suburban rentals may be because people are delaying home purchases.

Troy Property Sells for $34 Million

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A Baltimore buyer, the Continental Realty Corp., has purchased Oakland Center and Oakland Square for $34 million. The property at 14 Mile and John R roads is across from Oakland Mall. It totals 392,000 square feet and is 87% leased by tenants that include TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Kohl’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, DSW, Michaels and Planet Fitness.

Michigan Renters & Landlords Still Wait For Relief

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Nearly two-thirds of metro Detroit residents are still behind on their rent or mortgage, despite the millions of dollars in federal funds that have been sent to provide relief. Many face eviction or foreclosure in the next two months. Michigan allocated $425 million through the end of September through the COVID Emergency Rental Assistance program. Thousands of people are still looking for aid. According to a census survey, 64 percent of metro Detroit residents are not current on payments for their homes.