Entries by Tracy Willis

Mortgage Companies Expecting Leaner Year in 2022

The year 2022 promises to be a leaner year from mortgage companies. The mortgage industry rebounded in 2020 and 2021, propelled by rock-bottom interest rates and consumer demand. In 2022, things are changing. Mortgage rates increased to a level not seen since December 2018. The average 30-year-loan increased from 4.42 percent last week to 4.67 […]

United Artists Theater Building Rehab Begins

The Bagley Development Group has begun its redevelopment of the Ilitch-owned, 18-story United Artists Theater Building at 150 Bagley St.  The property is being transformed into a 148-unit residential building called Residences @150 Bagley. It is scheduled to open in late 2023. Twenty percent of the new apartments will be offered at below-market rents for […]

Downtown Royal Oak Main Art Theatre’s Days May Be Numbered

The 80-year-old Main Art Theatre in downtown Royal Oak could soon be demolished. An A.F. Jonna Development LLC affiliate has submitted plans to tear down the theater and replace it with a 5-story mixed-use building. The developer will appear before the Planning Commission on April 12 to present plans for a new 71-foot building that […]

Utility Companies Seek Land For Solar Farms

Michigan utility companies are securing real estate to expand their solar energy generation capabilities as consumer demand accelerates. DTE Energy Co. needs 20,000 to 35,000 acres of southern-facing flat land to erect solar arrays over the next 10-15 years. Consumers Energy Co. currently generates 40 megawatts of electricity from solar and plans to be at […]

The Mall at Partridge Creek Faces Receivership Sale

The Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township is facing new ownership. Its current owner, Florida-based Starwood Capital Groups, is struggling to make debt payments. The timeframe for the sale is unknown, and the company has declined comment. Starwood bought both Fairlane and the Mall at Partridge Creek in 2014. They’ve fallen into receivership and […]

Downtown Detroit’s Office Workers Slow To Return

Although downtown Detroit’s housing market and visitors bounced back from the COVID slump of 2020, Detroit still has a ways to go to reach pre-pandemic activity. According to the Downtown Detroit Partnership, the number of downtown office workers is still drastically reduced as a result of the pandemic.  In 2019, the median number of workers […]

Spring Homebuying Season Accelerates

The metro Detroit housing market is off and running in the spring homebuying season. Redfin is reporting that almost 3/4 of homes on the market in metro Detroit are receiving multiple offers. Buyers are offering well above list price, free occupancy for sellers who are waiting for their next home purchase, and appraisal guarantees. Some […]

28th Street Mega Mall Site Repurposed as B2 Bargain Bin

The 28th Street Mega Mall site will once again welcome customers. B2 Outlet stores has transformed the site into a B2 Bargain Bins location. They’ve updated the 76,000-square-foot space to include new walls, restrooms and polished concrete floors. The new store will open on Tuesday.  The concept of B2 Bargain Bins is different than the […]

Madewell Retailer To Close in Downtown Detroit

Women’s apparel retailer Madewell is permanently closing its story in downtown Detroit. The 1426 Woodward Avenue location will close on March 27.  Madewell is a brand owned by J. Crew Group, which underwent a Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy in May 2020.  After the Detroit store closes, Madeell will still have three locations in Michigan, including […]