Entries by Tracy Willis

Metro Detroit Home Purchases Decline

According to data from RE/MAX, home purchases in metro Detroit had the fourth largest decline in the country. RE/MAX surveyed metro areas, and Detroit had a 19.6 percent decrease in closed homes in July. Factors that likely contributed to the decline include Michigan’s coronavirus-related lockdown that lifted in June last year, creating a backlog of […]

High-Rise Towers Planned for Ann Arbor Lot

The Ann Arbor Housing Commission is finalizing plans that call for a 20-story tower and a 14-story tower buildings. The city is leveraging new tax revenues to build affordable housing that could fund 1,500 new units over the next 20 years. The city’s plans include 370 housing units with a little less than half of […]

Northville Downs Discussion is Back on the Table

Hunter Pasteur Homes, Forbes Company, Toll Brothers and Oboran have submitted a conceptual presentation for an August 30 virtual meeting with the Northville Planning Commission. Hunter Pasteur is renewing its efforts to purchase the Northville Downs harness horse-racing facility and surrounding parking lots after a two-year hiatus. In the past, Northville residents were resistant to […]

Biden’s Eviction Ban Policy Heads to the Supreme Court

The replacement evictions moratorium will stay in place for now, according to the federal appeals court. A spokesman for the National Association of Realtors is confident that the Supreme Court will block the policy. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention imposed the evictions moratorium on August 3 in counties where Covid-19 is accelerating. Currently, […]

Luxury In The Forecast For Muskegon

Thirty acres of Muskegon waterfront property are slated for a $250 million redevelopment project that includes luxury condos, a marina, restaurant, event space and expanded public trails. Adelaide Pointe QOZB LLC revealed the details of their plans for the Adelaide Point project to city officials and environmental advocates. The developer began acquiring the properties in […]

Cannabis Retailer Opens in Coldwater

Skymint Inc., Michigan’s largest cannabis retailer, opened its 15th store in half of a vacant department store in Coldwater. According to the company’s president of retail, bigger spaces like the former Sears building are appealing because it gives the store a big blank canvas with which to work. The artsy, boutique-vibed store offers 60 cannabis […]

Detroit’s Condo Market Picks Up

Earlier this year, Detroit’s condominium market had 11 months of inventory. Now, it’s down to 7.6 months of inventory, ranging from downtown to areas east, north and west. That promises a healthy supply and demand, albeit probably short-lived. The rising costs of building materials, as much as 50 percent, are driving construction costs up and […]

MDOT Discusses Plans for Detroit’s Amtrak Site

In February, the Michigan Department of Transportation met with developers to discuss Detroit’s Amtrak site. They want to build a new intermodal transportation facility on the site, with a mix of transit uses like passenger rail and bus, and maybe even residential and retail. MDOT is exploring private development on the property in an effort […]

Township Board Defies Planning Commission Recommendation

The Huron Township board has rebelled. Detroit-based Sterling Group and Texas-based Hillwood Enterprises LP is constructing new warehouse and distribution space totaling 1.27 million square feet for Amazon.com Inc. Now, they want an amendment to the township’s zoning rules to be allowed to build another distribution center for Home Depot, totaling 450,000 square feet. The […]

Eviction Moratorium Extension Causes Angst

Metro Detroit landlords continue to wrestle with the eviction moratorium extension. Some have drained their savings and maxed out credit cards to cover costs on their rental properties. The eviction moratorium had recently ended, only to be extended again until October 3. Tenants who face eviction often lose everything when their belongings are disposed of. […]