Archive for category: Detroit

You are here: Home / News / Detroit

The Future of Office Space is Changing

/in , /by

There has been big movement in office space leasing. The Bank of America building in Troy will no longer house the Bank of America! Deloitte consulting firm confirmed its plans to leave the Renaissance Center. GM’s COVID-era “work appropriately” policy has contributed to the Ren Cen’s quieter-than-usual atmosphere. With Deloitte’s departure, the Renaissance Center will be only 53.5 percent leased. Businesses continue to adapt with post-pandemic in-person work plans.

 

 

Packard Plant Owner Misses Demo Permit Deadline

/in /by

Fernando Palazuelo, owner of the Packard Plant, missed a court deadline on Thursday. He needed to apply for a demolition permit to allow the city of Detroit to demo the property and bill him for it. The city is considering its next steps. Wayne County Circuit Judge Brian Sullivan declared the Packard Plant a public nuisance on March 31 and ordered Palazuelo’s company Arte Express Detroit to apply for a demo permit within 21 days. The judge’s order allowed the city to hire contractors to proceed with the demo work at Palazuelo’s expense if deadlines were missed.

Office Space Continues Its Radical Metamorphosis

/in , /by

Detroit consulting firm Deloitte confirmed that it’s vacating the Renaissance Center for a 35,000 square foot WeWork space at 1001 Woodward Avenue. GM’s COVID-era policy, along with Deloitte’s departure will increase challenges for the Renaissance Center, a building that’s only 53.5 percent leased. Troy’s Bank of America is giving up its regional headquarters and relocating employees to locations in Bloomfield Hills, Auburn Hills and Farmington Hills. The headquarters’ prominence, location and amenities may interest prospective tenants.

Coalition Suggests Ways For Overtax Paybacks

/in /by

The Coalition for Property Tax Justice released a report outlining a series of ideas for ways the city could compensate overtaxed homeowners. It included survey results from more than 200 Detroiters. Ideas included property tax credits, Section 8 rental vouchers, home repair grants, Detroit Land Bank Authority’s rehabbed homes, and as-is Land Bank homes paired with home repair grants or cash payments. Although cash payments to overtaxed homeowners was a main focus, Detroit’s top attorney has indicated that the city cannot use general fund monies to compensate individuals. State law prohibits direct support from the general fund for private purposes.

 

 

Detroit Home Buyers More Practical As Home Prices Increase

/in , /by

According to Jeanette Schneider, RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan president, homebuyers are becoming realistic. They’re less likely to waste time looking at homes that do not address their needs. This shift is in contrast to last year when buyers were willing to take what was available out of fear of not getting a house.  Inventory is still limited and prices continue to rise. March’s median sales price was up 10.7 percent from last year. However, the increase is lower than the previous year. The number of sales fell in March by 8.7 percent, but pending sales were up 2.3 percent.

 

 

Rehabbed & Ready Program Restores and Refurbishes Detroit Properties

/in , /by

Detroit Land Bank Authority’s Rehabbed & Ready program has refurbished residential properties across Detroit neighborhoods. They typically gut the homes, put thousands of dollars worth of work into them (including new electrical, plumbing, windows and landscaping) and sell them to new buyers. The Land Bank took a loss on some of the homes that had fire damage or asbestos issues, but the home sales lifted the neighborhoods’ home prices. The Land Bank’s goal is to restore existing value into homes. The program has sold nearly 100 homes since 2015 and is expanding over the next three years to restore an additional 200 houses. The goal will continue to be adding residences and raising property values.

 

 

Judge Orders Packard Plant Demolition

/in , /by

A Wayne County Circuit Judge has ordered the Packard Plant owner Fernando Palazuelo to immediately demolish the deteriorating industrial site and foot the cost of the demolition after missing a trial date. The Peruvian developer and his attorney missed a March 24 trial date. The structures that sit on two 2-acre sites are dangerous and threaten the public’s welfare. The demolition could cost millions of dollars and has been ordered to begin by early June. It’s required to be completed by the end of June. Palazuelo has until April 21 to pull permits for demolition of his portions of the plant.

 

Former Rock Venue Listed For Sale

/in , /by

Detroit’s former leading rock hall is for sale. The Grande Ballroom at 8952 Grand River has been listed for $5 million. It’s currently owned by Chapel Hill Missionary Baptist Church. In its glory days, the building hosted touring guests like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Who, along with Michigan acts like the Frost, and MC5. The Grande is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and that status may offer a financial windfall to its developer due to the State Historic Tax Credit Program.

 

Skilled Labor Shortage Complicates Construction Projects

/in , /by

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was not enough skilled labor to meet construction demands. That’s even more true now that development has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels in metro Detroit.  According to metro Detroit’s largest general contractors, that means less skill on job sites.  That, along with continuing supply chain and inflation issues, is causing project managers to scramble to meet demands. The number of Michigan construction workers has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, but it’s still down almost 20% from 20 years ago. The number is not growing fast enough to meet the increasing demand. It’s anticipated that skill trades will account for 47,000 annual job openings through 2026.

 

 

 

United Artists Theater Building Rehab Begins

/in /by

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 qualified tenants. It will also include about 10,000 square feet retail space on the ground floor.