Michigan Real Estate News

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Grand Rapids Property Developer Receives Tax Incentives

Chicago-based 3F Properties has received $3.6 million in tax incentives to transform a 3-story vacant industrial building into 173 market-rate apartments. The property is located along Market Avenue SW and will include studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom units. The Grand Rapids development will rent apartments ranging from $975 to $1700.  The project also received a 10-year Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act incentive valued at $2.9 million.

 

 

Weekly Brief – March 22

For your consideration this week:
  1. The death of malls, which I have been discussing all year, has another casualty this week. A receiver will be taking over Partridge Creek Mall in Macomb County. A sale by its lender is likley. The Mall has no anchors and a rotating cast of dining tenants. As discussed previously (perhaps too much), malls are in a death spiral initially caused by online retail but accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. The pandemic claims a major hospitality casualty in Detroit. The Westin Book Cadillac, once the image of Detroit’s resurgence, is headed for foreclosure due to a lack of customers. I expect we may see more hotel failures as we continue the path to normalcy. We recently saw plans for a brand new hotel converting to senior living.
  3. The reinvigoration of Detroit’s neighborhoods continues with a plan for the East Warren/Cadieux area being unveiled. Like many plans in Detroit, investment from the public sector and quasi-public sector anchors the plan. We will know Detroit’s neighborhoods are truly back when private sector investment drives redevelopment.

Times are Changing for U.S. Malls

U.S. malls are reeling as restaurant and retail tenants struggle to stay open for business.  Coresight Research data predicts that a quarter of U.S. malls could close over the next 3 to 5 years. Simon Property Group, America’s biggest mall owner, said that its 2020 fourth-quarter revenue dropped by 24%. However, experts think the Simon Property Group does not stand to be the biggest loser as its more distressed competitors will close their doors. Simon expects to see gains from its new additions of hotels and luxury residences.