Property Types

U of D to Redevelop City of Detroit Rec Center

The University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy has purchased the former city of Detroit recreation center and park in northwest Detroit. The 12.5-acre property was purchased in February 2020 for $625,000. As part of the sale agreement, the school will open the renovated center for community meetings and classes, as well as kids’ camps. The all-boys Catholic high school has raised $6.2 million toward the $7.5 million needed for redevelopment. The project will more than double the size of the school’s campus. Renovations on the rec center are expected to be completed by this fall

Detroit Coworking Locations Adapt Post-Pandemic

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous coworking spaces were opening or planned in Detroit. While the growth appears to have slowed post-pandemic, and several locations have permanently closed, there are still new coworking locations planned in Detroit.  There are currently about a dozen coworking sites open in the city, with a few more planned in the near future. Some of the new sites are planned for areas outside of the core downtown area.

Mall Properties Transition to the Untraditional

With mall vacancy rate across the U.S. setting new records, it’s no surprise that malls are standing empty or being repurposed. Two new occupants of the Lakeview Mall in Battle Creek are doing just that. A climate-controlled self-storage developer bought the former Macy’s and plans to rent storage units, reachable by an indoor drive-through, and Horrocks Farm Market will move from downtown Battle Creek into the former JC Penney store. This represents the current trend for mall properties. Development experts look toward transitioning these large retail properties into housing, entertainment venues, medical facilities and other non-traditional mall tenants.

Westin Book Cadillac Penthouse Condo Sets a New Record for Detroit

A Westin Book Cadillac penthouse sold for $3.537 million. The penthouse sits atop the 31-story high-rise hotel in downtown Detroit. The deed was recorded in Wayne County in December. The sale came at a time when the downtown Detroit condo market was oversaturated. Previously, the most expensive Detroit condo sale was recorded at about $1.8 million in 2017. Incidentally, that condo is also in the Westin Book Cadillac.

Midtown Development’s Tax Credits Expire

The Mid development in Midtown is headed toward a financial loss. The developer is still trying to get the project off the ground. Almost $9 million in Michigan Business Tax brownfield tax credits expired on Thursday, June 10, 2021. The 10-year expiration looms because the development team has not built the promised seven stories of one of its proposed buildings by June 10, 2021. The Michigan Business Tax statute requires projects to be completed within 10 years of the pre-approval letter.

Former Site of Detroit Country Day School Purchased

The historic former Detroit Country Day School building has sold. The 38,500-square-foot building has sold to JCJ Development LLC which is registered to Jordan Jonna. JCJ Development will convert the original school building into a residence. In 2017, Detroit Country Day announced a $30 million campus expansion and vacated the building. The building received a $2.9 million purchase offer from the Troy-based Kensington Church in 2019. The church withdrew its offer after community protest.