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Amazon to Add Four New Michigan Sites

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Amazon will add four new sites in 2022 and 2023. The announcement is expected on Wednesday. It will open its first mid-Michigan fulfillment center and three more facilities in the Metro Detroit and Grand Rapids areas. The new sites include a 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center just west of Lansing, a sort center and delivery station in the Grand Rapids area, and a delivery station in Canton Township. Amazon has created more than 21,000 jobs in Michigan so far. With the new site in the Lansing area, the company expects to create more than 500 full-time jobs. The other centers will create hundreds of jobs, as well.

Automotive Country Club Heading to Howell

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A father and son duo plan to bring a multimillion-dollar automotive country club and garage development to a 270 acre site owned by the city of Howell. Motorsports Gateway includes 67 private garage suite units and a 2.2 mile European-inspired road course. Previously the duo owned JD Racing Indoor Karting in Novi but sold it in January. The first phase of Motorsports Gateway includes the track, garage suites, a pit lane clubhouse and amenities, and a $65 million price tag. Groundbreaking should take place next summer, and phase one should be completed by the end of 2025. Phase two calls for an auto innovation park and mixed-use construction that will cost an additional $35 million.

 

New York Company Steps Up for Dearborn Hotel

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An unidentified New York-based company is under contract to buy the former Dearborn Hyatt Regency hotel from the U.S. Marshals Service. Previously, the property was under a $27 million deal that envisioned top-floor condominiums and a hotel on the bottom floors. That deal fell through with the buyer backing out at the end of the inspection period. The current deal is for $17 million. A broker for the sale disputes that figure. The company intends to redevelop the hotel into a mix of 375 market-rate apartments and a small hotel.

Detroit Area Hotel Business Travel Takes a Hit

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Detroit area hotels’ business travel revenue is taking a hit. It’s expected to be 2/3 lower than pre-pandemic levels. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the region’s hotels are expected to generate $187 million this year. That’s a 67.4% drop. Michigan hotels are expected to lose 59.8% of their business travel revenue this year. Nationally, hotels could be down by more than $59 billion by the end of the year in business travel. A rebound isn’t projected until 2024.

Reusing Old Mall Sites Takes a Creative Turn

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Redeveloping dead shopping mall sites in the metro Detroit area isn’t about attracting the big box stores. The hottest concepts for reusing old mall sites include warehouses, distribution centers, storage units and middle-income housing. For example, Livonia and Wonderland mall sites have become Livonia Marketplace and Wonderland Village. Experts say that retail-focused approaches are less effective now due to the prevalence of online shopping.

 

 

Headquarters Property Slated For New Ownership

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The former Art Van headquarters property in Warren is soon to be under new ownership. Montreal company Groupe Quint is expected to close on the purchase of more than 1 million square feet of space in the next couple of weeks. Most recently occupied by Loves Furniture, Inc., it had been listed for $65 million this winter. The current price is undisclosed. The property is located at 6500 E. 14 Mile Rd. in Warren.

Vacancy Increases in Detroit’s Prime Office Buildings

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There’s an increase in vacancy rates in Detroit’s prime office buildings in 2021. According to a new report from the Chicago-based brokerage house JLL, there’s a 10.2% vacancy rate totaling more than 10.9 million square feet. That’s an increase from a 7.7% vacancy rate in 2019 and just under 9% in 2020. Rent also dropped 0.4%. Although 21 downtown prime office buildings comprise the vacant real estate, the Renaissance Center accounts for almost 45% of all the vacant space.

Former Big Boy Restaurant to be Home to New Tapper’s Jewelry

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Tapper’s Jewelry has submitted plans to the city of Novi for a new showroom at the site of the former Big Boy restaurant at the northeast corner of Eight Mile and Haggerty roads. The plans include demolition of the restaurant building and constructing a more than 8,000-square-foot building. Trees would also be added to the property. The Novi commissioner has recommended approval of the plans, sending them forward to the city council. Hinging on the proper approvals, the company could begin construction in October of 2021.

Eastland Center Mall Gasps Its Last Breaths

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Eastland Center shopping mall is expected to close early next year. Its demolition will make way for a warehouse. The 1-million-square-foot mall is down to 10% occupancy. Its anchor department store have been closed for years. With the mall owner’s June announcement that it is selling the property to NorthPoint Development of Kansas City, Missouri, more Eastland tenants have packed up and closed their doors. NorthPoint will most likely keep the mall open through the holidays and then close it in January. Demolition could begin as early as February.

 

Northville Downs Discussion is Back on the Table

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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 the increased population and traffic density the original plans would’ve created. Hunter Pasteur representatives held feedback sessions with Northville residents to gain an understanding of what residents would like to see (or not) if the property was developed. After pandemic-related delays and community feedback sessions, Hunter Pasteur has revised its original plans.