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Vacant Farmington Hills Property Flip Flops…Again

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The property at 30250 Grand River Avenue in Farmington Hills will flip flop, once again. Formerly an auto dealership, the property most recently housed a school, Steppingstone School for gifted children. The school moved on in 2018, leaving the building empty. A Farmington Hills developer will revive the property and bring it back to its auto dealership days. However, the lot will be used for online sales instead of in-person sales. The city needs to approve the site plan since the use is once again changing.

Michigan Legislature May Nix Short-Term Rental Laws

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Bills in the Michigan legislature that have bipartisan support would nix local laws that ban or limit short-term rentals through zoning. The bills are controversial and have garnered heated debate. Proponents like Airbnb, realtors, and lawmakers from both parties say the proposed changes to state law are about personal property rights and do not prevent cities from regulating short-term rentals. Opponents, which include leaders from cities all over the state and hoteliers, say they do not support an outright ban on short-term rentals. They feel that local leaders should have the power to decide what rules are most effective for their communities.

Islandview Apartment Development to Occupy Former High School Site

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Construction will begin soon on the first part of a mixed-use development at the site of the former Eastern High School in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood. The first phase is a joint venture between nonprofits GenesisHOPE Community Development Corp. and Lansing-based Cinnaire Solutions. The $10 million first phase will have 30 townhomes, a pair of pocket parks, a playground and a community garden. Rents for the two- and three-bedroom units in the first phase are between $769 and $1,083 per month. The second phase, which carries $10.2 million price tag, will include 30 more residential units and 3,000 feet of commercial space.

Investors Continue to Bet on Commercial Real Estate

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A year after the start of the pandemic, high-rise office buildings are near vacant, one of every two hotel rooms is unoccupied, and malls continue to struggle. However, by most measures, the U.S. commercial real-estate market is in solid shape. Prices are already rising again, and the number of foreclosures barely increased. The federal government’s efforts to support the economy protected landlords from steep losses. The support won’t last indefinitely, and investors may be in for a rude awakening when it begins to wane.

 

 

Developers Adding to Auburn Hills Business District

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Developers are building about 400 new apartments and nearly 50,000 square feet of office, restaurant, retail and commercial space. The main business district has about $55 million in new buildings that are under construction or recently completed. Interest in increasing more foot traffic and growing a walkable community are driving the developments. The hope is that by providing more residential housing options, people will realize the benefits of living in Auburn Hills.

Lobbyists Push to Ease Gravel Mining Restrictions

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Gravel miners and other business groups are pushing to make it easier to open sand and gravel mines in residential areas. Senate Minority Leader, Jim Ananich, is sponsoring a package of bills that a senate committee will consider on Thursday. The bills would take the approval of gravel mining permits away from local governments and give it to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). Critics say this would result in the dust and noise of gravel operations coming to many Michigan residential neighborhoods.

Bedrock Purchases Stroh River Place Property

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Bedrock LLC finalized the purchase of the Stroh River Place property from The Stroh Companies, Inc. The 500,000-square-foot building sits in the Rivertown Warehouse District, east of downtown Detroit. The purchase includes 735 parking spaces and 4.4 acres of undeveloped land. The property sits along the 3.5-mile Detroit Riverwalk and is the company’s second purchase outside of downtown Detroit. The site used to be a manufacturing and research facility. The Stroh Brewery Company purchased the building in 1979 and renovated it.

Building Permit Application Lets The Cat Out Of The Bag

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Because of a building permit application, the Apple Developer Academy’s future site is finally public knowledge.  The Apple Developer Academy is going into the 850,000 square foot National Building in downtown Detroit. It will be located on the second and third floors of the building. Based on permit cost, construction is estimated to be $1.41 million. The program will cover coding, design and entrepreneurship.

Development Proposed For St. Vincent & Sarah Fisher Property

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The history St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher property in Farmington Hills may soon be repurposed into a two-story, 140-bed nursing facility and 3 three-story multi-family apartment buildings. Novi-based Optalis Healthcare would keep the existing administration building and one of the other smaller buildings. It would also leave 7.5 acres of open space on the property. Nearby residents have voiced concerns that the three-story apartment buildings would clash with the nearby residential areas. The site has been vacant since 2005.

Tourist Destination Struggles to Maintain Workforce

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A vibrant tourist destination, small town Charlevoix is struggling to recruit workers. Upward pressure on rent and home prices is scaring workers off who can’t find affordable year-round housing. The two hardest hit groups are workers who make less than $26,000 a year and professionals who make between $70,000-$100,000 a year. Rentals are scarce, as are affordable homes for sale. Recent efforts to convert part of a golf course into affordable year-round housing was voted down by residents.