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Judge Orders Packard Plant Demolition

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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.

 

Skilled Labor Shortage Complicates Construction Projects

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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.

 

 

 

Old GM Stamping Plant Site Purchased By Real Estate Developer

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Franklin Partners has purchased the old GM stamping plant site in Wyoming. The real estate development firm plans to use the 74-acre site for industrial development. The manufacturing plants will range in size from 150,000 to 1 million square feet.  They purchased the site from the city of Wyoming for $5.25 million. According to Wyoming City Manager, Curtis Holt, the property has tremendous potential for manufacturers.

Asphalt Specialists Appeals to City Officials

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Asphalt Specialists, Inc. wants Detroit’s Board of Zoning Appeals to allow construction of an asphalt mixing facility on Detroit’s northwest side. The project had faced opposition from community members and had been rejected by Detroit’s Buildings, Safety, Engineering and Environmental Department late last year. They are proposing a 25-acre facility in an area already zoned for intensive industrial use. The site would have 50-feet-high silos for mixing and storing raw aggregate like gravel and asphalt. The proposal was rejected due to concerns about its proximity to residential neighborhoods.

 

 

Google Joins Ford as Founding Member of Michigan Central

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Technology giant Google announced on Friday that it will be part of the mobility district at the former Michigan Central Depot in Corktown. Ford has emphasized that the campus will be a collaborative district where other companies will work on mobility products and services. Google’s involvement will focus on workforce development for local high school students and job seekers. It will also provide cloud technology for Michigan Central’s mobility projects, including a new Code Next Lab to teach computer science to high school students. Google is also partnering with local nonprofits to offer a career 3-6 month certification designed to equip participants with skills for in-demand fields. Ford will recognize the certificate and consider program graduates for jobs.

 

 

 

 

Bedrock CEO Shares Ways to Attract Innovative Talent to Detroit

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According to Bedrock CEO, Kofi Bonner, Bedrock has an opportunity to grow a globally significant innovation district in the heart of Detroit. The Detroit area has the land, talent and necessary capital to sustain growth. Bonner cites advantages in next generation technologies that impact mobility, defense, clean energy, cybersecurity, fin tech, agricultural science and life science sectors. Over the last ten years, Rocket Companies and other finance and technology companies distributed throughout the Bedrock portfolio have completed the first phase of a “business-led” downtown district. The next growth phase will emphasize attracting special units of higher education, advanced global research institutions and technology labs, as well as contain programming to build close relations between scientists, companies and startups.

 

 

 

Posh Storage Units Coming to Petoskey and Charlevoix

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Petoskey and Charlevoix are gaining new high-end and climate-controlled storage units. Developer Aston Clark is building the Toy Box Luxury Storage Units. The warehouses will be between U.S. 31, between Petoskey and Charlevoix. Each unit will have heat and air conditioning, a bathroom, a kitchen, loft  and balcony with views of the lake. The 2,300 square foot units will be available starting May 4.  According to the Michigan Self-Storage Association, the demand has gone up for storage in Northern Michigan.

Charlevoix’s New Ordinance Inhibits Blight

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Charlevoix City Council has approved a property maintenance code to address declining properties before they reach blight status. The international Property Maintenance Code Ordinance is designed to supplement the Dangerous Buildings Ordinance.  According to zoning administrator Jonathan Scheel, the city didn’t have any type of property maintenance code to prevent a building from becoming dilapidated. The new code will give the city the ability to intervene and require deteriorating structures to be corrected before they become unfixable issues.

 

 

Former GM Transmission Plant to be Redeveloped

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NorthPoint Development, the owner of the former General Motors Transmission plant in Warren has a $180 million plan to redevelop the site. The plan is expected to bring 1.4 million-square feet of new industrial space, as well as 600 jobs. According to Warren Mayor James Fouts, the development is a good idea for the city. The company will house multiple tenants on the site. It will make improvements to parking, green space and storm water management. Site jobs will pay at least $15 per hour. This project is just one of many that NorthPoint Development has underway in the Detroit area.

 

 

 

 

Classic Transportation & Warehousing Plans Expansion

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Classic Transportation & Warehousing is construction a new 172,000-square-foot warehouse and third-party logistics facility near Wayland.  The employee-owned firm will spend over $8.4 million. The move is expected to create 6-12 jobs. Leighton Township supports the project and has approved a 12-year industrial facilities tax exemption. Rod Cooper, president and CEO of the company, said the company’s employee owners are pleased with the expansion.