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Jefferson-Chalmers Neighborhood Now Part of FEMA Flood Plain

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The Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood has been prone to flooding for years. The neighborhood is bordered by Clairpointe Street, Jefferson Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park, and the Detroit River. Due to climate change, rising water levels in Lake St. Clair are spilling over into the Detroit River causing residents to experience regular flooding with no permanent infrastructure fix in sight. Raising the seawall in Jefferson Chalmers by almost 2 feet would solve the problem, but the multi-million dollar cost and the private property ownership along the Detroit side of the river complicate matters. While FEMA does not look at a community’s infrastructure to determine its flood hazard status, it may change that practice, according to the regional flood insurance liaison for FEMA’s Region 5 in the Midwest.

 

 

Director of Planning and Development Engages Neighborhoods in Revitalization Efforts

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The director of Detroit Planning and Development, Antoine Bryant, thinks of Detroit as a “city of neighborhoods.” He has reached out to residents to talk about blight, flight and a lack of investment in neighborhoods that have felt left behind while Detroit’s downtown and community corridors have gained attention. Bryant has intentions to grow Detroit with projects that preserver architectural history and value the input of neighbors. In an effort to avoid building up downtown commercial sectors first, Bryant intends to engage neighborhoods as part of the revitalization process. His primary goal is to connect with residents in all of Detroit’s 200 neighborhoods while working through challenges with food deserts, vacant land and safety. 

 

 

Partnership Looks to Grow Greenspace

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A partnership between the city of Grand Rapids and Kent County Drain Commissioner Ken Yonker is focused on developing some much needed greenspace on the city’s Southeast Side. Located at 1516 S Division Ave., the property and an adjacent parcel are two of 11 properties the Grand Rapids City Commission will move forward on. The other nine properties are along Carrier Creek on the city’s Northeast Side. The city plans to turn them into park spaces, while maintaining the storm water management functions that are in place. The parks will focus on recreation opportunities like walking trails, overlooks and benches.

 

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Metro Detroit Housing Market Still Heated

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Metro Detroit’s housing market is still hot for sellers and confounding for buyers, although not as intense as in spring and early summer. The median sales price for houses and condos was up over 7% in October from a year earlier, according to Realcomp multiple-listing service. That figure includes Oakland, Wayne, Macomb and Livingston counties. The amount of on-market listings was down almost 13%, and the average days on the market decreased by 7 days when compared with October 2020. The numbers show that sellers are still benefitting, even though the market has cooled a bit from earlier in the year.

 

Bedrock Gives Tour of Book Tower Progress

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 On Thursday, Bedrock gave a tour of its renovation progress on the historic Book Tower. The renovations include restoration of the original limestone and masonry facade,  replacing 2,400 period accurate windows, and repurposing former office space into 229 residential units. It will also offer retail, hotel and office space when completed. The $313 million project also includes the 13-story Book Building structure. The development will include retail in the basement and first floor, office space on the second and third floors, and the ROOST Apartment Hotel will occupy floors four to eight, featuring 118 studio, one and two-bedroom units. A rooftop bar and outdoor terrace space are also in the plans.

Sugar Loaf Resort Demolition Is Underway

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Excavators have begun demolition of Sugar Loaf Resort in Leelanau County. The demolition should be completed by early January, but questions continue to loom. Who is financing the demolition, and what’s on the horizon for the site? The resort operated from the early 1960s until it closed in 2000 and was a premier winter destination. It had two golf courses, a 144,000-square-foot lodge and hotel, a restaurant, two pools, a 3.500-foot paved airstrip, indoor tennis, 72 townhouses, five chairlifts and a wastewater treatment plant. Ross Satterwhite is a local real estate adviser and the spokesperson for the unknown owners.

 

 

Michigan Township Vetoes Solar Farms

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Invenergy, a multinational energy company, has offered Washtenaw County farmers $1,100 a year for each acre of land utilized for solar panels. Landowners agreed to the deal, but the township didn’t. Some residents fear electromagnetic radiation. Township officials are disenchanted with the company’s sign up efforts before consulting local government. They’re also skeptical about Invenergy’s promises of boosted tax revenue. Others worry about the aesthetics of the panels and their infringement on hunting land. Bridgewater landowners feel that the deal was turned down based on assumptions and misinformation.

High Demand and Low Supply Drive Livingston County Market

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A more affluent and green space is a combination that is bringing a lot of people to Livingston County.  According to Census data, the county saw a 7 percent growth rate from 2010 to 2020. It’s one of the fastest growing counties in the state with a population of more than 193,000 people. Home prices continue to rise, although areas like Fowlerville remain more affordable than surrounding areas. Even with the area’s historical reputation for Ku Klux Klan activity and racial intolerance, there is still more demand for housing than there is supply.

Strings Attached to Development of Northville Downs Property

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Hunter Pasteur Homes’ request for planned unit development eligibility for the Northville Downs property was approved by the Northville Planning Commission. The redevelopment presentation was heavily scrutinized during the almost 5-hour meeting. However, the approval comes with attached strings. The developer must submit a current traffic study, provide values of benefits, the funding it is committed to cover, and the funding requested by the city for public benefits. The segregation of residential uses and the addition of a farmers market as a public benefit must also be addressed by Hunter Pasteur Homes. Planning commissioners approved the eligibility with a 7-1 vote.

 

 

Joe Louis Arena’s Redevelopment to Include Residential High-Rise

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A conceptual plan that was submitted to the city of Detroit in July envisions a 24-story, 290-foot residential high-rise as part of the former Joe Louis Arena’s redevelopment.  According to the Sterling Group, the tower would tentatively be named The Louis and house 500 studio and one-bedroom units. Other possible uses in addition to the residential building are unknown. The site has been discussed as a mixed-use development and could potentially include a hotel. The conceptual plan includes the firms of Neumann Smith, Resurget Engineering and Giffels Webter, as well as construction contractor Colasanti.