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Pontiac’s Woodward Loop Will Get Pedestrian-Friendly Makeover

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Pontiac’s Woodward Avenue Loop opened in 1964 during the urban renewal binge. State high engineers announced they would turn Detroit’s I-375 spur into a street-level boulevard over the next several years. MDOT announced that it’s making a similar commitment for the Woodward Loop. Construction will take place in 2024-2025, along with the simultaneous reconstruction of M-59 through Pontiac. It will include new sidewalks, traffic signals and bike paths. The goal is to turn Pontiac’s Woodward Avenue into a series of pedestrian-friendly two-way boulevards with slower traffic speeds. The project also aims to reconnect neighborhoods to the downtown.

 

 

Downtown Birmingham Bright Spot for Retailers

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Downtown Birmingham is bustling with at least 8 retailers and 4 new food establishments that have opened, expanded or made plans to open in recent months. Retailers are rebounding in sales numbers and downtown Birmingham office space is at pre-pandemic levels of demand. According to real estate insiders, a popular retailer may be opening a new store at Maple and Old Woodward. In addition, downtown Birmingham opened its second luxury hotel. The 151-room Daxton hotel opened in April.

 

 

 

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.

Luxury In The Forecast For Muskegon

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Thirty acres of Muskegon waterfront property are slated for a $250 million redevelopment project that includes luxury condos, a marina, restaurant, event space and expanded public trails. Adelaide Pointe QOZB LLC revealed the details of their plans for the Adelaide Point project to city officials and environmental advocates. The developer began acquiring the properties in March of 2021. The project aims to double the size of public access and expand trails, greenspace, and fishing areas. Over the next two years, the goal is to construct one of the 5 residential buildings, a 55-unit luxury condominium building, a marina, and a multi-use building that will include restaurant, retail and event spaces. The Adelaide Point project is a ten-year plan.

 

 

Cannabis Retailer Opens in Coldwater

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Skymint Inc., Michigan’s largest cannabis retailer, opened its 15th store in half of a vacant department store in Coldwater. According to the company’s president of retail, bigger spaces like the former Sears building are appealing because it gives the store a big blank canvas with which to work. The artsy, boutique-vibed store offers 60 cannabis brands. Skymint has grown quickly since entering the retail market in 2019. It can also be found in Bay City, Big Rapids, East Lansing, Flint, Hazel Park and Lansing.

 

MDOT Discusses Plans for Detroit’s Amtrak Site

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In February, the Michigan Department of Transportation met with developers to discuss Detroit’s Amtrak site. They want to build a new intermodal transportation facility on the site, with a mix of transit uses like passenger rail and bus, and maybe even residential and retail. MDOT is exploring private development on the property in an effort to offset the $36 million-$45 million cost of the intermodal facility. MDOT is applying for a federal RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Cannabis Company Opens in Saugatuck Township

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The New Standard cannabis company has moved into a newly built retail store in Saugatuck Township. The new site is the company’s 6th dispensary in West Michigan and seventh store across the state.  Located at 6406 Blue Star Highway, it carries more than 275 products for retail and curbside service. The company opened its first location in Hazel Park in April 2020. New Standard recently acquired Agri-Med LLC which was operating three dispensaries in Muskegon, Edmore and Nunica.

Harper Woods Shopping Mall Proposed for Industrial Development

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Harper Woods’ city planning commission is considering a proposal that would turn the struggling Eastland Center shopping mall into a new industrial/warehouse development. NorthPoint Development LLC is asking for a planned unit development that would raze the enclosed mall and build about 1.03 million square feet of industrial/warehouse space across three buildings on the site.  A 514,000 square-foot building would be built on 36 acres of the site. Another 310,000 square feet would be built on 24.1 acres, and 207,000 square feet would be built on 18.8 acres. 15 acres would remain undeveloped.