TAYLOR, MICH. — Colliers International has negotiated the lease of a 70,186-square-foot industrial warehouse in Taylor. The property is located at 8555-8625 Inkster Road. Sheridan Burton of Colliers represented the tenant, Production Management One. This will be the first Michigan location for the traveling concert staging company, which has three locations nationwide. The company will occupy the space on Sept. 1. Paul Choukourian, Peter E. Kepic and Peter J. Kepic of Colliers represented the undisclosed landlord.
ALMA, MICH. — Cohen Financial, a division of SunTrust Bank, has arranged a $4.1 million HUD-insured loan for the refinancing of Arbor Grove Assisted Living in Alma, which is located in Central Michigan. The assisted living community includes 41 units. Cathy Bronkema of Cohen arranged the fixed-rate loan, which is fully amortized over 35 years. The borrower was a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based senior living owner and operator.
In 2008, the credit crisis had gripped the world and in particular, the Midwest. Lenders, whether CMBS or life insurance companies, had put large “X’s” through Michigan on their maps. And Detroit? South of 8 Mile, you couldn’t get a deal done. Enter entrepreneur businessman Dan Gilbert. Inspired by an intern spurning his then Livonia-based Quicken Loans for a more urban, walkable environment in Chicago, Gilbert made the bold decision to move his entire operation to downtown Detroit. Now in 2018, Ford, GM and Chrysler (and various suppliers) are humming, resulting in a decade-low statewide unemployment rate of 4.8 percent. The central business district (CBD) and Midtown Detroit multifamily occupancy rates are at 95 percent, with office just a touch under that, according to CoStar Group. And in downtown Detroit, which many in the metro area once regarded as a quasi-War Zone, vacant buildings are selling for millions of dollars and millennials in yoga pants dot the streets. Detroit’s resurgence since 2008 has earned it the nickname of “America’s Great Comeback City,” with no better metaphor than Ford Motor Co. recently buying one of the world’s great eyesores, Michigan Central Station, the former train station. However, the city’s renaissance is …
Throughout metro Detroit, employment and population gains are bolstering apartment demand. Following the creation of 40,200 jobs one year ago, employers in the metro area added 22,200 people to payrolls during the past four quarters. The hiring brought the unemployment rate to 4.5 percent in March, down 10 basis points year over year. The tighter rate may make it more difficult for some employers to find qualified workers to fill openings. During the past 12 months, the hospitality sector led hiring with 8,200 additional workers. New hotel openings contributed to the increase. Sustained job growth has helped to boost the metro population by nearly 11,700 people and 6,600 households over the past year. Many of these residents are opting to rent, as rising home prices place homeownership beyond the reach of more households. During the past five years, the median price of a single-family home has soared 68 percent to $177,053 as of March. Highly amenitized homes or properties in desired areas such as downtown Detroit, Troy or Royal Oak, have much higher median prices, making renting a more affordable option in numerous areas of the region. Construction concentrations Multifamily construction is gaining traction in the suburbs. Completions in the …
WATERFORD, MICH. — Corporate Eagle, a provider of fractional jet ownership and jet management services, has broken ground on its new headquarters at the Oakland County International Airport in Waterford. Located on 5.7 acres at the corner of Highland Road and Patterson Parkway, the new facility will include 56,000 square feet of hangar space, 9,000 square feet of business and member VIP facilities, 85,000 square feet of concrete tarmac and jet fuel storage for 40,000 gallons. Corporate Eagle currently operates out of a 58,000-square-foot facility less than a quarter-mile east of the future site.
DETROIT — Bridging North America, a partnership of Fluor and ACS Infrastructure Canada, was selected to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Gordie Howe International Bridge project for Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. The planned bridge and border crossing will span the Detroit River and connect Detroit to Windsor, Canada by linking I-75 and I-96 with the new extension of Highway 401 in Ontario. When complete, the bridge will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America. The scope of the project also includes building new ports of entry on both the U.S. and Canadian side of the Detroit River as well as improvements to existing infrastructure. Early work will start this summer in advance of financial close, which is set for this fall. Fluor and ACS will operate and maintain the facility for 30 years to performance standards that will be established by WDBA following completion.
ROSEVILLE, MICH. — Encore Real Estate Investment Services has arranged the $3.4 million sale of a building leased to Applebee’s in Roseville, about 20 miles north of Detroit. The 5,689-square-foot property, located at 31653 Gratiot Ave., traded for $597.64 per square foot. Applebee’s has 10 years remaining on its lease. The sales price represents a 7.1 percent cap rate and $597.64 per square foot. Logan McAnallen of Encore represented the seller, a Flushing, Mich.-based private investment group. Encore also represented the buyer, a private investor from Eldersburg, Md.
The most exciting story in Michigan’s overall recovery from the Great Recession has been the revitalization of downtown Detroit. For locals and out-of-towners, Detroit’s development boom is surprising, exciting, refreshing, and at times, hard to believe. This real estate cycle may go down as the most important and consequential in 50 years. Indeed, the numbers and the anecdotal evidence demonstrate that we are not just witnessing a hot market — we are witnessing a once-in-a-generation shift in Detroit’s office market. Where we were What makes Detroit’s renaissance so amazing is how far the city has come in just eight years. For decades, downtown Detroit’s office market was effectively in the Detroit River. The central business district (CBD) continuously bled tenants to suburban markets, and heavy concessions along with incentives were required to lure office users to the city. Office tenants tended to be law firms, city, county and federal government agencies, non-profits, and city contractors — generally users that had to be downtown for proximity to the courts and City Hall. While the real estate statistics were not strong, the larger issue was the overall look and feel of the setting. Many buildings sat ominously vacant, the restaurant scene was …
DETROIT — Bernard Financial Group has arranged a $17 million CMBS loan for the refinancing of River Place Apartments in Detroit. The 301-unit apartment complex, originally built from 1891 to 1908, features lofts and townhomes. River Place GP LLC was the borrower. Dennis Bernard of Bernard Financial originated the loan.
KALAMAZOO, MICH. — KeyBank Real Estate Capital has provided a $14.4 million Freddie Mac loan for the acquisition of Pavilion Estates in Kalamazoo. The 531-pad manufactured housing community was built in 1965 and is situated on 74.3 acres of land. Tim Weldon of KeyBank originated the 10-year loan, which features a 30-year amortization schedule. The borrower was not disclosed.