CALUMET, MICH. — Dougherty Funding LLC has provided a $9.2 million bridge loan for the refinancing of Gardenview Assisted Living and Memory Care in Calumet in the Upper Peninsula. The 39-unit senior living facility is located at 26096 Elm St. Calumet Facility LLC and Calumet Operating LLC was the borrower. Dougherty Funding served as lead lender and servicer for the loan.
BENTON HARBOR, MICH. — Mid-America Real Estate Corp. has arranged the sale of Fairplain Plaza in Benton Harbor. The 273,254-square-foot shopping center in Southwest Michigan is located at the southeast corner of Napier Avenue and Scottdale Road. Tenants include Ulta, TJ Maxx, Dollar Tree and more. Ben Wineman and Bran Rosenberg of Mid-America represented the seller, an institutional real estate fund managed by Coventry Real Estate Advisors. Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based Lormax Stern Development Co. was the buyer.
DETROIT — Berkadia has arranged a $24 million loan for the refinancing of one of downtown Detroit’s iconic landmarks, the David Whitney Building. Originally constructed in 1915, the 19-story building was named after David Whitney Jr., a wealthy lumber baron. The building recently underwent a complete renovation, with features including a 136-room Aloft Hotel, 105 luxury apartments and ground-level retail. David Sibbold, Terry Halverson, Andy Coleman and Mauricio Rodriguez of Berkadia secured the financing through Citigroup Global Markets on behalf of the borrower, Whitney Partners LLC, a joint venture of the Roxbury Group and Vos Hospitality. Whitney Partners purchased the building in 2011.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICH. — Colliers International has brokered the lease of a 10,197-square-foot industrial facility for Team Rehab in Bloomfield Hills, a northern suburb of Detroit. The physical and occupational therapy company will be occupying the former St. Joseph Mercy Hospice center located at 281 Enterprise Drive. The company is expected to move into the facility by February 2017, and will use the space as a training and rehab facility for outpatient and sports physical therapy. Peter E. Kepic and Peter J. Kepic of Colliers International represented the landlord in the lease.
DETROIT — Platform LLC, the development arm of Peter Cummings, Mike Hammond and Dietrich Knoer, has purchased the former Wayne State University Criminal Justice Building for $2 million. When complete, the redevelopment of the 147,500-square-foot building will include approximately 69 apartment units, 19,000 square feet of retail space and a permanent Wayne State University art gallery. The building, located at 6001 Cass Ave., was originally built in 1920 and is currently vacant. The deal also includes a long-term ground lease of the adjacent property at 445 York Street, where an additional 64 apartment units and 48 condo units are planned. Both properties are located in the north end of Wayne State’s main campus.
TAYLOR, MICH. — Signature Associates has negotiated the sale of 108,850 square feet of industrial space in Taylor, about 18 miles southwest of Detroit. The building is located at 13500 Huron Street. Brad Viergever of Signature Associates represented both the seller, MYM 13500 JC Property Owner LLC, and the buyer, Hearn Industrial Services Inc. Hearn is a provider of quality control services to the automotive industry.
DEARBORN, MICH. — Signature Associates has negotiated the lease of 109,000 square feet of industrial space for The Henry Ford. The building is located at 8747 Brandt Street. Jack Townsend of Signature Associates represented both the landlord, Brandt Street Properties LLC, and The Henry Ford.
STERLING HEIGHTS AND TROY, MICH. — Colliers International has negotiated the leases for two new locations for Naf Naf Grill, a Middle Eastern-style restaurant, in Sterling Heights and Troy. The 2,481-square-foot building in Sterling Heights is located at 14796 Hall Road. The 2,388-square-foot building in Troy is located at 624 W. Big Beaver Road. The Chicago-based chain plans to continue expanding in the Midwest with locations in West Bloomfield, Southfield and other cities throughout metro Detroit. Brian Whitfield and Lou Frango of Colliers International Detroit arranged the leases on behalf of Naf Naf Grill.
Detroit’s sustained employment growth, along with focused redevelopment and revitalization efforts, have brightened the metro area’s economic outlook and propelled the retail market this year. Six consecutive years of job gains have attracted new residents to the region and stemmed population outflow. Strong hiring trends have boosted household incomes, and retail sales are ascending as a result. The local economy is expected to create 38,000 new jobs in 2016, representing a 1.9 percent annual expansion. The local unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent in August, the lowest rate since 2001 and just 10 basis points higher than the national level. The professional and business services sector led employment gains over the 12-month period that ended June 30 with nearly 12,000 additional workers hired. Ripple effect of jobs growth The abundance of job opportunities is also contributing to higher household incomes. Over the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, roughly 7,500 households were created and the median household income climbed 3.1 percent. These improvements supported a 1.3 percent hike in retail spending over the same period. Encouraged by the positive economic trends in Detroit, retailers are expanding many existing storefronts, while companies such as Nike and restaurants such as Cheesecake Factory, …
SOUTHFIELD, MICH. — Friedman Integrated Real Estate Solutions has negotiated the lease of 26,607 square feet of office space for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. in Southfield. Galleria Office Center is located at 300 Galleria Road. David Friedman and Robert Gagniuk of Friedman represented the landlord, Galleria Owner LLC, in the transaction.