OAKLAND COUNTY, MICH. — Three business expansions that will generate more than $40.7 million in total investment and create 349 jobs in Oakland County have received Michigan Strategic Fund approval for support, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. A. Raymond Corporate North America Inc., a subsidiary of France-based A. Raymond Network, develops, manufactures and markets fastening and assembly solutions. The company plans to construct a new North American headquarters in the city of Rochester Hills, where it will expand its corporate functions and establish a new advanced engineering lab. Supported by a $600,000 Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) performance-based grant, the project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $17.3 million and create 71 jobs over five years. Michigan was chosen over a competing site in Ohio. The city of Rochester Hills has offered support to the project in the form of property tax abatement. Turin, Italy-based Comau LLC manufactures advanced industrial automation systems designed to help companies of all sizes increase plant efficiency while lowering costs. The company plans to expand its three Michigan facilities located in Southfield, Royal Oak and Novi, investing $1.5 million and creating 200 jobs. As a result, Comau has been awarded a $400,000 …
Michigan
DETROIT — Olympia Development has unveiled the initial phase of residential development at The District Detroit, featuring six buildings. The plan includes the redevelopment of four existing buildings — The Alhambra, The American, The Eddystone and 150 Bagley — as well as the construction of two new buildings. Of the 686 total units, 139 will be designated as affordable housing for those making no more than 80 percent of the area median income. This is Detroit’s single largest project of new market-rate apartment units, affordable units and redeveloped historic buildings in more than 20 years, according to Olympia Development. Olympia Development has teamed up with American Community Developers Inc. on five of the properties near Little Caesars Arena. Bagley Development Group will assist with the redevelopment of 150 Bagley. Construction of the new buildings is expected to begin later this year, with the renovation of existing buildings beginning in 2018. The District Detroit is a 50-block, mixed-use development led by Ilitch Holdings Inc. encompassing theaters, sports venues, restaurants, shops, offices and residential space.
TROY, MICH. — Signature Associates has arranged the sale of a 31,549-square-foot industrial building in Troy for an undisclosed price. The property is located at 1401 Axtell Drive. John Boyd and Paul Hoge of Signature Associates represented the buyer, Perspective Properties LLC. The seller was not disclosed.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — NAI Wisinski of West Michigan has negotiated a 1,526-square-foot retail lease for Urban You Beauty Bar in Grand Rapids. The property is located at 3152 Peregrine Drive. Urban You is a beauty bar that offers hair styling, makeup application, nail design, brows, lashes and medical spa services. The company will use this space as a pop-up shop until its other locations are completed in East Grand Rapids, Knapps Corner and Holland.
DETROIT — Local ironworkers constructing the Little Caesars world headquarters campus extension in Detroit held a topping out ceremony on Tuesday. Workers signed their names, attached banners, flags and an evergreen tree to structural steel beams that were hoisted into place. A Little Caesars mascot was also along for the ride. Led by contractor Brinker-Christman JV and designed by SmithGroupJJR, the nine-story, 234,000-square-foot building is located at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Columbia Street. The $150 million project will anchor The District Detroit’s Columbia Street neighborhood. The new headquarters, located approximately one mile from Little Caesars Arena, is slated to open in 2018.
PORTAGE, MICH. — Watson’s has signed a 25,000-square-foot retail lease for its first location in the Kalamazoo area. The national home living retailer will occupy the space at 6695 S. Westnedge Ave. in Portage, just south of Kalamazoo. Renovations to the former ABC Warehouse space are nearing completion, as Watson’s expects to open on May 27. The store will feature one of the largest displays of indoor and outdoor furniture, home recreation, pools and hot tubs in the area. Kara Schroer of NAI Wisinski of West Michigan brokered the lease transaction.
PLYMOUTH, MICH. — Party City Corp. has signed a 38,640-square-foot industrial lease in Plymouth, about 30 miles west of Detroit. The property is located at 41100 Plymouth Road. Larry Kelly of Signature Associates represented the landlord, Plymouth 1848 LLC, in the lease transaction.
GRAND RAPIDS AND LANSING, MICH. — Wolverine Building Group is constructing two apartment properties totaling 718,000 square feet in Michigan. Georgia-based Rise Real Estate is the developer. Skyvue Apartments is a 418,000-square-foot mixed-use development located in downtown Lansing. The $65 million project began with the demolition of a former car dealership. The property will include 338 units with a mix of one-, two- and four-bedroom units. Amenities include a sky view lounge, outdoor pool and fitness center. The building will also feature more than 4,000 square feet of commercial space for future build-out. Construction began in November 2015 and is slated for completion in July. The Brix at Midtown is located in downtown Grand Rapids. Comprising two buildings and 300,000 square feet, the property will feature 287 apartment units. Amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, swimming pool, courtyards and dog parks. Construction began in April 2016 and is slated for completion this November.
HOWELL, MICH. — MedCraft Healthcare Real Estate LLC has completed development of the Ascension Medical Center in Howell, approximately 30 miles north of Ann Arbor. The $13.5 million, 60,000-square-foot outpatient facility is located at the Latson Road exit on I-96. The new center will offer primary care services of family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics. Specialties include cardiology, pulmonology and audiology. Other services include diagnostic imaging (with 3-D mammography), lab, physical therapy and occupational health. The center is also home to an urgent care that will be open seven days a week for 10 hours per day. Diekema Hamann provided architectural and engineering services, while the CSM Group provided construction services.
SOUTHFIELD, MICH. — Dembs Development has acquired the former Federal-Mogul Corp. headquarters in Southfield, a northern suburb of Detroit. The purchase price was not disclosed. The 360,000-square-foot office building, located on Northwestern Highway, has been vacant for over a year. The property was built in the early 1970s. Amenities include an underground parking garage, collaborative workspaces, auditorium, restaurant and outdoor seating. The property most recently sold for $12.7 million in July 2004, according to CoStar Group. Dembs Development purchased the property in a joint venture with Pitt Investments.