DETROIT — Pillar has originated an $11.8 million Fannie Mae DUS loan for Detroit Savings Bank Apartments in downtown Detroit. The 10-year term loan features a 30-year amortization schedule. David Wilkins of Pillar originated the financing for Capitol Park Partnership. Built in 1895, the 12-story building features 56 market-rate apartment units on the top seven floors and The Archdiocese of Detroit on the first five floors.
DEARBORN, MICH. — Mid-America Real Estate Corp.’s investment sales team has arranged the sale of Fairlane Meadows, a retail center located at the corner of Ford Road and Mercury Drive in Dearborn. Times Equities acquired the property from Ramco-Gerhenson Properties Trust for $20.6 million. The 157,225-square-foot center is occupied by Best Buy, Citi Trends, David’s Bridal, Five Below and Dollar Tree. Ben Wineman and Daniel Stern of Mid-America represented the seller in the deal.
It is a fascinating time for the Detroit office market. Downtown neighborhoods and suburban markets alike are being transformed thanks to years of positive economic trends marked by healthy job growth and the desire of several companies to locate in the city. Landlords, tenants and investors are looking to consolidate gains and position themselves for success in an evolving marketplace. On the leasing front, we are still seeing activity in Detroit proper with small to mid-sized firms, punctuated by a handful of larger deals that have taken place. The higher profile moves include Detroit-based auto lender and bank holding company Ally Financial taking approximately 320,0000 square feet on 13 floors at One Detroit Center, now known as the Ally Detroit Center. A number of law firms have inked leasing deals. For example, longtime Detroit tenant Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC renewed its lease at 150 W. Jefferson, a 25-story skyscraper formerly known as the Madden Building, where the law firm occupies approximately 97,000 square feet. Southfield, Mich.-based Redico LLC recently acquired the 500,000-square-foot tower, built in 1989, from Piedmont Office Realty Trust for $81.5 million. While leasing activity is strong in the central business district (CBD) — driven in …
SOUTHFIELD, MICH. — Friedman Integrated Real Estate Solutions is renovating Galleria Officentre, a multi-building office park in Southfield. Friedman began managing, leasing and implementing a renovation program at the 1 million-square-foot property, located at 100-400 Galleria, in February. Major interior improvements include a state-of-the-art conference center, video surveillance system, an automated door locking system and two new full-service cafeterias, as well as a renovation of the lobby. Exterior upgrades include modifications to the sidewalks, driveways, tree-lined common areas and courtyards and a redesigned exterior space with a park, including seating, music and gathering areas. The property offers space for lease ranging from 900 square feet to 100,000 square feet.
ROCHESTER HILLS, MICH. — Bader USA has acquired an industrial building located at 2944 Waterview Drive in Rochester Hills. Bader will use the 12,000-square-foot high-tech facility to house its North American sales, technical support and research and development operations. Garry Rogers and Al Iafrate of L. Mason Capitani CORFAC International represented the buyer in the deal. The name of the seller and the sales price were not released.
STERLING HEIGHTS, MICH. — Moceri Cos., a homebuilder based in metro Detroit, plans to develop a $300 million, master-planned community for seniors in Sterling Heights. Situated adjacent to the 27-hole Maple Lane golf course, the 807-unit development, known as Verandas, will feature a mix of townhouses, condominiums and apartments targeting adults age 55 and above. “Verandas will exceed the expectations of the active adult lifestyle in the entire region,” said Dominic Moceri, vice president of Moceri Management Group. Verandas will include a 30,000-square-foot event center featuring dining, fitness, indoor and outdoor pools and spas, retail space and other venues accessible to the public, as well as private spaces for residents only. “We are thrilled to have the Verandas development coming to our city, as it represents Sterling Heights’ commitment to exploring innovative housing options to meet the desires of our community,” said Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor. “This development allows our city to attract new residents, as well as provide a new housing opportunity for those currently living in Sterling Heights who no longer want to reside in a traditional single-family home.” Verandas will include the 160-unit Blossom Lane, featuring one- and two-bedroom independent and assisted living apartments and studio …
DETROIT — Wayne State University has selected Corvias to develop, construct, manage and maintain its student housing in a 40-year public-private partnership. The program will allow Wayne State to defease $102 million of existing debt and execute all facets of its 10-year master plan, which includes 842 new beds, renovating 3,100 existing beds and the construction of commercial and university spaces without issuing any new university debt. The master plan includes the development of Anthony Wayne Drive Apartments, which calls for the delivery of 400 new beds in fall 2018 and another 442 beds in fall 2019; and the demolition of the 415-bed Helen L. DeRoy Apartments by 2019, with the space being converted into open green space to enlarge the existing space on Williams Mall. Additionally, the project includes more than 18,000 square feet of retail space and 9,000 square feet for the Campus Health Center and related services.
SOUTH HAVEN, MICH. — NAI Wisinski West Michigan brokered the sale of a 2.5-acre site located at 72133 Phoenix St. in South Haven. Honor Credit Union acquired the site for an undisclosed price and plans to relocate from its current location at 749 Phillips St. to the property. Slated for completion in 2017, the new property will feature drive-thru lanes, a drive-up ATM and a night drop. Dane Davis of NAI Wisinski represented the seller, Locker & Locker Properties, while Doug Clark of The Case Group represented the buyer in the transaction.
ALPINE TOWNSHIP AND PORTAGE, MICH. — Midwest Realty Group has arranged two leases totaling 6,049 square feet of retail space in Alpine Township and Portage. In the first deal, Great Lakes Outpost LLC leased 3,862 square feet of retail space at 4147 Alpine Ave. in Alpine Township. This location will be the online retailer’s first brick-and-mortar store. Midwest Realty Group represented the tenant and landlord, Alpine Valley LLC in the transaction. In the second deal, Reverse Mortgage Funding LLC leased 2,187 square feet of office space at 3275 Cooley Court in Portage. Midwest Realty Group represented the tenant and landlord, Cooley Park I LLC, in the transaction.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — JLL has opened a new brokerage office located at 15 Ionia Ave. in downtown Grand Rapids to broaden its existing presence in Michigan. Jeffrey Karger and Robert Horn will lead the new office. Karger most recently served as senior advisor/director of office services for CWD Real Estate Investments, and Horn has completed more than 11 million square feet of industrial transactions during his career. JLL employs more than 800 professionals in Michigan, with dedicated teams in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Mich., specializing in project management, corporate solutions and public institutions.
