DETROIT — Developer Bedrock and General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) have unveiled a conceptual plan to redevelop the Renaissance Center (RenCen) and 27 acres along the Detroit riverfront. According to the companies, the plan preserves the essence of Detroit’s skyline, right-sizes the RenCen’s footprint and connects the site to the heart of downtown. A surrounding entertainment district would feature restaurants, hospitality, residential and market space and complement Detroit’s Riverwalk, which draws more than 3.5 million annual visitors to the city. The project has an estimated price tag of $1.6 billion, according to Crain’s Detroit Business. First opened in 1976, RenCen is widely considered Michigan’s most iconic and recognizable property and serves as the headquarters of GM. The automaker purchased the asset in 1996 and has invested more than $1 billion in improvements to date. Earlier this year, GM unveiled its plans to leave RenCen for Hudson’s Detroit, the redevelopment of the former J.L. Hudson’s department store currently underway by Bedrock. GM plans to take occupancy in 2025. GM and Bedrock established a partnership earlier this year to study redevelopment opportunities for the RenCen site along with the City of Detroit and Wayne County. A team of urban planners, architects and …
Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — PREIT has received an $80 million loan for the refinancing of Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids. JLL arranged the loan through a national CMBS lender. The five-year loan features a fixed interest rate of 7.35 percent. PREIT says the refinancing will save the company approximately $5 million in interest expense over the life of the loan. The redevelopment of Woodland Mall included new tenants such as Von Maur, The Cheesecake Factory, Sephora and Urban Outfitters.
NOVI, MICH. — Three new retail tenants are joining the tenant line-up at Sakura Novi, an Asian-themed mixed-use development in Novi. Teso Life is a Japanese-themed department store specializing in snacks, cosmetics, homeware, kitchenware, stationery and toy collectibles. The company has 15 stores in New York, Texas, Arizona and Georgia with 15 more in development in several states. The 12,000-square-foot store at Sakura Novi will mark the brand’s first Michigan location. Paris Baguette is a Korean-owned bakery specializing in French and Asian pastries and baked goods, cakes, sandwiches, coffee and drinks. Paris Baguette’s 3,000-square-foot store at Sakura Novi will be the third location in Michigan. The company has 3,785 stores in South Korea, China, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, and 105 stores in the U.S. and Canada. Klawsome! will be the first standalone claw machine arcade in Michigan. This type of arcade features the opportunity to win kawaii-style stuffies from claw machines. The stuffies can be traded in for larger or more rare stuffed animals and anime figurines. This form of entertainment is popular in Japan and other Asian countries, as well as U.S. cities with large Asian populations. The three stores will join previously announced restaurants, including Mikiya Wagyu Shabu …
TROY, MICH. — A partnership between Douglas Capital Partners, Cypress Partners and Village Green is set to open Forum Flats in Troy on Thursday, Nov. 14. The luxury apartment complex consists of three buildings with 200 units. Amenities include a clubroom, pool, fitness center, pet spa and dog park. The first of the three buildings took over the former 100,000-square-foot office space previously utilized by Kelly Services and now features 90 units. The other two buildings were constructed from the ground up and each total 55 units. Monthly rents start at $1,675 for studios.
STEVENSVILLE, MICH. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $2 million sale of a 4,556-square-foot retail property occupied by Starbucks and T-Mobile in Stevensville, a city in southwest Michigan. Constructed in 2021, the building is located at 4678 Red Arrow Highway. John Nuzman of Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, TDM Partners LLC. Chris Prins of DAR Commercial Real Estate represented the local buyer. The asset sold at 97 percent of the list price.
SOUTH LYON, MICH. — Mathnasium has signed a 1,500-square-foot retail lease at Brookdale Square in South Lyon, about 40 miles west of Detroit. The shopping center, located at the intersection of 9 Mile Road and Pontiac Trail, is now fully leased. Michael Murphy and Tjader Gerdom of Gerdom Realty & Investment represented the landlord, Beztak Properties.
STANDISH, MICH. — North Central Area Credit Union has purchased .85 acres of commercial land on South Huron Road in Standish, a city in northern Michigan. The sales price was undisclosed. Jack Melton, Michael Murphy and Tjader Gerdom of Gerdom Realty & Investment represented the undisclosed seller. Sara Lewis of Century 21 Affiliated represented the credit union, which will soon begin construction at the site.
DETROIT— Immersive entertainment concept Cosm has signed on as the anchor tenant at Development at Cadillac Square, a 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use project scheduled to break ground in Detroit in 2025. Cosm Detroit will feature an LED dome spanning roughly 90 feet with Shared Reality technology, offering experiential sports and entertainment programming. Content will include a production of Cirque du Soleil’s “O,” as well as immersive art experiences from members of the Cosm Studios Creator Program. The venue, designed by architecture firm Rosetti, will also feature a food-and-beverage element, with gastropub-style dining, craft cocktails and a curated beer selection.
DETROIT — Nonprofit organization Kintsugi Village has purchased the former St. Vincent Middle School property in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood for $3.4 million. Next Cities Investment Group sold the property, which also included a vacant lot next to the building for a total of 1.6 acres. Constructed in 1962, the school building totals roughly 38,000 square feet. It closed in 2010 and then operated as a coworking space. The facility has been vacant for the last four years. Kintsugi Village is working with Sachse Construction and plans to break ground soon on converting the property into an early childhood education center, artist residency and retreat center. The nonprofit expects to open in fall 2025.
PETOSKEY, MICH. — Merchants Capital has provided $66.3 million in financing for the construction of Maple Block Lofts, a 204-unit workforce housing property in Petoskey, a growing vacation destination in northern Michigan. Merchants Capital provided a $29.6 million Freddie Mac Unfunded Non-LIHTC Forward permanent loan for the development, and its parent company, Merchants Bank, provided a $36.7 million construction loan. Maple Block Lofts is the first project in Michigan to receive the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s Affordable Housing Tax Increment Financing, which accounts for $6 million of the $14 million in tax-increment financing being granted for the development. More than $12 million was provided in state grants and loans, with strong support from Michigan Economic Development Corp.; the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy; the City of Petoskey; the Emmet County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority; and numerous local businesses. The project will feature seven garden-style apartment buildings with 18 studios, 72 one-bedroom units and 114 two-bedroom units. Fifty percent of the units will be restricted to residents who earn between 60 percent and 120 percent of the area median income (AMI). Ten percent of the residences will be income- and rent-restricted for those making less than 80 percent …