Michigan

By Evan Lyons, Encore Real Estate Investment Services Looking back on 2022, it could be said that Detroit’s economic performance last year mirrored that of the city’s tenacious Detroit Lions’ football season. Both were mired in doubt, plagued by volatility and sustained by grit, yet beyond all expectation, when the clock ran down, both proved the naysayers wrong.  Just as the Lions surprised doubters by finishing their season at 9-8 and beating their divisional rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Detroit surpassed expectations by outpacing the national jobs growth rate of 5.8 percent at mid-year 2022 with a rate of 8.6 percent year-over-year. Gains in employment and wages are expected to continue over the next few years, according to a University of Michigan study. The city bolstered its “offensive line” with new store openings and new construction throughout the urban core. Stadiums and parks were filled again, fueled by crowd-pleasing events and programing, including Belle Isle parks’ notorious, over-waxed giant slide, which went viral and gained infamy last year for catapulting riders who dared venture a ride.   Detroit also scored points in visits to leisure and hospitality establishments during the past 12 months. Visits increased by 50 percent from June …

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NORTHVILLE, MICH. — Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. (MMCC) has arranged a $4.7 million loan for the acquisition of a 28,780-square-foot retail property occupied by Fresh Thyme Market in Northville, a northwest suburb of Detroit. Constructed in 2015 as a build-to-suit for the grocery store, the building is located at 15480 Sheldon Road. Chad O’Connor of MMCC arranged the loan on behalf of the undisclosed borrower. The 10-year loan features a fixed interest rate of 5.37 percent, a 30-year amortization schedule and a 45 percent loan-to-value ratio.

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AUBURN HILLS, MICH. — Bernard Financial Group has arranged $2 million in permanent financing for a 21,256-square-foot office property in Auburn Hills. Dennis Bernard and Joshua Bernard arranged the loan on behalf of the borrower, Auburn Office Center LLC. StanCorp Life Insurance Co. provided the loan, terms of which were undisclosed.

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ANN ARBOR, MICH. — Archway Capital has provided a $4 million loan for the refinancing of a three-property student housing portfolio serving the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The portfolio totals 60 units. The borrower has owned the portfolio for more than 40 years. The two-year loan features a 50 percent loan-to-value ratio.

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DETROIT — General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) has announced plans to invest $918 million in capital improvements at four of its U.S. manufacturing plants. The initiative is designed to elevate the company’s production capacity for full-size trucks and sport utility vehicles while also establishing facilities that support the growth of GM’s electric vehicle (EV) divisions. The Detroit-based automotive giant is committing a total of $795 million to two of its Michigan facilities that will support the production of small-block V-8 engines. The company is investing $579 million at its plant in Flint, and the remaining $216 million will be allocated to GM’s facility in Bay City, where parts such as camshafts and connecting rods that support these engines will be assembled. GM is also investing $55 million in its manufacturing operations in Defiance, Ohio. Of this sum, $47 million will be used to prepare the facility for the manufacture of block castings to support future V-8 engine programs. In addition, GM will construct an $8 million casting development cell for future EV initiatives. Lastly, the company has earmarked $68 million for upgrades to its manufacturing facility in Rochester, New York. At this location, GM plans to invest $12 million to …

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MIDLAND, MICH. — Berkadia has provided a $33.8 million Freddie Mac loan for the acquisition of a three-property multifamily portfolio totaling 449 units in Midland, a city in central Michigan. The communities within the portfolio include Mulberry Apartments, Robin Oaks and Perrine Pointe. According to Apartments.com, Mulberry Apartments and Robin Oaks were built in the late 1960s, while Perrine Pointe was constructed in 1945. Aaron Moll of Berkadia originated the loan on behalf of the buyer, Michigan-based LG Capital. Income Property Organization was the seller. Loan terms were not provided.

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REDFORD, MICH. — DealPoint Merrill has acquired a 95,000-square-foot industrial facility in Redford, a western suburb of Detroit. The purchase price and seller were undisclosed. DealPoint Merrill plans a $9 million renovation that is expected to commence this quarter. David Frank and Sterling McGregor of DealPoint Merrill negotiated the transaction and handled the due diligence for the sale, respectively. Jason Limbert and Tyler Bendicksen of DealPoint Merrill completed the acquisition and underwriting, while Dave Rumsey of DealPoint Merrill’s capital markets division assisted with the equity-backed securities. Anthony Pellegrino III of P.A. Commercial represented the seller.

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YPSILANTI, MICH. — Northmarq has arranged the $2.6 million sale of a single-tenant retail property located at 3100 Washtenaw Avenue in Ypsilanti, roughly five miles southeast of downtown Ann Arbor. AMERCO Real Estate Co. acquired the property, which sits on 11 acres and totals 91,743 square feet. Isaiah Harf of Northmarq’s Chicago office represented the seller, a New York-based institutional investor. Neighboring tenants include Fresh Thyme Market, Dollar General, Planet Fitness, Domino’s and Walgreens.

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CLARKSTON, MICH. — Landlord Shango Properties has leased an approximately 1,500-square-foot space in the White Lake Commons shopping center in Clarkston, a northern suburb of Detroit, to physical fitness center chain Stretch Lab. The Gerdom Realty & Investment team of Michael Murphy and Tjader Gerdom represented the landlord, and Stephen Smith of TNF Realty represented Stretch Lab. White Lake Commons is anchored by Neiman’s Market and is located near the intersection of Dixie Highway and White Lake Road.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — Alt City NA Bottles & Beer, a non-alcoholic bottle shop, has opened an 846-square-foot store at 434 Leonard St. NW in the West Grand neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Alt City offers a wide selection of zero-proof mixers, spirits, beer and wines. Brothers Paul and Chad Clark started the company in 2019 after realizing that there weren’t many non-alcoholic options in Grand Rapids. CityWide Real Estate Services owns the building, which is also home to Trinity Chiropractic, FURN on Leonard and Captain Bizzaro’s Treasure World. Alt City also maintains a location in the Grand Rapids Downtown Market that serves non-alcoholic beverages in addition to coffees, teas and smoothies.

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