[DetroitSky]

Ilitches trying to build large new office property in Farmington Hills

The Ilitch family is seeking approval from Farmington Hills officials to build a 200,000-square-foot office building there.

City planning staff said Friday morning that an Ilitch affiliate, LC Trademarks Inc., is requesting site and landscape plan approval as well as a lot split for property at the southwest corner of 12 Mile and Drake roads for the development, which would also include an unknown amount of retail space.

Those items had been on a planning commission agenda last month but were pulled at the request of Olympia Development of Michigan, the Ilitch family's Detroit-based real estate company; they are now anticipated to be before the commission Aug. 15.

The staff member, who asked not to be identified, said 850 employees are to work in the building, based on information included in the documents submitted to the city. The property, long owned by the Ilitch family, is 35.5 acres and currently used as soccer fields.

Olympia said in a statement: "The land in Farmington Hills has been owned by our company for many years. We have submitted a site plan and lot split for consideration for future development opportunities. We have no definite plans to share."

$11 million development and park with amphitheater planned in Woodhaven

Developers are planning an $11 million development and a new park with an amphitheater on a 9-acre piece of land in Woodhaven that's sat vacant for 30 years.

The five-building, 30,000-square-foot Park Promenade will go up at the corner of Allen and West roads with the existing Meijer there serving as its anchor, according to a news release.

Bingham Farms-based Alrig USA Development is the developer, Wyandotte-based Detroit Architectural Group is the architect and the general contractor has yet to be selected.

Chick-fil-A has signed on to be the first tenant and will occupy one full building in the development. It would be the 13th store in Michigan for the Atlanta-based chicken sandwich chain, according to its website. The company had a slow start in the market but appears to be growing its footprint in Michigan quickly.

Other tenants have not been named. The buildings are suited for retail, office, and health and wellness, the release said.

The retail is less than exciting, but the amphitheater could end up being a nice little attraction.

This article is from a year ago, but it looks like site prep is going to begin soon:

$60M senior development coming to Rochester

ROCHESTER — The Rochester City Council recently gave the green light to a 137-unit senior living community at the northwest corner of Elizabeth and Second streets in downtown Rochester.

Blossom Mills is the latest addition to the Moceri Cos. Blossom Collection, a $1.2 billion group of luxury senior living communities being developed in Oakland Township, Auburn Hills, Clinton Township and Sterling Heights.

The $60 million project includes a 243,124-square-foot, six-story senior residential building on a 2.47-acre site in downtown Rochester. Because the site is zoned industrial, which does not permit senior housing, the project required special project approval from the Rochester City Council. The project passed July 9 with a unanimous vote.

Southfield considers purchase agreement with EverCentre developer

SOUTHFIELD — A local development company has its eye on the EverCentre property.

At a June 24 meeting, the City Council voted 4-1 to enter into a purchase agreement with Beztak Properties for a commercial and residential development on a portion of the property, located at the corner of Evergreen Road and Civic Center Drive.

Councilman Donald Fracassi voted against the proposal. Councilman Myron Frasier and Councilwoman Tawnya Morris were not at the meeting.

In October, city officials announced that they had reissued a request for qualifications for qualified developers for the vacant, 8.15-acre EverCentre property.

Officials said previously that they are looking to develop a centrally located, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use development on the lot, which is across from the Southfield Municipal Complex, 26000 Evergreen Road, and is within the Southfield City Centre, a mixed-use district.