Herman Kiefer redevelopment deadline approaching
One of the larger redevelopments in the city, the Herman Kiefer complex, has been in the works for years, and a new deadline has been set as part of the first phase. The Detroit News reports (behind paywall) that developer Ron Castellano has until June 30 to rehab 15 blighted homes (out of more than 100 total) in the surrounding Virginia Park neighborhood. Some residents are growing impatient with the progress of the $143 million development, which was signed in 2015. It includes both the rehab of many neighborhood homes and the rehab and reuse of the 10-building medical complex which sits just off the Lodge north of New Center. Castellano is confident the homes will be rehabbed in time; this work was supposed to take place last year, but the pandemic delayed the project.
The redevelopment site calls the project one of the largest adaptive reuse projects in the country and a sign outside the main hospital building calls it a "Creative Commerce Campus."
Rehabbed Capitol Park building sells to new owner
Lear Corporation underwent a beautiful renovation of the six-story Brown Brothers Tobacco Company Building in Capitol Park, and opened it as the Lear Innovation Center in 2016. Crain's reports that Lear has sold the building to an affiliate of the H.W. Kaufman Group out of Farmington Hills for an undisclosed price. Lear purchased the building from Bedrock in 2015 for $2.85 million. The Kaufman Group says the building will be used as satellite offices for its Farmington Hills headquarters.
Inside new modern homes in North Corktown
North Corktown is a fascinating neighborhood -- centrally located, close to other 'hot' neighborhoods in the city, and largely comprised of vacant land. New homes have been built recently amid the century-old historic homes. Christian Hurttienne Architects has helped homeowners both work with the Detroit Land Bank and design the homes. Model D talks to some of the residents and shows us inside their homes.
Packard Plant avoids foreclosure for now
In the continuing saga of the Packard Plant, owner Fernando Palazuelo has paid $340,000 in back taxes according to Crain's, avoiding the foreclosure auction for now. The owner is now on a payment plan for the remaining balance, with five more payments until September.
