Longtime Detroit developer and landlord Michael Higgins died Sunday, September 3, 2023. He was 74.A cause of death was not released but it was described as unexpected.

Higgins had been involved in Detroit real estate for decades, with his most notable project being the $55 million redevelopment, along with other investors, in the early 2010s of the Broderick Tower high-rise on Grand Circus Park. It opened in 2012.

Other projects included the Elliott Building at 1403 Woodward Ave., now owned by Dan Gilbert.

"We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Mike Higgins," his company, Midwest Real Estate Assets, said in a statement. "Mike was a true visionary in urban redevelopment in Detroit. The company's employees, investors, as well as the many tenants and neighbors whose lives he touched mourn his loss." At the time of his death, he had been working on a large redevelopment of the Leland Hotel downtown as well as a mixed-use project in the West Village neighborhood at East Jefferson and Van Dyke. Demolition started on the latter in recent days.Those projects have faced legal battles in recent years, with the city suing over conditions at the Leland and an architecture firm suing him over unpaid bills on the West Village project.

In addition to those properties, information provided by his company on Wednesday says he had various West Village properties, a 25-unit condominium building on East Jefferson, and vacation condos in St. Thomas, Aspen and Bay Harbor that are all occupied or leased as rentals by property managers.
Detroit developer, landlord Michael Higgins dead at 74 | Crain's Detroit Business [[crainsdetroit.com)