Northland Mall's possible future: Pricey condos

[hybridy]

City Council approves Northland Center purchase agreement

The Southfield City Council approved a purchase agreement for the sale of the majority of the former Northland Center for $11,093,000 to Contour Companies of Bloomfield Hills.
Contour Companies have proposed a true dynamic mixed-use redevelopment including apartments at various rental rates, retail and restaurants, office and green space that very closely mirrors the City’s original vision for the Northland redevelopment based upon residents’ collective input.

“The redevelopment of Northland will transform the property into a lively new urban center while respecting and reinforcing the history of the site, as well as its unique Mid-Century Modern design.,” said Contour Companies CEO David Dedvukaj. “The project consists of two phases: A 1,339-unit mixed-use apartment community that will provide comfortable and dynamic work-force housing in 14, five-story buildings. Six of these buildings will have a commercial component on the ground floor facing Greenfield Road. The massive J.L. Hudson Co. store, once the largest branch department store in the world, will be returned to use as the Hudson City Market, a vibrant food-and-specialty home furnishings marketplace, filled with dining and entertainment options. The marketplace will be developed in the spirit of the highly successful Ponce City Market in Atlanta. Phase II, located along Northwestern Highway and on J. L. Hudson Drive, will compliment and complete the development’s sense of community by incorporating more mixed-use residential buildings, townhomes fronting on a landscaped green space complete with a pond and other amenities. The landmark power plant will become a community clubhouse and the familiar Northland water tower will also remain in place.”

https://youtu.be/bjm1TSZHDRc

[EGrant]

So the middle portion of the mall becomes a market, but what happens to the other portions of the mall? Retail, or are those apartments too?

[NSortzi]

Seems overly ambitious. I’ll believe it when I see it.

[hybridy]

So the middle portion of the mall becomes a market, but what happens to the other portions of the mall? Retail, or are those apartments too?

They're going to return the mall to it's original outdoor state. I imagine a 'village square' arrangement where a community[[food hall/mark)/office/retail space is surrounded by residential, but this time with walkability vs just cars. The catch: they want the county and state to kick in big ol' pile of $$$.

Contour plans to save the original five retail pads from the former mall as well as the underground tunnels and Hudson's building.

...however, this sale is based on Contour assuming the cost of demolishing the JC Penney's building, later mall additions and the 1974 enclosure of the free-standing structures.

“This is a very complex economic development deal which will require significant State and County participation,” stated Northland Steering Committee Chair/Councilman Dan Brightwell. “This project is not only important for the City of Southfield and Countour Companies, but for Oakland County and the entire State of Michigan.”

[Meddle]

“This project is not only important for ... but for ... the entire State of Michigan.”

Umm, No.

[CR75]

Seems overly ambitious. I’ll believe it when I see it.

Agree, 1300+ units is a lot for a city of 70,000 and very slow population growth. Maybe the target here is to divert some of the people moving to the new apartment buildings cropping up in [[greater) downtown Detroit. But then again I don't see that same crowd wanting to move inside a repurposed mall in the suburbs. Maybe it's the new trendy thing to do, who knows.

[Danny]

By looking at the design. It's beautiful old outdoor mall setting back in 1954. That's more like it. Northland Mall will be restored back the way it was.

[hybridy]

Umm, No.

It would seem developers are targeting Transformational Brownfield TIF that only Gilbert seems to have been able to tap into thus far.

[hybridy]

Crains is citing Costco Business Center and Emagine as potential tenants at Northland City Center.

Costco Business Center, a branch of the warehouse giant tailored to small businesses, is open to all paying Costco members. There are only 17 of them in the United States, and nearly 70% of the products they sell can't be found in a traditional Costco

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