Aging mall gets new life and new tenants in $25 million development deal.
Three days after the Detroit Free Press asked the city of Dearborn about the dilapidated conditions at a largely abandoned shopping center, the Michigan Avenue space was somewhat cleaned up, a check for back taxes was in the mail and the owner was planning a $25 million redevelopment of Garrison Place.
A Free Press reader sent photos to the Free Press on Monday of the shopping center, which formerly housed a Kroger and a CVS, showing a broken window, graffiti, trash and weeds around the building. But some of it was gone by Wednesday afternoon, including the graffiti, while a second-story window was still broken and trash still littered the site.
According to the property owner, the city contacted the company on Tuesday, which sent workers to the mall on Wednesday.
A company called Dearborn Retail Management III, a limited liability company affiliated with a development company, Bingham Farms-based Alrig USA, bought the mall for $8 million in 2022. At that point, only three tenants remained – a restaurant, a dentist’s office and a nail salon.
Mike Schuchman, who works at Dearborn Retail Management III, said the company plans to invest $25 million to revitalize the center.
He said the plans would be submitted to the city next week, but declined to name any retailers who have agreed to be tenants.
Wayne County Treasurer’s records show that as of Thursday, just over $151,000 in back taxes, interest and fees were owed for 2022, putting the property at risk of foreclosure, and another just over $311,000 in taxes were past due for 2023.
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Schuchman said Thursday that the tax payments are “on the way” to the county. Regarding the disastrous conditions, which were at least partially remedied this week, he said: “We want our property to look as good as possible.”
He said existing tenants would be welcome in the revitalized center.
“We want them to stay with us in the future,” said Schuchman.
Contact Jennifer Dixon: [email protected]
