since the construction of Lakeside Mall, was announced today as the Sunnybrook
Golf Course site will be transformed into a modern manufacturing complex.
Located in the heart of the city’s industrial corridor,
on 17 Mile Road just west of Van Dyke, the 144-acre site was the largest
available parcel in the city when it closed in August and was purchased by the
Sterling Group development company. The property will offer build-to-suit
facilities of up to 1 million square feet.
“This new and upscale industrial park will
be one of the premier industrial developments in the entire Midwest and will
bring hundreds of new jobs, hundreds of thousands of dollars in new tax
revenue, and two new hotels,” Mayor Michael Taylor announced on Facebook.
expressed interest in the location, which is situated within two miles of Ford’s
Axle Plant and Van Dyke Plant, Fiat
Chrysler Automobile’s Sterling Heights Assembly Plan and two defense
industry giants — General Dynamics
Land Systems headquarters and BAE Systems’ newest facility.
The redevelopment could generate about $800,000 annually in property tax
revenue, compared to the approximately $168,000 generated annually by
Sunnybrook, according to a press release.
has been invested throughout the city’s manufacturing corridor, with the largest
the $1 billion in improvements at FCA’s Sterling Heights Assembly Plant.
When ground is broken in the Spring at the Sunnybrook site, Detroit-based
Sterling Group will be working in conjunction with builders J.B. Donaldson Co. of Farmington Hills
on the design and construction.
“The new manufacturing site will offer the region the latest technology,
innovation and advanced manufacturing facilities and amenities with ideal
proximity to major rail and roadway transportation systems,” Danny
Samson, chief development officer of Sterling Group, said in a statement.
“Couple that with the city’s incredible success in attracting and retaining
automotive and defense leaders to the region and this project is poised to
radically and positively affect … productivity, jobs and the region’s economic
tax base.”
and bowling alley, which had been a fixture in Sterling Heights since the
Depression era.
“Although it is sad to see Sunnybrook
close,” Taylor said, “the future is bright at that location. “… And while the
city’s business and economic development team have been working diligently to
see this project become a reality, the city is spending no public money to
incentivize the development.”
