Dearborn - Dearborn Town Center is focus of economics talk

metromode, 9/3/2009

The Dearborn Town Center is seen as a potential game-changing development in the inner-ring suburb, and such ideas will be the center of discussion at the Economic Outlook Breakfast on Sept. 15.

The focus will be on the multi-million-dollar project at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Schaefer Road and its expected impact on the city's east downtown and the community as a whole.

"That corner is the cornerstone to not only the district but the city," says Jennifer Giering, president of the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce. "We see that project as catalytic."

John Keuten, CEO of Oakwood Enterprises, will lead the discussion. Oakwood Healthcare System is the main tenant of the ambitious urban redevelopment project.

The Dearborn Town Center will feature a 162,000-square-foot mix of office and retail space. The vast majority of that space will be occupied by 500 workers from Oakwood Healthcare System and Midwest Health Services, including 200 new jobs.

A 530-car public parking garage is also being constructed (construction began this summer) behind the building. Redico, the developer, is also looking at building 22,000 square feet of retail space in front of the Schafer side of the garage if it can get it leased before construction is done. Plans for senior housing behind the parking garage are still being considered for a future phase of the project.

The Dearborn Town Center replaces the old Montgomery Ward department store that was recently demolished. Montgomery Ward opened the store in 1937, expanding it to 93,000 square feet. It went belly-up in 2001 and has been vacant ever since.

The breakfast will be held in the Early American Room at the Dearborn Inn, 20301 Oakwood Blvd. For information, call (313) 584-6100.

Source: Jennifer Giering, president of the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce
Writer: Jon Zemke

Dearborn