Construction wraps on first phase of Wyandotte’s Orchards

Carriage House. It’s normally defined as living space above a garage. It’s a phrase not normally tossed around in Metro Detroit, where garages are typically in front or off to the side of the house. But it’s a key phrase in the first phase of The Orchards development near downtown Wyandotte.

Construction of three carriage homes is set to wrap up this spring. Masons are bricking the outside this month and adding finishing touches in the following weeks.

Each unit in the two-story buildings will come with an attached garage and a balcony. They’ll range in size from 1,200 to 1,400 square feet and come as one or two bedroom residences. Prices will be between $140,000 and $150,000.

The development overlooks the Wyandotte Shores Golf Course and the Detroit River. Its location at the intersection of Biddle Avenue and Orchard Street puts it within easy walking distance of downtown Wyandotte.

The other two phases call for loft-style condos and townhouses. All of the units come with attached parking, balconies, gourmet kitchens and spacious open floor plans. They range in size between 1,200 to 2,100 square feet with prices expected to go as high as $220,000. Construction on the next two phases will begin once most of the first phase is sold.

Buyers of each unit will receive a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone tax break that will cut taxes by 65 percent. The NEZs, a commonly used tax break throughout Metro Detroit, save new home buyers thousands of dollars in taxes by lowering the tax rate to 16.86 mills from the normal city millage of 47.8 mills for 12 years.

Rivertown Construction hopes to finish the project within two years. For information, call Linda Perry at (734) 362-0991.

Source: Linda Perry, president of Rivertown Construction
Writer: Jon Zemke