
Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies, including updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Gardner-White Extends Thanksgiving Parade Sponsorship Through 2025
Gardner-White has extended its presenting sponsorship of America’s Thanksgiving Parade through 2025, The Parade Co. announced Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Gardner-White, they are such an important part of The Parade Co. family,” says Tony Michaels, president and CEO of The Parade Co. “Their incredible support and commitment signals a strong future for America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner-White.”
The 2021 parade, in its 95th year, is themed “Love on Woodward.” It will be broadcast in more than 185 television markets across the country with WDIV Local 4 continuing as the exclusive television partner.
“We are totally grateful that you’ve made us the No. 1 furniture store in Detroit and we are thrilled to be the presenting sponsor of America’s Thanksgiving Parade,” says Rachel Stewart, president of Gardner-White. “Detroit is our home, Gardner-White has been here since 1912 and we are never leaving. It’s our city, our roots, where our friends and family live, and when we travel we say we are from Detroit, and we say it with pride. And that’s why we signed up through 2025 to be the presenting sponsor for Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day parade, the best parade in America.”
For more information, visit theparade.org.
City Modern Units in Detroit’s Brush Park Near Completion
City Modern’s for-sale units in Detroit’s historic Brush Park neighborhood, developed by Farmington Hills-based Hunter Pasteur, are nearing completion, and a model of the townhomes is now open for public viewing.
City Modern is a more than $100 million project composed of 24 buildings across 8.4 acres of Brush Park. City Modern Master Developer Bedrock and Hunter Pasteur teamed up to bring the vision of the for-sale homes to life.
There are 105 for-sale units in two distinct styles — carriage homes and townhomes. The carriage homes offer a modern twist inspired by the carriage homes of the 1800s, once commonly found in Brush Park, while the townhomes are multi-level, modern urban dwellings.
“City Modern successfully integrates the historic character of Brush Park with contemporary architecture to create a new 21st century narrative for the community,” says Seth Herkowitz, a partner at Hunter Pasteur. “We are proud to make the vision of the for sale townhomes and the carriage homes a reality, and help build a thriving community in beautiful and historic Brush Park.”
Hunter Pasteur partnered with Chicago-based Studio Dwell Architects to design the townhomes, and Detroit-based Patrick Thompson Design outfitted the interior of the model unit. The townhomes range from 2,280 to 3,170 square feet, and are available in two- and three-bedroom styles, each featuring three levels plus a penthouse. Every unit features a second floor and rooftop terrace. Balconies on both sides of the townhome — facing north and south — offer views of both downtown and midtown. Prices range from $600,000 to more than $1.3 million.
To schedule a tour of the City Modern townhome model, contact info@hunterpasteurhomes.com or call 313-300-2009.
JPMorgan Chase Invests in First Independence Bank
Detroit-based First Independence Bank is one of 14 diverse-led financial institutions across the country receiving an investment by JPMorgan Chase in New York.
The amount of the investment was not disclosed, however JPMorgan Chase’s investments in Black, Hispanic, and Latino-owned and -led minority depository institutions (MDIs) and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) has exceeded $100 million in less than a year.
JPMorgan Chase says it increased its commitment after seeing the impact of its initial $40 million investment in four MDIs earlier this year. To date those MDIs have used the capital to hire staff, invest in technology enhancements, and expand into new markets.
Diverse financial institutions play an important role in providing vital financial services, such as mortgages and small business loans, to underserved communities. According to the FDIC, every dollar of equity capital invested can increase MDI lending by eight to 10 times.
“We’re focused on strengthening these critical institutions by providing additional access to capital, connections to institutional investors, and offering mentorship and training opportunities,” says Doug Petno, CEO of commercial banking at JPMorgan Chase. “We know that every dollar invested in MDIs and CDFIs has a multiplying effect in our communities and we’re proud to help advance the sustainable change needed to close the racial wealth gap across the country.”
For more information, visit here.
Detroit’s Regrid Launches Nationwide Land Parcel Data + Matched Building Footprints
Regrid, a Detroit-based provider of nationwide land parcel data, has launched an enhanced location context product, Regrid Nationwide Parcel Data Premium Schema + Matched Building Footprints.
The company’s new Parcels + Footprints product matches and pre-joins more than 156 million building footprint geometries to their nationwide parcel records (more than 150 million parcels) and geometries, covering 99 percent of the American population, delivered as one combined product via bulk-delivered files and enterprise-grade API.
This is a first in the industry where these two location context and spatial datasets have been matched and pre-joined as one single parcel data solution.
“Land parcels and building footprints are fundamental to shaping location intelligence and making sense of the American landscape inhabited by 333 million people and growing,” says Jerry Paffendorf, CEO of Regrid. “Regrid now delivers our parcel data pre-joined with building geometries as a combined solution, nationwide, with superior quality, ease-of-use, and economics, providing a new foundation for all serious spatial apps and analysis.
“A next evolution of spatial data is matching public record facts about land with newly derived data in an approachable format. In EarthDefine we found a partner that shares this vision and approach to the market, and you can expect to see more of this from us.”
Regrid joined hands with a leading geospatial data provider, EarthDefine, to build this product. EarthDefine uses advanced AI and computer vision to derive building footprints from aerial imagery and Lidar. What this means is greater coverage nationwide, including rural areas and places where building footprints have historically been harder to obtain.
Cushman & Wakefield Selected to Market Big Rock Chophouse
Cushman & Wakefield in Detroit has been selected by Birmingham’s Kelly Building & Development Co. to offer the historic Birmingham Train Station, currently Big Rock Chophouse, and adjacent property at 245 S. Eton St. in Birmingham for lease.
The location features an approximately 11,000-square-foot historic landmark building and adjacent property for further expansion. In the past 15 years, a four-story parking garage and two mixed-use buildings adjacent to the property featuring luxury residential and Class A office and retail space have been completed by the development team.
“The same development team that has been part of creating the original District campus for the last 15 years, beginning with The District Lofts, is the same development team that will be overseeing the property and providing an opportunity to set the stage for the next generation of legacy building,” says John Kelly, president of Kelly Building & Development Co. “Along with J.C. Cataldo of Cataldo Development, we’ve been working with our partners the LePages and Nicholsons for years and are all stewards and advocates of the Birmingham community. We are honored they passed the baton to us, and we are looking forward to identifying the right partner that is the best fit for the Train Station’s future.”
Cushman & Wakefield Detroit Managing Principal Garrett Keais is leading the effort to market the property for potential office, retail, restaurant/hospitality, or health care use.
Saroki Architecture of Birmingham will serve as the lead development architectural partner for the property.
“The train station is the crown jewel of the campus, and our goal is to focus on enhancing it,” says Victor Saroki, president of Saroki Architecture of Birmingham. “There’s tremendous opportunity for the space even including expanding it, and we are looking at many creative uses for the building to make the entire campus more dynamic.”
Originally built in 1931, 245 S. Eton St. opened as the Birmingham Grand Trunk and Western Railroad Depot, an historical landmark in the city. Eventually, maintenance costs and lack of use resulted in the closing of the railroad in 1978. The building sat empty until 1984, when it was restored and converted into a signature restaurant by Norman and Bonnie LePage. It was named Norman’s Eton Street Station until 1997, when the LePages and their partners, Ray and Mary Nicholson, officially transformed it into Big Rock Chophouse.
Meadow Brook Hall Holiday Event Tickets on Sale Oct. 1
Tickets for Meadow Brook Hall’s two holiday events — Holiday Walk and Winter Wonder Lights — go on sale Oct. 1.
By day, the annual Holiday Walk transports visitors through the historic mansion decked in holiday splendor, while Winter Wonder Lights transforms the estate at night into a light show featuring music, concessions, and magic. The events are taking place Nov. 26-Dec. 30.
“The holidays at Meadow Brook are an incredibly enchanting experience,” says Shannon O’Berski, external relations director of Meadow Brook Hall. “Not only are we celebrating the 50th anniversary of our beloved Holiday Walk, but we are expanding across the grounds of the Great Estate with an all-new holiday light show, Winter Wonder Lights.”
Holiday Walk is a self-guided indoor tour of three floors of historic Meadow Brook Hall, filled with holiday sights and decorations. Winter Wonder Lights is a self-guided outdoor event featuring unique light displays across the grounds.
For tour dates and times, and to purchase tickets, visit here.