More Land, More Buildings Business to Business Monthly Magazine Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce  Date -- April, 2000 - By Bill Milliken, CCIM             “There is substantial, unmet demand in the Plymouth/Ann Arbor market,” says Gary Roberts, executive vice-president of the Plymouth-based DeMattia Group. To his way of thinking, the 87 undeveloped acres of industrial land at Washtenaw Business Park has come along at just the right time.             Located by I-94, just off Whittaker Road on the east side of Washtenaw County, the DeMattia Group purchased the acreage last year for an undisclosed price from a Morgan-Mitsubishi partnership. Phase I of the Park, begun over fifteen years ago by the original investor group, contains thirteen lots, eight of which are already developed: they include McDonald’s, two automobile dealers, Kalitta Motorsports and Engineered Plastic Products, among others.             But the real reason for the acquisition is the sixteen new lots in Phase II which wrap around the west and south sides of the original business park, not counting a 25-acre wetland. The developable parcels range in size from two to twelve acres. Several commercially zoned lots lie on the east side, along Whittaker Road. And the demand is there. “Flex” Building Planned             Development manager Douglas Forman says DeMattia is adding the infrastructure now (gas, electricity, water & sewer) to prepare the lots for development. He adds that the DeMattia Group is before Ypsilanti Township this month, asking for site plan approval for a 56,000 square foot “spec” building on 3.5 acres along I-94. The company’s architectural division designed the structure, and it will be built by their in-house construction group this summer. Plans call for a clear height of twenty-four feet and four loading docks. The “flex” building will allow a tenant to specify any configuration of office or warehouse space.             Two lots at the west end of Washtenaw Business Park went under contract last month to buyers who hope to construct an ice arena on it, featuring two “sheets” of ice. The Eastern Michigan University club hockey team would also use the facility.             DeMattia plans to keep a number of the lots for its own account for build-to-suit applications. Other parcels may be sold to investors or users. Prices could range from $100,000 per acre to $400,000 per acre, depending on the location and zoning. Scio Township Construction Scheduled             Not to be outdone, the Jackson Boulevard corridor on the west side of Ann Arbor, is bustling with activity. Meijer’s new 210,000 square foot store has been site plan approved and may begin construction this month, according to Scio Township Supervisor Spaulding Clark. Meijer, Inc., which has always had a knack for land acquisition, bought the land for this new store (at the southwest corner of Zeeb and Jackson Roads) in the 1960’s. However, a petition to the Township from Home Depot for site plan approval on their Jackson Boulevard parcel was denied last August.             The Ann Arbor Auto Mall will open its doors to a new dealer this summer: Lexus received site plan approval to construct a dealership on a 3.5 acres of frontage next to Auto Strasse, the BMW/Mercedes dealer. One-half mile away, near Jackson and Wagner Roads, the new Toyota dealership is under construction. Owner Al Dunning will relocate the dealership from its current location on Washtenaw Avenue in Ypsilanti this spring. New Retail Space             White Pine Printers, one of the corridor’s business pioneers, has just completed construction of Pine Ridge Towers, a 39,000 square foot retail complex next to its production facility. Zoned C-2, the layouts provide for 3,500 square foot retail storefronts, with high-bay (22-feet clear) storage in back, facing I-94. White Pine has added 10,000 square feet to its leasehold, a fifty per cent increase in its size. Fashion Floors of Ann Arbor has leased space at Pine Ridge. About 25,000 square feet remains available for lease. Vanston O”Brien was the contractor. Jackson Boulevard Construction Imminent The much awaited road improvement program will kick off (again) this summer when Zeeb Road, south of Jackson is widened and re-paved.  In 2001, according to Scio Township officials, the four-lane Jackson Boulevard will be extended about a mile west, past Zeeb Road. The I-94/Zeeb Road interchange, which is an engineering challenge, will be done in conjunction with this extension. Then, in 2003, crews will make their way out to the Baker Road interchange to rebuild and replace its expressway ramps. # # # Milliken Realty Company (734) 480-4000            For More Information Contact: Bill Milliken, CCIM Milliken Realty Company 100 Huron View Blvd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Tel: 734-821-4321 Fax: 734-821-4322 Internet: info@millikenrealty.com   Property listing data is based on information believed accurate & reliable. However, accuracy is not guaranteed. Copyright © 2005 Milliken Realty Company info@millikenrealty.com