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DETROIT-Midtown Development Inc. and DeMattia Investments II, LLC are renovating the 94-year-old historic Willys Overland building into a multifamily complex. Situated on Willis Street between Cass and Second avenues, the transformed property, to be called Willys Overland Lofts, will include 75 condominiums ranging in size from 982 sf to 2,476 sf.
The building, located in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood, is anchored by Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center. Because of the pool of post graduates in the area, city officials say the redevelopment qualified for a $3-million loan under Gov. Jennifer Granholm's "Tipping Point Neighborhoods Strategy," a plan to keep young professionals and workers in the creative economy from leaving Michigan's urban centers.
Under the program, the maximum loan term is five years, which will be repaid with proceeds from the condominium sales. The loan itself will be provided by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). "The renovation is an integral part of the city's efforts to revitalize the entire Downtown," says MSHDA executive director Michael R. DeVos.
Approximately 20 units will have private rooftop terraces and another 13 ground-floor units will have private patios. All residents will have access to a rooftop common area. Initial occupancy is scheduled for March 2007. Neighbors include many distinctive shops, pubs, and eateries including Avalon Bakery, Mario's Restaurant, and Traffic Jam and Snug.
Built in 1912, the original facility was home to Willys Overland Co., best known for the production of the WWII military Jeeps. Around 1953, the facility was sold to Davidson Brothers Wholesale Dry Goods Store and has since been a Federal Department Store and warehouse for the Detroit Public Schools.
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