Two Macomb Shopping Destinations Undergo Renovations

 

While Macomb shoppers have welcomed the addition of several new commercial centers over the past couple of years, a couple of long-standing malls are being upgraded to maintain a competitive edge.

Universal Mall
The City of Warren has partnered with Universal Mall LLC to take an innovative approach to the declining businesses and sales at the Universal Mall.  The mall, built in the 1960s, was radical in design as it was one of the first structures of its kind with all the stores and walkways under just one roof.  The design and location made the mall the place to shop during the 1960s, 70s, and early 80s. 

Universal was competitive with other commercial centers through the 1990s and into 2001 when it reported 72 retailers and 82% occupancy rate.  However, changes in the local economy had an impact.  By 2008, Universal had only 40 tenants and a 40% occupancy rate.  The most damaging was that major anchors had either left the premises or gone bankrupt (Montgomery Wards, Mervyns and Value City).  This left little to attract patrons and without customers, the sales at remaining stores spiraled downward.

After three proposed redevelopment plans, the City of Warren was able to get the State of Michigan to designate the property as a Brownfield site and provide $1.48 million based on the need to clean up lead-based paint and the successful application of Warren to show the obsolescence of the facility.  In the case for obsolescence, the city contended that the building did not provide the open door shopping setting that current commercial retailers and shoppers are seeking.

Currently undergoing a $20 million dollar renovation, most of the mall has been demolished leaving 650,000 square feet of retail space that is partitioned into units between 20,000 to 133,000 square feet.  This is estimated to accommodate nine stores.  The redevelopment project got a big boost when Target committed to opening a store on the site.  The second run movie theatre will become a stand-alone building and will have a complete face-lift.  The site will also see new construction in the form of two buildings on out lots that will probably be occupied by restaurants.  It is anticipated that the project will be completed and new stores will open by September, 2009.

Lakeside Mall

In these tough times, even the large regional malls have to reconsider how to attract costumers.  Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights is one such example.  The mall was the brainchild of A. Alfred Taubman and was backed by the Dutch investment firm Rodamco.  Built in 1976, the two-story mall remained the largest regional mall in Michigan for over twenty years.  In recent years, Rodamco sold the mall to the Rouse Company that was subsequently bought by General Growth Properties.

Little remodeling and updating has occurred at the mall since 1976.  In an effort to maintain strong commercial centers, the City of Sterling Heights created a special commercial assessment district that included the Lakeside property and the entire commercial out lots around the circular road of the mall.  The assessment district will capture additional taxes from the various property owners over the course of 20 years to repay the $3.5 million dollars in bonds backed by the city.

The funding mechanism is significant as it is the first time that the City of Sterling Heights has ever created a commercial special assessment district.  The responsibility of paying for the bonds rest with the individual property owners and are not based on whether the property is currently being occupied by a retailer.  A majority of the property owners supported the project realizing that the overall experience of a customer is what will create long lasting patrons.

Improvements include major entry signs at the M-59 and Schoenherr entrances.  A specific signage and lighting plan was employed throughout the entire area to bring a collective theme to the area.  The wayfinding signs were constructed with flat stone similar to the stone made famous in the Arts and Crafts housing design movement and later would inspire architects like Frank Lloyd Wright.  This stone detail was selected because it mirrors the design of the food court, which is the most recent redesign to the mall.

This funding was also used to repair all joints in the interior roadways and the creation of stamped crosswalks.  In addition, Shoreline Drive (road heading out from the mall to Hayes) was completely redone with the old engineered retaining wall being replaced by aesthetically pleasing landscape and respite areas.  The entire effort is to show the City’s unwavering support to important commercial centers that are the backbone of the community’s economy.