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eMacomb - Grand Opening News, Fall 2014
Macomb Mall
With its towering signage on the corner of Gratiot and Masonic, the Macomb Mall has been delighting shoppers since it first opened 50 years ago. Sporting much more than a fresh coat of paint, a newly refreshed Macomb Mall awaits shoppers this holiday season.
Purchased by Lormax Stern Development Company in May 2013, work at the 901,319-square-foot enclosed center began with the demolition of the former Value City department store in June. In October, mall officials celebrated the grand opening of the brand-new 50,000-square-foot Dick’s Sporting Goods. Other major retailers include Sears, Kohl’s, Old Navy, Victoria’s Secret, Babies “R” Us, Party City as well as more than 50 other stores and restaurants.
“Macomb Mall has a roster of tenants that are dedicated to the growth and success of the shopping center,” said Christopher Brochert, partner at Lormax Stern. “Through the loyalty of our retailers, present and future, and their constant innovation, the mall will serve as a vibrant neighborhood resource and shopping destination. With their help, we can deliver every member of the family with quality fashionable apparel and accessories, home goods, food and entertainment - all under one roof - for years to come.”
Other physical improvements to the mall include the expansion of Champs Sports and a renovation of Hot Topic. In August, mall officials announced that fast-fashion giant H&M had signed a lease for 20,000 square feet set to open sometime soon. Other newcomers include ULTA, a cosmetic superstore, Shoe Carnival and GNC.
Overall, the entire mall redevelopment project is estimated to cost $30 to $40 million. Estimated costs to redevelop the former Value City store into the new Dick’s Sporting Goods were $8.4 million, including nearly $3.8 million in environmental cleanup costs. Under Michigan Public Act 381, certain eligible environmental cleanup costs incurred by the developer are eligible for reimbursement over a period of up to 26 years. The reimbursement is paid through captured incremental taxes generated by improvements to the property.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a "Brownfield" is real property for which the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of may be complicated by the presence or perceived presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties protects the environment, reduces blight and takes development pressures off green spaces and working lands.
Officials from the city of Roseville turned to the Macomb County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (MCBRA), coordinated by the Department of Planning & Economic Development, to secure this benefit for the developer. It is estimated that it may take as long as 20 years to reimburse the developer for all eligible environmental cleanup activities. The county will oversee this process on behalf of the city.
Maintaining an active and engaged brownfield redevelopment authority can be a difficult and costly process for our smaller communities. The department stands ready to leverage the expertise of our MCBRA on behalf of any community within the county that requests this service.