Wednesday, August 03, 2016
With city support and approval, demolition would begin this fall
Beaumont Health has submitted preliminary documents to the city of Royal Oak for redevelopment of the Northwood Shopping Center property at Woodward Avenue and Thirteen Mile as a new, 183,000-square-foot commercial retail development.
All retailers, except for Beaumont businesses, have vacated the property as of July 1. Beaumont is seeking Brownfields tax incentives from Royal Oak to help cover the cost of environmental clean-up of the site, resulting from the auto repair shop and dry cleaner that occupied storefronts on the property. Once the Brownfield incentives are approved, abatement and soil remediation work will take place to prepare buildings on the property for demolition beginning in the fall.
Redevelopment plans for the property will incorporate feedback received from more than 6,000 Beaumont Health employees, physicians, medical students and community residents who took part in a survey regarding what services and facilities they would like to see on the high profile property that adjoins the campus of Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.
The survey showed strong community support for redevelopment. A grocery store, hotel and various retail businesses were among the most-cited options.
We received very valuable feedback from the survey and want to thank everyone who participated.
Carolyn Wilson, Beaumont Health COO
“We received very valuable feedback from the survey and want to thank everyone who participated,” said Carolyn Wilson, chief operating officer, Beaumont Health, and interim president of Beaumont, Royal Oak.
A timeline for redevelopment is currently being developed as Beaumont works through the approval process with the city of Royal Oak.
Beaumont has owned the Northwood property since the 1980s.
The shopping center property will be available for Woodward Dream Cruise activities in August, which benefit local community organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club of South Oakland and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
In fact, Beaumont is holding a special “Beaumont Grandstand Cruise & View” event at Northwood where participants can enjoy Woodward Avenue’s prime viewing spot during a cruise-themed fundraising event for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Cruise & View” will feature vehicles from the Lingenfelter Collection, one of the top automotive collections in the world, retro-Detroit diner favorites, covered grandstand seating and more, near the site of the former Firestone dealership at Northwood. The event will take place on Friday, Aug. 19, 4 to 8 p.m. for sponsors and Beaumont team members and Saturday, Aug. 20, noon to 8 p.m. Reserved guest parking will be provided. Tickets are $175. Sponsorship and ticket information is available online.
Proceeds benefit Beaumont Children’s, the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals affiliate in Southeast Michigan.