Tuesday, October 11, 2016
The Royal Oak City Commission has approved up to $3.7 million in Brownfield tax incentives to support Beaumont Health in the clean-up and redevelopment of the former Northwood Shopping Center at Woodward Avenue and Thirteen Mile.
Approved by the City Commission on Oct. 10, the Brownfield incentives will 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.
Abatement and soil remediation work will now get underway to prepare buildings on the property for demolition this fall.
Beaumont will also move forward with the submission of documents for city site plan approval for a new, 183,000-square-foot commercial retail development on the 15-acre property.
“We have exciting plans which incorporate the feedback of the more than 6,000 employees, physicians, students and community residents who took part in our survey on Northwood redevelopment,” said Carolyn Wilson, chief operating officer, Beaumont Health.
“Our plans call for a grocery store, hotel, restaurants and various other retail offerings in an attractive setting that expands green space and walkability on the property, enhancing the experience for our patients, visitors, employees and the community-at-large.”
The development will bring about 200 temporary construction jobs and about 150 permanent jobs to the area, once completed.
Beaumont will continue to pay annual property taxes of $435,000 on the property during redevelopment. The taxable value of the Northwood property will increase from $7.6 million to an estimated $11.3 million after redevelopment, ultimately benefitting the city of Royal Oak with additional tax revenue to support city services.
Redevelopment work is expected to begin next summer, after city site plan approval.
All retailers, except for two Beaumont businesses, vacated the property as of July 1.
Beaumont has owned the Northwood property since the 1980s.