Former industrial building near downtown Royal Oak to be transformed into 75 apartments

With his latest residential development, Bob Wolfson is going for something different. He's transforming a 100,000-square-foot former industrial building on the outskirts of downtown Royal Oak into 75 units of luxury apartments. But it's not your typical industrial-chic lofts that he's building. Instead, Wolfson says he looked to Miami for design inspiration.

Dubbed the Harrison Residences, Wolfson says the apartment building is like a 12-story tower laid on its side. While the design required the replacement of much of the building's infrastructure, the lengthy footprint of the original structure remains largely intact, stretching across four acres of land.

The neighborhoods surrounding downtown Royal Oak are changing, says Wolfson. Smaller, older houses are being demolished and replaced with much larger houses that dwarf neighboring hold-outs. Similarly, the industrial area southeast of downtown is in the midst of transition.

"[The Harrison] is changing the industrial to more residential. So, it changes the whole market, basically," says Wolfson. "There are a couple of projects nearby that are loft projects."

Four different types of units result from the unique building's size and shape. There will be 11 garden bungalows; 24 one-story, one-bedroom units; 15 one-story townhouses; and 25 two-story townhouses. Some units will be loft-style, while others will be more traditional one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments. The Harrison will also boast floor-to-ceiling windows, 16- to 20-foot ceilings, and private gardens and patios. Italian kitchen cabinets and European-style walk-in showers are also part of the plans.

The building reminds Wolfson of a hotel, and the concierge and modern lobby will contribute to that. Rooftop access comes complete with a sun deck, solarium, and gathering space.

The Harrison will begin pre-leasing in two months with its first residents moving in by June. Construction is scheduled to finish in September.

The Harrison Residences is located at 1210 Morse Ave. in Royal Oak.

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