The designs for the old Kmart headquarters in Troy are drifting away from the neo-urban principles of the original plans and more towards typical suburban sprawl.
Grand Sakwa Properties recently presented city officials with its intentions for the large parcel on Big Beaver Road just west of The Somerset Collection mall. It's now official that the Farmington Hills-based developer sees the future of that site as principally commercial.
"They are clearly saying in today's world they can't build residential and market it," says Mark F. Miller, assistant city manager for Troy.
The previous design, called the Pavilions of Troy, called for a large, dense, mixed-use village. The $300 million development entailed 500,000 square feet of retail space, 300,000 square feet of office space, a 250-key hotel, 750 residential units (lofts and townhouses), a 3000-seat theater, grocery stores, restaurants, and a public ice skating rink. Both the current and the former concept call for razing the former Kmart headquarters.
Grand Sakwa Properties has made an offer on the property and could close on it as soon as December. It has pulled a PUD (planned-unit development) revision application and is looking at pursuing a public-private partnership with Troy.
Source: Mark F. Miller, assistant city manager for Troy
Writer: Jon Zemke
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