Detroit Free Press: Katie Merx, August 8, 2008
GM looks to RenCen for cash
General Motors Corp. is looking at ways to raise cash with the Renaissance Center, a prominent piece of Detroit real estate, which it prefers to rent rather than own.
Bill Lichwalla, president and CEO of Plante Moran Cresa in Southfield, a firm that often acts as a matchmaker in such deals, said it is a normal action for businesses and an increasingly popular way for corporations to raise money, given the current tight credit markets. "We are seeing a definite uptick in the use of sale-leasebacks to generate financing in recent weeks and days," Lichwalla said.
To view the complete article, please visit the Detroit Free Press.
Royal Oak Daily Tribune: Michelle McConnell, August 4, 2008
Buildings Lack Space, Department Heads Say
As the City Council considers how to best upgrade city buildings on East Nine Mile Road, some department heads say there is no doubt they need more space.
"We've completely outgrown our building," said Police Chief Michael Kitchen. "Especially in the last five years."
City Council is considering two options to upgrade the buildings in the downtown.
Plante & Moran CRESA consultants have studied several options for the city. City officials estimate they can spend from $4 million to $8 million to upgrade buildings without asking taxpayers for any money.
To view the complete article, please visit the Royal Oak Daily Tribune.
The Mirror: Megan Pennefeather, August 3, 2008
City Hall in a Credit Union? Maybe, Maybe Not
Ferndale resident Greg Pawlica fears if City Hall moves into the second floor of the Credit Union One building, Ferndale will not just lose its current identity, but create a less-desirable new one.
Maintaining the city's identity is also on the minds of City Council members, who charged consultants from Plante Moran CRESA to explore moving City Hall operations into the second floor of Credit Union One on Nine Mile, and moving 43rd District Court across the street into the current City Hall building. That plan would mean the court and police department would be under the same roof. The cost of the plan is estimated to be around $7 million, which includes purchasing the second floor of the credit union building.
To view the entire article, please visit The Mirror.
The Mirror: Megan Pennefeather, July 27, 2008
Ferndale Considers Moving City Hall, Court
Ferndale City Council members are mulling whether to shuffle City Hall and the 43rd District Court to create a new type of civic center complex along east Nine Mile Road.
Plante Moran CRESA, a consulting firm the city hired to assess building needs, has come up with a plan to move City Hall into the second floor of the Credit Union One building next door to the current City Hall. The 43rd District Court would then be moved into the current City Hall building, allowing for court and police department operations to exist in one building.
"It's certainly very innovative and very out-of-the-box," Ferndale City Manager Robert Bruner said.
To view the entire article, visit The Mirror.
Detroit Free Press: County, July 25, 2008
MACOMB COUNTY: Sterling Heights to Buy Itself a Profile
Sterling Heights is spending $12,500 for an economic development profile to help the city sell itself to potential businesses and retailers.
The city is the first community in the state to spend money on a profile by Southfield firm Plante Moran Cresa. The profile includes information such as census data, median disposable income, consumer spending, labor pool, labor and wage rates, infrastructure, schools, cost of real estate and tax structure. The profiles can help cities identify businesses and industries that would be a good fit.
To view the complete article, visit the Detroit Free Press.
Detroit News: People on the Move, July 16, 2008
Real Estate
Plante Moran CRESA, Southfield, added the following associates: Carolina D'Anna Furnari, Steve Kim, Lacy Vandruska and Alicia Washeleski.
To view the posting, visit the Detroit News, or read the complete release here.
Crain's Detroit Business: Rumblings, July 14, 2008
Plante & Moran Touts Data Package to Governments
There are two ways to go on a big-game hunt; chase every herd you come across in the field, or do some research on the migration pattern and who is easy to catch. Both methods work, but one is less tiring.
Plante Moran CRESA has been pitching community economic-development profile reports to at least three local governmends in recent weeks, using its own real estate and economic data and some analysis to aid economic development.
One of them, the city of Sterling Heights, would be the first local buyer if its City Council approves a proposal to purchase the profile report for $12,500 this week. The other two are still under wraps.
To view the entire article, please visit Crain's Detroit Business.
Crain's Detroit Business: Daniel Duggan, July 7, 2008
Reporter's Notebook: Sale of Staubach
Conflicts of interest in the commercial real estate world might be getting a lot more attention around here with the sale of Dallas-based real estate firm Staubach expected in the third quarter to Jones Lang LaSalle.
On June 16, Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle announced the planned $613 million acquisition.
The question to ask is not what Staubach does do, but rather, what it doesn't do.
To read the complete article, please visit Crain's Detroit Business.
X-ology: Summer, 2008
Tips to Take Your Company Green
If you're thinking about the benefits of a green work environment, don't be stymied by all the myths.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green-building rating system provides a long list of criteris that forms a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings and standards that can help ou save money on your project.
According to Jim Breznau, AIA< LEED AP, vice president at Plante Moran CRESA real estate consultants, companies can earn significant credits towrad LEED certification by carefully considering the site where they plan to build, remodel, or lease.
To view the article, please visit X-ology.
The Ann Arbor News: Liz Cobbs, June 18, 2008
Renovations Echoing in Ypsilanti Schools, First Phase of Improvements Begins
The hallways of three Ypsilanti Public Schools buildings were anything but quiet when school ended June 6, and last week the noise really began in earnest.
Last Monday, teachers and staff at Perry Child Development Center, Estabrook Elementary School and Ypsilanti High School returned to pack up classrooms and offices while moving vans were parked to take away their boxes and furniture.
By last Tuesday, construction workers entered the buildings to pull up carpet, tear out floors and take down doors as upgrades and renovations began in the first phase of the district's school improvement project.
Demolition in certain parts of the buildings should be completed this week,said Paul Wills, associate with Plante Moran CRESA, consultants for the project.
"We had a lot of cooperation from the teachers and support from the administration,'' Wills said. "We're keeping all this progress moving.''
To view the full article, please visit The Ann Arbor News.
Crain's Detroit Business: Daniel Duggan, June 16, 2008
Vacant Warren Building Sold, Gets New Tenants
A vacant Warren building was paired with a new investor and two new tenants in one move.
One of the two tenants, Oakley, was represented by Plante Moran CRESA.
To read more about the deal, please visit Crain's Detroit Business.
Crain's Detroit Business: Daniel Duggan, June 9, 2008
BAE to Buy TRW Plant
Rockville, Md.-based defense contractor BAE Systems Inc. plans to acquire the shuttered TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. plant in Sterling Hieghts by year's end, The real estate deal is part of BAE's planned local expansion.
Real estate brokers include Plante Moran CRESA and Colliers International in Southfield.
To read more about the upcoming deal, please visit Crain's Detroit Business.
CoStar News: June 3, 2008
Washington-Based Company to Occupy 6801 Cypris in Romulus, MI
RRT South Services, LLC inked a deal to occupy the entire 23,670 square foot industrial facility at 6801 Cyprus in Romulus, MI.
To read more about the deal, please visit CoStar.
Detroit Free Press: Brent Snavely, June 1, 2008
Supplier Sticks with Michigan: Incentives Help to Build Center in Northville Township
On the surface, IAV Automotive Engineering Inc.'s decision to move from Ann Arbor to Northville Township, where it will build a $23-million technical center, may not appear to be a huge victory for the state.
But economic development officials say the 75 jobs IAV is expecting to add in the next five years are exactly the kind of jobs that Michigan must attract and retain as its manufacturing base continues to disintigrate.
To view the full article, please visit Detroit Free Press.
Crain's Detroit Business: Daniel Duggan, May 19, 2008
Low Dollar Boosts Expansion: Exchange Rates 'A Coupon' for Foreign Firms
When the location for a new engineering center had to be selected, German-based IAV Automotive Engineering, Inc. could have gone anywhere in the world. It picked Northville primarily to be close to its main customers in the automotive industry.But the company's $23 million center will be built on land that's cheaper than in other parts of the world, and puchased at a discount with the dollar's weak position relative to the euro.
IAV and other foreign companies are paying at least 30 percent less to be in the United States than they would in Germany, given currency and real estate cost differences, said Bill Lichwalla, CEO of Plante Moran CRESA, which represented IAV during its site-selection process.
To view the full article, please visit Crain's Detroit Business.
Detroiter Online: Bill Lichwalla, May 6, 2008
Lease, Buy, or Build? Hidden Costs and Hard Choices
Anyone who has ever built a house, rented a car, or purchased a cell phone clearly understands the implications of hidden costs.
While something may seem to be an exceptional deal, inescapable ancillary costs may hike the actual proce of building, leasing or buying far beyond bargain proportions. This fact of life is especially applicable to commercial real estate.
Often, in a slumping economy, business believe the market offers them a chance to capitalize on lower construction costs, big concessions in leases or fire-sale prices on buildings for sale. But hidden costs can quickly devour any perceived savings. The fact is that, whether the economy is good or bad, business owners need the advice of an expert to evaluate wheter to lease, buy, or build a facility; to uncover hidden costs; and to manage costs during the process.
To view the full article, please visit Detroiter Online.
Crain's Detroit Business: Tom Henderson, May 5, 2008
Diminished Tax Credits, Tighter Standards Toughen Funding Search
Like seemingly all things financial, funding for brownfield redevelopment is in flux. Some big banks that have traditionally been buyers of tax credits are now losing money and can't use credits. And they aren't funding deals, either.
Bill Lichwalla, president and CEO of Southfield-based Plante Moran CRESA LLC., a real estate services company, said that while the tightening of capital markets is affecting brownfield development, "Michigan has made a fairly aggressive effort that is having a significant impact on countering tightening credit standards."
To view the full artice, please visit Crain's Detroit Business.
Crain's Detroit Business: Daniel Duggan, March 10, 2008
Construction Companies Think Smaller, Find Niches as Projects Become Fewer
When the biding process for a $1 million gun range in Novi was opened to construction firms, 12 bidders stepped forward.
Five years ago, a job of that size likely would have drawn four, maybe five, bidders, said Bill Lichwalla, CEO of Plante & Moran Cresa, which is overseeing the selection of a construction firm for the Novi project.
The competitive trends have been good news for the project owners paying the bills. Construction executives say there's been a steady trend of cutting labor costs.
To view the entire article, please visit Crain's Detroit Business.
Ann Arbor News: Liz Cobbs, February 26, 2008
Unions Press Ypsilanti Schools to Hire Locally
Members of Washtenaw County trade unions packed an Ypsilanti school board meeting Monday night to urge the board to hire local workers for jobs that result from the district's $49 million bond project.
To view learn more about the issues on the table, view the entire article in the Ann Arbor News.
The Detroit News: Nathan Hurst, January 31, 2008
RenCen's Retail Stumbles, Two Stores Close as GM's '99 Renovation Doesn't Produce Shopping Traffic.
While the remade RenCen was well-received, experts say it still hasn't drawn enough of what every retailer needs -- foot traffic. Adding to the challenge has been Michigan's economic slowdown that has hurt retailers statewide.
The inability to grab the attention of local shoppers has taken its toll on two RenCen retailers in recent weeks. High-class men's clothier Brooks Brothers closed its store there last Friday, citing unexpectedly sluggish sales and a desire to focus on a largely suburban clientele.
Janine Fruehan, spokeswoman for GM, conceded the RenCen shops have had their ups and downs throughout the years, but said the recent store closings shouldn't be blown out of proportion.
"The shops are a vital piece of GM's efforts to be a part of a new riverfront," she said. "We completed the renovation, but we're certainly not done with our work down there."
Lichwalla agrees retail demand downtown is poised to grow, as more planned residential projects are completed.
To view the entire article, please visit The Detroit News.
Oakland Business Review: Carol Marshall, January 3, 2008
Oakland County Commercial Real Estate Roundtable 2008
With the end of 2007 fast approaching, and the real estate markets turned sideways - thanks in no small part to an imploding lending market, and shrinking consumer confidence - it became clear that if 2006 was described by many as a year of transition, 2007 was easily characterized by upset.
A group of experts in commercial real estate, including PMC President/CEO Bill Lichwalla, graciously gathered over lunch to share their opinions, their stories and their observations with Business Review reporter Carol Marshall and editor Paula Gardner.
To view the entire article, please visit the Oakland Business Review.
Ann Arbor News: Liz Cobbs, December 11, 2007
Perry Child Development Center, Estabrook Elementary School and Ypsilanti High School will be the first schools to have work done with funds from the voter-approved bond project.
Paul Wills, an associate with Plante Moran CRESA, consultants for the project, said that a presentation on the bond project is planned for the Ypsilanti school board, parents and community members in January.
To view the entire article, please visit Ann Arbor News.
Great Lakes IT Report, Novmber 30, 2007
New Website for Plante & Moran Real Estate Unit
Plante & Moran CRESA launches new website and branding campaign. To read the full article, please visit Great Lakes IT Report Online.
Crain's Detroit Business: Daniel Duggan, November 12, 2007
Brokers may change jobs, but they still keep their client list
When real estate company CB Richard Ellis announced its acquisition last Halloween of rival firm Trammell Crow, it put 135 Fortune 500 real estate clients nationwide into play, not to mention some of this area's biggest companies. With the changing flags, local brokers have been asking clients to change companies and keep them on the job.
To read the full article, please visit Crain's Detroit Business.
Oakland Business Review: Carol Marshall, November 8 2007
State's real estate transaction model outmodeled?
It's time for Michigan to get on board with a newer model of commercial real estate transactions, said Bill Lichwalla, partner at Plante Moran CRESA. What he means is that Michigan is behind the times when it comes to the way commercial real estate is leased and sold.
To read the full article, please visit Oakland Business Review.
Oakland Business Review: November 8, 2007
Stout Risius Ross moving to Southfield; Plante Moran CRESA represents SRR in 10-year lease negotiation
Solid growth within the financial advising firm Stout Risius Ross is prompting SRR to move from its Farmington Hills office to Southfield. SRR has been in its 26,000-swuare-foot office in the Tri-Atria building on Northwestern Highway in Farmington Hills for seven years, said Bill Lichwalla, President and CEO, Plante Moran CRESA, who represented SRR in its 10-year lease negotiation.
To read the full article, please visit the Oakland Business Review.
The Detroit News: October 29, 2007
Waterside ready for big opening
A $75 million shopping center that will house 25 national retailers including JC Penney, TJ Maxx and Dick's Sporting Goods will celebrate its grand opening Tuesday. Retailers go where the people are, agreed Bill Lichwalla, president and CEO of Plante Moran CRESA, a real estate consulting firm affiliated with Plante Moran, LLC. But as the population growth slows down, so will the retail development, he noted. "It's just playing catch-up now," Lichwalla said of the flurry of retail activity. "You will start seeing a significant cooling."
To read the full article, please visit The Detroit News.
Crain’s Detroit Business: September 24, 2007
Plante Moran CRESA’s Bill Lichwalla Named to 2007 Crain’s Detroit Business "40 Under 40" List
For the past 17 years, Crain’s Detroit Business has been identifying men and women in the business and nonprofit communities who have achieved business success before the age of 40.
Read about Crain’s 2007 "40 Under 40" class at Crain’s Detroit Business.
Crains Detroit Business: August 27, 2007
Planners to get regional pitch: Local business figures will be making a pitch for Southeast Michigan to 15 site-planning consultants flown-in from around the country during Grand Prix weekend. The event was organized by the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership, part of the Detroit Regional Chamber, along with DTE Energy Co. Among the speakers, William Lichwalla, president and CEO of Plante Moran Cresa. will discuss economic development tools that can be used locally.
To read the full article, please visit Crain’s Detroit Business.
Crain’s Detroit Business: August 27, 2007 Business Diary
Catholic Parishes Federal Credit Union, Livonia, has broken ground on a 4,500-square-foot branch at 8817 N. Sheldon Road, Plymouth Township. The project team includes Plante & Moran CRESA, Southfield; FH Martin Constructors, Warren; Nudell Architects, Farmington Hills; and Nowak and Fraus Engineers, Pontiac. The branch will be the credit union's third. It has locations in Livonia and Redford Township.
To read the full article, please visit Crain’s Detroit Business.
Crain’s Detroit Business: May 21, 2007
People on The Move
Brandon Podolski to vice president of transaction management, Plante & Moran CRESA, Southfield, from principal, Lee & Associates of Michigan L.L.C., Novi.
To read the full article, please visit Crain’s Detroit Business.
Crain’s Detroit Business: February 26, 2007
People on The Move
Jim Breznau to account manager, Plante & Moran CRESA, Southfield, from director of business development, Barton Malow, Southfield.
To read the full article, please visit Crain’s Detroit Business.
Detroit News: February 21, 2007
Plans for $20 million Justice Center Advance; Police/Court Facility Overdue, Officials Say Shelby Township
The township board is expected to choose an architect next month to draw up plans for a $20 million police and court facility. Township officials have long lobbied for a new and larger police station and court because they say 41-A District Court and the Shelby Township police station are cramped and antiquated. The court is housed in a renovated elementary school, and the police station is in the basement of the township offices…
The township board of trustees voted in January to hire Plante & Moran CRESA to prepare requests for proposals for the project, and to screen bidders. So far, eight local architectural firms have bid on the project, said Plante & Moran's Paul Willis, who is overseeing the bidding process.
To read the entire article, please visit the Detroit News.
Detroit News: January 16, 2007
Board will Vote on the Future of $20 Million Justice Center Plan; Consulting Company will Screen Contractors for Police and Court Complex
Officials are expected to vote tonight whether to move forward with plans to build a new Justice Center. A consulting company is scheduled to submit a proposal to the township Board of Trustees tonight for screening potential builders to work on the $20 million police and court facility....
Township officials say they could do the work themselves -- as they did for recent renovations of three fire stations -- "but for a project of this magnitude, we felt it's probably a good idea to leave it up to the experts," Township Supervisor Ralph Maccarone said.
To read the entire article, please visit the Detroit News.
Detroit News: January 4, 2007
Plans for Shelby Township Justice Center Progress
A new Justice Center that would house township police and 41-A District Court is closer to becoming a reality. The township board has voted 6-1 to approve plans to begin a search for an architect and a construction manager for the $20 million project.
Township officials have long lobbied for a new police station and court because they say the old facilities are cramped and antiquated. The cost of the project has been scaled down from its original estimate of $23 million, Township Supervisor Ralph Maccarone said…
Plante Moran CRESA was hired several months ago to do a feasibility study on the project. The firm will prepare the requests for proposals and screen the bidders, Maccarone said.
To read the entire article, please visit the Detroit News.
