arlier this month, the Ford Motor Company broke ground on a new development in Dearborn’s west downtown area. With aims to make the campus “a unique urban environment,” Wagner Place is a $60 million development combining office and retail space between two buildings. The 150,000-square-foot project will take up a two-block area of the city that Ford says is largely vacant, but once housed the historic Wagner Hotel on the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street. Ford will work to restore the hotel’s 120-year-old façade during the development, while creating use for the building’s outdoor and rooftop spaces.
By Eli Newman – Dearborn – The Yemeni American News
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was in attendance, offering a hand during the ceremonial groundbreaking. “Ford’s continued investment in our state and in attracting talented people to its workforce is a great testament to the company’s belief in Michigan’s future,” said Snyder. “Recruiting and keeping talent that we need to continue Michigan’s global leadership in mobility will be further enhanced by projects like Wagner Place. Dearborn is an awesome city with so much to offer and so much more to come, just like the state of Michigan.”
Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. said the development is part of a citywide transformation. “Wagner Place represents the ongoing evolution of not only our west downtown, but the entire city,” said O’Reilly. “We’re excited to welcome new businesses and our Ford Motor Company partners to West Dearborn, and look forward to the development bringing hundreds of employees to the area, new customers and a renewed energy to our community.”
Ford Land, the real estate and construction arm of the Ford Motor Company, is spearheading the development. “Developing an urban office environment positions Ford to offer a work setting that will appeal to a new generation of employees,” said Dave Dubensky, Chairman and CEO of Ford Land. “Wagner Place supports our goals to create a more collaborative and inviting campus atmosphere for all employees.”
Ford claims some 600 employees within the company’s global data insights and analytics team will utilize the new development, which promises an eco-friendly design and use of resources through certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Ford says it’s part of how the company is restructuring work life in Dearborn. “This is an extension of our Dearborn campus that is primarily centered around our Research and Engineering campus and our World Headquarters site,” said Doug Van Noord, Director of Sales, Leasing and Development at Ford Land. “We’re going to consolidate Ford employees from roughly 70 buildings into two main campuses.”
Ford previously purchased parcels for the development from Dearborn and will pay for the development out of pocket. “The MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation) did make a grant in the amount of $3 million to the city of Dearborn,” said Van Noord. “That will help offset the cost of the parking structure that will be built on the south side of our development.” The city-owned parking structure would include 373 spots for parking. Van Noord says taxes generated by Wagner Place will go towards paying municipal bonds for the cost of the parking deck through the established Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. In addition, Dearborn is overseeing an $18 million investment for the area in an effort to improve utilities and walkability in downtown west Dearborn.
Wagner place is scheduled for completion sometime next year.
