Crosswinds Communities

John T. Greilick / The Detroit News

Builders Mike Camerella, left, and David MacFarland work on the fireplace in one of the units of the Lofts at New Center in Detroit. The loft project represents more than two decades of new and renovated housing initiatives in the area.

Downtown lofts fill new housing niche
Dwellings combine business, living space

By R.J. King / The Detroit News

John T. Greilick / The Detroit News
Bernie Glieberman, left, CEO of Crosswinds Communities, and Michael Solaka, president of New Center Council, show the Lofts at New Center.

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DETROIT -- When Natalie Tran and Davy Godier began looking for their first home, they searched for a loft-style residence in a suburban downtown district.
   But after the Southgate couple heard about the lofts being built in Detroit's New Center, the pair purchased a two-story residence with nine-foot-high ceilings, two bedrooms and a two-car attached garage.
   While most available lofts -- exemplified by high ceilings, large windows and open floor plans -- are fashioned from old industrial or residential buildings, Tran and Godier's home is one of the first newly built lofts in the region.
   Initially, Tran and Godier thought that living in Detroit "wasn't that desirable. But after we met a lot of cool people living in Detroit, we decided to give the city a look," Tran said.
   After touring various condominium projects in the city, Tran and Godier said they were taken aback with Lofts at New Center, a 120-unit community located on Woodward Avenue, north of West Grand Boulevard, in a neighborhood enterprise zone.
   Homeowners in enterprise zones receive a 56 percent break on their property taxes for 12 years.
   "We liked the lofts, but with the tax breaks and getting one of the first units, we really liked the investment potential," Tran said.
   Novi-based developer Crosswinds Communities Inc. began construction on the first phase of 45 units, priced from $149,990 to $159,990, in the summer. That phase is scheduled to be completed in December.
   Crosswinds President Bernie Glieberman said the lofts offer open floor plans that provide budding entrepreneurs and small business owners the space to operate home offices.
   Tran said she may start a business in the future in the information technology field.
   "Most often, lofts appeal to artists and creative people. But you can't operate a retail business there," Glieberman said. He said the businesses must be fairly passive with little pedestrian traffic.
   Michael Solaka, president of New Center Council Inc., which acts like a chamber of commerce, said the lofts represent a niche in the region's new home industry.
   "Not everyone wants to take on raw industrial space for a loft," Solaka said. "Some people like the concept of a loft with the clean design that new construction provides."
   Crosswinds has sold more than a dozen units at Lofts at New Center since Labor Day. New and prospective buyers include singles and newly-married couples from the city and suburbs, Glieberman said.
   The loft project represents more than two decades of new and renovated housing initiatives in New Center.
   General Motors Corp. redeveloped and sold more than 50 historic homes north of its former headquarters in New Center during the 1980s.
   In turn, Glieberman recently completed and sold the homes in Uptown Row, 47 attached condos at Third Avenue and Lothrop. Detroit developer David Farbman and partners, in addition, recently sold 50 condominiums at Gramont Manor, a once vacant apartment building on Seward, east of Second Avenue.

You can reach R.J. King at (313) 222-2504 or mailto:rjking@detnews.com

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