DETROIT-The struggling city’s future just got a bit brighter on Thursday, when Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announced it will move 3,000 employees from Southfield, MI to two towers of the General Motors Renaissance Center starting next year. The move will boost the 5.5-million-square foot center, the icon building of Detroit, to 90% occupied, a far cry from near ruin when GM threatened to pull out of the towers last year.

The employees will move from a four-building property on 11 Mile Road in Southfield into 435,245 square feet at the RenCen. The company will reportedly lease Towers 500 and 600 from GM for 15 years.

Daniel Loepp, president and CEO of the company said in a statement that the move will decrease the space used by more than 400,000 square feet, and save about $30 million in long-term real estate costs. The company plans to sell the Southfield property. The city of Detroit has reportedly offered financial incentives of about $35 million to the company for the move.

Though the move is a consolidation of space, the firm will keep current Detroit offices at 500 and 600 E. Lafayette Blvd. and 441 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit, just blocks from the RenCen. “Creating a single campus for our Southeast Michigan workforce will dramatically improve our corporate culture by bringing our people closer together to accomplish our shared goals,” Loepp said in the statement. “It will also significantly improve our operational flexibility, which is necessary as we continue to respond to national health care reform. We see this as a giant opportunity to improve our business, lower our costs and deliver on our mission.”

Employees of the company’s HMO subsidiary, the Blue Care Network, will remain in Southfield. Also, the company will keep and improve its administration and training facility in New Hudson, MI. More than 1,200 employees work at both locations.

DETROIT-Friedman Real Estate Group Inc. recently negotiated the sale of 9,945 square feet of industrial space at 1515-1527 Division St. The seller, C and M Young Ltd., sold the property to Fuji Property LLC, which is affiliated with Fuji Japanese Buffet in Madison Heights, and will be using this building for their warehouse space. Associate broker Robert Frank with Friedman represented the seller in this transaction.

GRAND BLANC, MI-Jasco International LLC signed a five-year lease for about 480,000 square feet in the Waretech Industrial Park at 7075 Dort Hwy. The tenant is a joint venture entity between supply chain management company Motor City International, Japanese trading company Sumitomo Corp. of America and global logistics management company Sumisho Global Logistics. The industrial park totals 668,340 square feet with additional space available for a planned future expansion. Catellus Group LLC of Charlotte, NC, has owned and managed the property since 1985. Jim McLowry with Grubb & Ellis represented Jasco International. Angela Avery and Dale Barker were the inhouse representatives for Catellus.

CALUMET CITY, IL-Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services has brokered the sale of Sports Authority Plaza, a 63,552-square-foot shopping center. Bruce Harris marketed and brokered the transaction.  The buyer is a private investor out of the New York City area and completed a 1031 Exchange with the purchase of the property. The transaction involved an assumable loan at a favorable rate with non-recourse debt in place. The property is on Torrence Avenue, amidst numerous big box retailers and is anchored by Sports Authority which has been a tenant at the location for more than 30 years.

SYCAMORE, IL-CB Richard Ellis represented Pappas Development LLC in an 8.4-acre, long-term ground lease to Iowa-based retailer Hy-Vee. On a former K-Mart site in the Sycamore Plaza shopping center at Illinois Highway 23 and Oakland Drive. Hy-Vee will build a new 93,000-square-foot supermarket and adjacent gas station/convenience store, with opening scheduled for spring of 2011. According to Hy-Vee, the new store will create 350 to 400 jobs and represent an investment of approximately $17 million in the DeKalb-Sycamore economy. CBRE’s Wendell Hollan, Mario Melone and Joel Erickson represented Pappas Development LLC in the transaction.

CHICAGO-One East Wacker Corp. has enlisted CB Richard Ellis as the management agent for One East Wacker in downtown Chicago. CBRE will assume management of the property Aug. 1with Lori Olson, serving as the general manager. Built in 1960 and renovated in 2004, the building is a 41-story, 526,158 square foot Class B office building  in Chicago’s East Loop submarket.

SCHAUMBURG, IL-Lake Forest Graduate School of Management’s anticipated move of its Schaumburg campus is one step closer having officially signed a 14,000-square-foot lease on the sixth floor at 1300 E. Woodfield Rd. (Woodfield Corners), a multi-tenant building here. The school’s new space is just under four times larger than its previous home of 22 years within the nearby Motorola Galvin Center at 1295 East Algonquin Road. The lease includes building top signage, which in this case means that Texas Instruments’ name will be replaced by Lake Forest’s, in positions on the building clearly visible from Woodfield Road and Mecham Road, two of the more traveled thoroughfares in the area. Studley’s Robert Sevim represented the school in the transaction along with Studley’s Jonathan Metzl. Mark Smith of CB Richard Ellis represented the landlord, Crossroads Development Partners, in this transaction.

CHICAGO-Ann Carey has joined Ernst & Young as the Midwest Practice Leader, Construction & Real Estate Advisory Services practice of Ernst & Young LLP. Ann brings over 25 years of real estate experience across the US where she has provided a full range of development management and transaction advisory services including master planning, project feasibility, project management, lease management, workplace strategy process improvement and risk management. Prior to joining the firm, Carey developed an extensive track record working with blue chip property owners on high profile, complex assignments in various industries including corporate, higher education, health care, cultural and sports. Past companies include Jones Lang LaSalle & the Chicago Bears.

LAGRANGE, IL-Mid-America Real Estate Corp.’s Investment Sales Group announced the recent sale of LaGrange Crossing, a shopping center here. The buyer, Edwards Realty Co. of Palos Heights, IL, purchased the 67,767 square foot center from an institutional firm. Brokers Rick Drogosz and Ben Wineman were exclusive representatives of the seller in the transaction, while the buyer was self-represented. The community shopping center is on the southwest and southeast corners of Ogden Avenue (Route 34) and LaGrange Road, and features tenants such as Trader Joe’s, Borders Books & Music, Walgreens, Corner Bakery, Pier 1 Imports, Caribou Coffee and AT&T.

OAK PARK, IL-Reed Construction is pleased to announce that the firm has been selected to complete extensive renovations for a new same-day surgery center within Rush Oak Park Hospital at 520 S. Maple. Reed also was recently awarded a new cafeteria renovation within the hospital. Reed is currently underway on a 9,500 square foot demolition and renovation for the hospital’s new same day surgery center. The project began with the complete demolition of existing administrative space and will include the construction of recovery bays, nursing stations, and utility rooms as well as a new main lobby area with an information desk and extensive millwork wall panels. Reed Construction will also be incorporating a new HVAC system, plumbing and electrical, fire protection and medical gas systems. The same day surgery center is slated for an August completion.

CHICAGO-Essex Realty Group Inc. is pleased to announce the sale of a 54-unit, mixed-use courtyard building. 5235 W. Lake is less than six miles from downtown Chicago in the Austin neighborhood. The property consists 25 studio, 18 one bedroom with dining room, 6 2 bedroom units and 5 storefronts. Jim Darrow of Essex represented the seller and Doug Imber, also of Essex, represented the buyer. The price was approximately $200,000.

WOODBRIDGE, IL-Grubb & Ellis Co. represented Dwyer Products Corp. in the execution of a long-term lease agreement for approximately 79,000 square feet at Bridge Point Woodridge One, at 1000 Davey Rd. from Bridgepoint Woodridge LLC. Dwyer, a designer and assembler of custom compact kitchens and modular furniture systems, will use the facility as a showroom, assembly/distribution facility and its new corporate headquarters. Chris Lydon, senior vice president, Industrial Group, and Sam Durkin, associate vice president, Industrial Group, represented the tenant. Jeff Galante with Lee & Associates represented the landlord. Developed throughout 2008 and 2009 by Bridge Development Partners LLC, in partnership with Globe Corp., the building totals approximately 264,000 square feet.

WESTMONT, IL-Bill Waliewski, SVP with Morgan Realty Partners, has completed a 27,700 square foot lease renewal to Emgee Marketing at 2-44 Plaza Drive within the Westmont Business Park. The firm, which provides sales and distribution of car care products, chose to remain within the park due to its access to multiple docks as well as the proximity to the interstates and the owner’s home. Waliewski represented ownership and the tenant was self-represented.

HAZELWOOD, MO-HSA Commercial Real Estate's Robert E. Smietana, vice chairman and CEO, and Craig Phillips, executive vice president, development, today announced that Luxco has leased a 213,558-square-foot distribution facility at 1619 Park 370 Blvd. Luxco, a St. Louis-based beverage company, is relocating some of its warehousing operations from its main production facility at 5050 Kemper Ave. in southwest St. Louis City to the space at Park 370. Luxco takes occupancy in early July. HSA Commercial developed 1619 Park 370 Blvd. and a 340,000-square-foot distribution center on an adjacent lot following the firm's acquisition of a 30-acre vacant site from Tristar Properties in 2001. HSA Commercial has since sold the larger warehouse to a private investor group. Both facilities are part of the 450-acre Park 370 business park launched by Tristar in 2000.

ST. LOUIS-Clayco Inc. has appointed Cassandra Francis as executive director of its new downtown Chicago office. Francis, a Chicago native, brings to Clayco deep local industry knowledge and extensive expertise in planning, development and construction. In her most recent post as director of Olympic Village Development for Chicago 2016, she led the planning and development of this highly-visible component of Chicago’s Olympic plan. “Her ability to grow the Chicago market,” explains Bob Clark, chairman and CEO, “will play an invaluable role in supporting a long-term sustainable model for our new office, maintaining existing relationships, and developing new partnerships.”

ST. LOUIS-Jeff Chaney, SVP and managing director of NorthMarq Capital’s St. Louis Regional office, arranged an $8.7 million mortgage for Village Royale Apartments, a 196-unit multifamily complex located at 5602 Duessel Ln. Financing was based on a 10-year term and a 30-year amortization schedule and was arranged for the borrower, VRA LP, by NorthMarq through its affiliate AmeriSphere Multifamily Finance LLC, a Fannie Mae DUS lender.

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI-Baked goods vendor Rolf’s Patisserie has purchased a 56,642-square-foot facility located at 10100 88^th Ave. This acquisition marks an expansion for the bakery which also has a location at 4343 W. Touhy Ave. in Lincolnwood. Theresa Gleason, VP with Paine/Wetzel