The Metro World Centre property is again under discussion between the owner, E. Llwyd Ecclestone, and the city. Ecclestone, known for building the first condominium project in the Detroit area, is a developer who resides in Palm Beach, FL.
The property bordered by Vining, Ecorse and Wayne roads has had numerous development incarnations, including a baseball stadium for the Detroit Tigers, a casino, a Tanger retail mall and most recently, the headquarters for Visteon, a Ford spin-off that's turned into one of the largest automotive suppliers in the country.
None of the plans have worked. Grand Sakwa Properties, which had the Metro property under contract and was trying to land the Visteon deal, saw it fall apart when the $325-million project moved to another parcel a mile away in Van Buren Township.
Now, developer Ecclestone believes he has the best plan for the property. He's asking the township to consider a plan to allow five separate areas of construction on the property.
Tim Keyes, economic development director for Romulus, says the new plans include a residential village area, research and technology parks, offices and retail uses.
A public hearing is set by the city's planning commission for Jan. 14, Keyes tells GlobeSt.com.
Doug Ryan, a spokesman for Ecclestone, says the building will consist of five phases.
The first would be a mixed-use village on 73 acres along Wayne Road with commercial, retail and multifamily buildings, Ryan tells GlobeSt.com. A 190-acre parcel would hold a research and technology parks. A third section would be about 30 acres, and could accommodate a four-story office building, Ryan says. Nearby, a 23-acre parcel would be used for medical office properties. Finally, 94 acres could hold a hotel and other retail or entertainment uses. The rest of the property would be open space.
"It would have a college campus feel," Ryan says.
Ryan predicts it would take until 2006 to be about 30% completed with the development, with final openings set for 2012.
Ryan says Ecclestone is selling the property to interested developers for $3 per sf.
The city has extended roads and infrastructure to the property. "We look at this as a positive project," Keyes says.
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