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DETROIT-Prime Development, based in Grand Rapids, MI, has justopened leasing for Studio One Apartments here on the site of theformer Vernors Bottling Plant on Woodward Avenue, between ForestAvenue and Canfield Street. The building is part of SouthUniversity Village, a two-phase project that will initially cost$35 million to build, including the apartments, about 30,000 sf ofretail on the bottom floor and a 950-space attached parkingdeck.

Prime is partnering with nearby Wayne State University on theproject in the city's Midtown area. Prime has signed a 99-year landlease for the property to build the $21 million, five-storyapartment building, which will have 124 one- and two-bedroom units.Leasing started Thursday. "We're doing very well, we've had fouremployees working at the property until after hours, and havealready signed 8% of the residential units," says Marcel Burgler, aprincipal at Prime. "We also have 55% of the retail space signed orwith a letter of intent."