(GRAND BLANC, Mich. – Sept. 14, 2022) An $11-million, mixed-use building is slated for downtown Grand Blanc, thanks in part to a grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF).
Garden Building of Grand Blanc, LLC on Sept. 7 received a Real Estate Rehabilitation Award of $4.95 million to construct The Garden Building at 210 Reid Rd., adjacent to Physician’s Park. The 30,000-square-building will include space for retail, a full-service restaurant, entertainment and events on the first floor. The second floor will feature office space, meeting rooms, and five residential units.
The focal point of the development will be a four-season, European-style biergarten located directly adjacent to Physician’s Park. The single structure will have the appearance of three different buildings connected to provide an old-world feel and serve as an emotional anchor of downtown Grand Blanc’s development, according to developer Erik Perkins.
“To create a destination required us to ask a lot of questions of business owners, residents, and of government leadership. We invested in the time it takes to ask these questions, listen and make changes,” said Perkins. “We deeply explored questions like ‘Why would people want to visit or spend more time in Grand Blanc?’ So today, I believe the excitement we feel around a new development in Grand Blanc is the byproduct of a dynamic public and private partnership.
“We repeatedly heard the combination of live, work and play can work here in Grand Blanc. So, the development is designed to recruit the types of tenants that provide or function under one or more of these principles. In doing so, our development can fulfill its purpose of fostering connection with each other. At the root, this means a sense of love and belonging, which ultimately creates community.”
The Garden Building will bring about 75 jobs to the downtown once it’s constructed over the next 24 months.
The state funding for the project is part of the of $83.8 million awarded across 22 statewide community development projects around Michigan through the Revitalization And Placemaking (RAP) program. The RAP program is intended to spur investments that will address the inventory of vacant, underutilized office, commercial, and community spaces due to the pandemic by supporting efforts to repurpose them for the community to enjoy. Projects can also include the development of permanent place-based infrastructure associated with traditional downtowns, social-zones, outdoor dining, and placed-based public spaces.
“The Garden Building of Grand Blanc is a unique development that will draw tourists and connoisseurs alike,” said Grand Blanc City Manager Wendy Jean-Buhrer. “The unique nature of every element of this building, being a Biergarten with adjacent retail spaces, co-working spaces, offices, a basement beer brewing operation, and residences, has been what the Grand Blanc community has been yearning for. The development team has incorporated eclectic elements in this building and on the grounds like a stage, ice skate rental, and a fountain. The Garden Building of Grand Blanc project will be an amazing, unique development in Genesee County and will place the city on the destination map for in-the-area and out-of-the-area visitors! Most definitely, we look forward to breaking ground!”
“The Garden Building is an exciting addition to Grand Blanc,” said Tyler Rossmaessler, executive director of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance. “These types of developments are key for the work of communities to build great places to live. Having great places to live is critical for advancing the prosperity of our communities and our residents in the Flint & Genesee region.”
Construction on the project is slated to begin this winter.
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About the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance
The Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, a division of the Flint & Genesee Group, is the lead economic development organization for Genesee County, and dedicated to building a more vibrant local economy. The Economic Alliance provides tools, resources and guidance to local companies of all sizes and stages to support their growth. It also promotes available sites, workforce and unique assets to growth-oriented businesses outside of county for opportunities to expand their operations in Genesee County. For more information, visit developflintandgenesee.org. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
