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Southfield mayor frames next term around housing, office conversions and roads
Summary
In his first address after being sworn in, the mayor outlined a plan to add housing units, convert excess office space into apartments, pursue retail recruitment including a Costco site, and continue large-scale road and park investments.
Mayor (as identified in the transcript) used his inaugural remarks to present development and infrastructure priorities for Southfield’s new term, focusing on housing production, adaptive reuse of office space, and continued capital investments in streets and parks.
The mayor said the city is pursuing conversions and demolitions to reduce excess office inventory, including a proposal to convert two towers at the former Blue Cross Blue Shield building into 307 apartments and to demolish parts of the Galleria office center to make way for a Costco Business Center. He set a citywide goal to add at least 2,500 new housing units by 2030 and described several projects in varying stages: a 72-unit Wellspring apartment and townhome project ($33 million financing), a 60-unit John Grace Arms subsidized senior housing project (about $21 million), a 40-unit McKinley school conversion to condos, a privately developed Dearbrook condos project, and a Middle Point development planned at 577 units tied to a $131.8 million brownfield grant.
He highlighted fiscal commitments to streets and utilities, saying, “We have spent $330 million in the past decade, and that has enabled us to repair or replace 151 miles of streets,” and noted the city still seeks funding to replace an estimated 95 miles of local roads. The mayor also described sustainability efforts (tree replacement; a pilot food-waste recycling program) and called on the state legislature for assistance on limits for group homes and stiffer penalties for illegal marijuana grows.
The mayor cited a major private investment—a "Metroblock" data center described in the transcript as a 500-plus-million-dollar project on Ingster Road—and said adaptive reuse and business recruitment are parts of his strategy to stabilize the tax base and expand retail and housing options.
The mayor’s speech was followed by short statements from council members, the city treasurer and city administration. The meeting concluded with a benediction and adjournment.
