Is a 'destination retail' park coming to 200 acres in Delta Twp.? Maybe.

DELTA TWP. - Is a "destination retail" business park going to bring shopping, restaurants and a hotel to more than 200 acres of land off West Saginaw Highway?

If a developer's plans for the property move forward it could.

For now the large sign just off Saginaw Highway advertising the land's potential development into a mixed-use business park is just a concept, said Shawn O'Brien, vice president of Colliers International, the real estate company representing the property.

O'Brien declined to give the name of the company that aims to develop the property, which is owned by Lansing-based Unified Group, LLC.

"We're working through some contracts at this point," he said Monday.

Plans to develop the land have been in the works for nearly a year, O'Brien said, and could include up to 100 acres of single and multi-family residential, a big-box retailer, restaurants and a hotel.

Possible plans

The sign advertising what could be planned for the property sits on the land in Delta Township, which is just east of Culver's near the Interstate 96 ramp.

It outlines plans for the development of retail, hospitality and restaurants on up to 202 acres, depicting a project that would be completed in four phases on land bordered by Willow and West Saginaw highways and Interstate-96 west to Broadbent Road.

Delta Township Planning Director Gary Bozek said the sign showcases "an ambitious development proposal," but the municipality hasn't received any paperwork, or site plan for development of the property.

That's because right now what's being advertised is meant to attract the right tenants, O'Brien said.

"That's a concept," he said. "We've used it as a concept to get commitment from retailers at this point."

Concept plans call for smaller retail spaces, as well as restaurants and possibly hotels on the property.

That could include a big box retailer, O'Brien said, or non-traditional grocer like Trader Joe's, which currently has eight locations in Michigan, including stores in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor.

"There are some that aren't doing business in this market right now and we're trying to encourage them to consider Lansing," O'Brien said.

Next steps

Delta Township Supervisor Ken Fletcher said officials want to see the vacant property off West Saginaw Highway developed.

"Definitely bringing in more retail and entertainment is good for residents," he said. "That fits in well with what's already in that area."

The development would likely start with commercial uses on up to 50 acres of the land, O'Brien said.

The property, currently a mix of commercial and  agricultural zoning, is all located within the township.

If the project moves forward, O'Brien said a site plan would then be submitted to the township. Construction of the development would likely happen next year, he said.

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Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ.

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