Big Beaver Road Apartment Plans Shelved

TROY, MI — A proposed Big Beaver Road apartment complex was recently tabled by the Troy Planning Commission. Officials told the project’s developer that garage designs would need to be fixed before plans could move forward. The development, which would sit east of John R, would also include retail space.

The developer, Najor Cos., first presented concept plans to the Planning Commission last December. After listening to the commission’s concerns about building designs and materials, a parking shortfall, a lack of open spaces and the overall appearance of the site, Najor revised and resubmitted the plans, according to a Troy Times report.

The addition of garages to the development was recently added, which irked some planning commissioners, the newspaper reported. “I’m not comfortable going forward without a rendering of what the garages will look like,” said Planning Commissioner Karen Crusse. “We don’t have enough information to make an informed decision.”

The parcel was rezoned as a Planned Unit Development in 2007, before the Great Recession’s economic downturn. It has sat vacant since then, the Troy Times reported. Najor’s proposed plans calls for four three-story apartment buildings, arranged as a plaza-style development, with the apartment buildings facing a center parking lot and landscaped area. Plans also feature two retail/restaurant facilities and a 780-square-foot community center, the newspaper reported.

Plan revisions included the elimination of a drive-thru restaurant and the addition of decorative pavers, public art, lighting along Big Beaver Road, a community building and additional garages. Commissioners were pleased with the changes.

“You listened to us,” Planning Commissioner Donald Edmunds told the Troy Times. “I’m really pleased with the different look. I like the community building. The masonry and panels were a nice addition.”

“It has a nice, clean, look, not suburban, but urban looking,” added Planning Commission Chair Ollie Apahidean. “The Big Beaver retail component blends well.”

Still, the changes were not quite enough for the planning commission to recommend approval to Troy’s city council. Planning Commissioner John Tagle told the developer, “you need to come back and show me what you are proposing,” the Troy Times reported.

For his part, developer Brian Najor told the planning commission his company would continue to work on plans to meet their expectations.

“The demand was highly retail before,” he said. “Now retail is suffering. … It has morphed into a residential focus, something desirable for the Big Beaver corridor, will increase density and hopefully be well received. We’re very happy with what we’ve presented. The garage issue is up for discussion. Every resident is not going to get a garage. We can make changes.”

Photo courtesy of the city of Troy