By Chris Hagan
Review Staff Writer
In less than a month, the south end of Baldwin Road will soon see new developments and popular brands.
As soon as the Michigan’s frost laws for the road way are lifted work will begin on a multiunit residential development and a multi-tenant commercial occupancy.
Located just south of the Taco Bell, the four unit complex will boast two big name eateries, a dentist office, and a paint supply store. Moving in will be Chicago-based sandwich shop, Potbelly and Denver-based restaurant Chipotle Mexican Grill. The other two tenants named are Aspen Dental and Sherwin Williams Paints.
Chipotle’s arrival to Orion came out of standard development analysis and input from a younger demographic.
‘I reached out to Chipotle last year based on a survey the youth council from the high school did,? said Township Supervisor Chris Barnett. ‘The number one response students wanted for a restaurant was a Chipotle.?
The survey was done online and it was distributed to students using social media including Twitter. Barnett gathered the data from the survey and sent it to the corporate offices at Chipotle.
‘We try to reach out to those groups and businesses that our people want,? Barnett said. ‘Those businesses do their own market research as well to see if it’s viable but it doesn’t hurt to send them information directly from the citizens.?
Three of the four tenants moving in will be first’s for their business in the immediate area. The nearest Chipotle is located in Rochester Hills on Walton while the closest Potbelly is located in Troy on Crooks Road. Aspen Dental, which has over 400 locations nation wide, has it’s nearest office in Chesterfield.
‘They have all their approvals and tenants lined up so I anticipate when the frost laws are lifted they’ll move rather quickly,? he said.
Townhouses
CRS Companies went before the township planning commission on April 1, who approved the plan for an 89-unit townhouse-style development and one 8,000 sq. foot restaurant.
The ground breaking will be at the Northeast corner of Baldwin and Jordan roads, and part of Jordan road will be paved.
The townhouse-style unit will range in size from 1,300 to 1,500 square feet with a garage underneath the living space. Being called Baldwin Square, it’ll also offer a community center and a pool house.
They will start off as apartments and as there becomes tenant turnover they will be sold as condos. The decision to switch unit types is not by choice but because of the housing market collapse in 2008, banks won’t write loans on projects until they’re more than 50 percent sold. Once the whole development is built and tenants occupy the apartments, and they can be sold as condos once there is tenant turnover.
The apartments will be tucked back from the road but along Baldwin will sit a stand- alone restaurant. There’s been no official handshake on who will be occupying the 7,300 square-foot building but developers are looking to get a commitment from a Mediterranean bistro called La Saj. No lease signing can take place until CRS gets Township Board approval.
‘I think it’ll appeal to the millennials and professionals who don’t care to have a big yard and can be close to restaurants,? Barnett said. ‘I think it’s a great product that will hopefully attract younger people to our community.?
With that area increasing its offerings and being so close to I-75, work is being done to create signage aimed at greeting residents and visitors to Orion. Still in the design stage is a sign that will stand in front of the First Merit Bank reading ‘Welcome to Orion Township.?
‘We have a great community with a lot to offer and we want to remind people when they come here that they’re welcomed into a great place,? Barnett said.