The FINANCIAL — Ford’s Dearborn campus transformation expands to West Dearborn on May 3 with the groundbreaking of Wagner Place, a unique urban development featuring office and retail space.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. participated in the ceremonial groundbreaking along with Dave Dubensky, Ford Land chairman and CEO. The $60 million Ford investment ushers in a new era for West Dearborn that will provide Ford employees and residents with new retail and restaurant options, complemented by generous amounts of green space, outdoor seating and enhanced walkability, according to Ford.
Ford is transforming about two blocks of largely vacant buildings into this unique mixed-use urban space. The 150,000-square-foot development will be certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and will be resource-efficient with water and energy conservation features. Wagner Place will have first-floor retail and restaurants, two floors of work space and a rooftop patio.
Approximately 600 Ford global data insights and analytics (GDIA) employees will occupy Wagner Place. As the company transforms to an auto and mobility company, the growing GDIA team is working to transform the customer experience, enabling new mobility products and services and helping Ford operate more efficiently.
“Developing an urban office environment positions Ford to offer a work setting that will appeal to a new generation of employees,” said Dubensky. “Wagner Place supports our goals to create a more collaborative and inviting campus atmosphere for all employees.”
The property is designed to complement the streetscape with varying rooflines, windows, awnings and ample green space. The development will retain a piece of Dearborn history, featuring the restored façade of the 120-year-old former Wagner Hotel with its iconic turret
“Ford’s continued investment in our state and in attracting talented people to its workforce is a great testament to the company’s belief in Michigan’s future,” said Gov. Snyder. “Recruiting and keeping talent that we need to continue Michigan’s global leadership in mobility will be further enhanced by projects like Wagner Place. Dearborn is an awesome city with so much to offer and so much more to come, just like the state of Michigan.”
The new development is within walking distance of Ford’s product development campus. It is part of the 10-year transformation of the company’s more than 60-year-old Dearborn facilities, which will co-locate 30,000 employees from 70 buildings today into primarily two sites – a product campus and a world headquarters campus. Wagner Place is scheduled for completion in mid-2018.
With $3 million in support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the city of Dearborn will construct a 373-spot public parking structure near the development at West Village Drive and Monroe Street for consumer and Ford employee parking.
Dearborn is overseeing an $18 million investment for the west downtown area including Brownfield Redevelopment Authority funds and other financing. The city will make significant utility improvements and add streetscaping elements to enhance the project and the area.
“Wagner Place represents the ongoing evolution of not only our west downtown, but the entire city,” said O’Reilly. “We’re excited to welcome new businesses and our Ford Motor Company partners to West Dearborn, and look forward to the development bringing hundreds of employees to the area, new customers and a renewed energy to our community.”
Ford Land is managing the Wagner Place development and has created mixed-use communities around the Ford world headquarters for 45 years. Ford Land selected Mid-America Real Estate to manage retail leasing for the project.
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