and the City Council, has been key to attracting new businesses.” The city’s approach combines creativity, flexibility, and accessibility. Staff work directly with business owners to streamline approvals, assist with site selection, and connect investors with available resources. “We offer incentive programs and façade grants through our Downtown Development Authority to help entrepreneurs improve their storefronts or start up new ventures,” adds City Treasurer Joseph Sobota. Despite a population of just 8,700, the city’s strategic location gives it remarkable reach. “We’re in the center of the most densely populated area in Michigan,” Binson says. “There are half a million people within a couple of miles of our borders. So even though we’re small, the potential customer base for any business here is massive.” REVITALIZATION THROUGH REDEVELOPMENT Redevelopment is a defining feature of Center Line’s progress. Significant projects are reshaping its economic landscape. “Crest Ford is clearing out two outdated buildings to make way for a new $19 million investment,” Champine explains. “Another site on Van Dyke, the old Michigan Wheel and Tire property, will see an additional $3 to $5 million in new investment.” The largest project on the horizon is the transformation of the soon to be former Mopar site. “That property has been sold by Stellantis to an investor,” Champine says. “Plans are underway to demolish existing buildings and construct a millionsquare-foot distribution facility—a potential $300 million investment.” Minor but equally impactful changes are occurring across the city. “O’Reilly’s Auto Parts is expanding its facility by about 10,000 square feet,” says Binson. “They’ve also made a major façade improvement. Businesses that come to the Center Line tend to stay. In fact, we recently had one—Crypt Keepers Halloween Emporium—that left for a time but has since returned. They realized the grass isn’t greener on the other side.” 186 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
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