Business & Tech
Q&A: White Lake Planning Director Responds to Visions for Vacanies
You've suggested the businesses, now read what Planning Director Sean O'Neil says you can expect in White Lake
For the past month White Lake Patch has run a series a photos of vacant spaces in the township and asked what you, the residents, would like to see in those spaces. We had a large response and many commented that they want places like a bookstore, Trader Joe's or a Chipotle to come to White Lake. Are any of these in White Lake's future? See what Township Planning Director Sean O'Neil has to say.
WLP: What new businesses can the township expect in the next year?
O'Neil: Beyond the new businesses that we already know about (JoAnn Fabrics, Bed Bath & Beyond, Trinity Wellness & Rehabilitation), we have several existing White Lake businesses that are reinvesting in their current space or moving to a new space in the township. Those would include (at Bogie Lake Road and M-59) installing a second drive thru lane/menu board to move more customers through, the (at Pontiac Lake Road and M-59) moving through the approval process to allow them to raze their existing building and construct a new building further back on their site. In addition, there are a few other minor projects that existing businesses are currently contemplating.
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WLP: People have been asking about the vacant Nacho Mama building across from Village Lakes. What's going in there?
O'Neil: is leaving their existing site and moving into the building, virtually right across the street.
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WLP: Are there any currently vacant storefronts that will be filled? Any idea on what type of business will go there?
O'Neil: We have heard that another new tenant will be moving into Fisk Corners. We have heard it could be a bakery or a restaurant of some kind. We also know that there has been some interest in the old Blockbuster space (at Marketplace Plaza) recently. Other than that, I am unaware of new tenants that are βconfirmedβ at this time.
WLP: Some of the most popular suggestions for vacant buildings by residents include Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Chipotle and a bookstore. Any of these types of businesses looking to locate in White Lake that you know of? Can residents expect more restaurants or something along those lines?
O'Neil: I have not heard directly from any of those businesses. We do hear (and have recently heard) from a couple of developer representatives who are looking for retail space but they have not yet shared with us exactly who the end user will be. So there is certainly a possibility that we will see some of those businesses (or types of businesses) here in the coming year or two.
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