Developers, businesses move into Birmingham's Rail District

It's no secret that development has been happening in Birmingham's Rail District, but not quite as obvious is the number of businesses that have moved into the area a few blocks east of downtown.

As more and more of the old structures are rehabbed into new commercial and residential space, businesses are flocking the former industrial area. In one case, three buildings on the north side of Cole Street are now 95 percent occupied by businesses.

"Obviously occupancy is telling the story," says Danielle Workman, membership manager for the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce. "When they reach capacity it shows there is something going on."

She adds that about 45 businesses participated in a recent event showcasing the emerging district. And that's just the retail-based companies. Workman believes there are more service-based businesses in the area, too. She estimates that most of the businesses in this area are new arrivals.

"The reality of it is that a whole lot of these businesses (about 50 percent) just jumped in in the last year or two," Workman says.

More new arrivals are expected. City planners are preparing the district to become Birmingham's stop on the proposed northern extension of the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line. That project is expected to become a reality within the next five years.

Putting the stop there (the tracks run through the area) would attract even more developers looking to capitalize on the area's transit oriented development. And more developers would mean more businesses for the burgeoning urban center.

Source: Danielle Workman, membership manager for the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce
Writer: Jon Zemke

Developers, businesses move into Birmingham's Rail District

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