Apartment complex to celebrate grand opening in St. Clair

A new apartment complex is taking shape in St. Clair.
New apartments are filling quickly just outside of downtown St. Clair.
Dutton Estates, named for a St. Clair native who was a soldier for the Union in the American Civil War, will be celebrating its grand opening on Wednesday, Dec. 18, with an open house, rent specials, door prizes, and more.

The new community is located across from the St. Clair River, a mile and a half north of downtown.

Tenants began moving into the four-building, 96-unit apartment complex at the beginning of 2019. As each of the four buildings were completed, tenants moved in.

Apartments are open concept in the living space.The last of the buildings received its certificate of occupancy in November.

"A lot of people are moving here for work at the power plant in East China," says property manager Kyle Wilson.

"Our tenants are people that have moved from all over the country, from Maine to California. People from all corners of the United States, all moving to St. Clair. It’s pretty crazy."

The buildings feature primarily two-bedroom units, with only three one-bedroom apartments built. One of the buildings is a garden-style structure with private entries. The remaining three are larger with common entries. Amenities include a 24-hour gym.

The new apartment complex, which features strictly market rate rent at an average of $1,000 per month, fills a need in St. Clair, says Wilson. It's a need that the complex hasn’t had a hard time filling, either.

That’s good news for the developers, East Lansing-based Management Resources Development. The company is building a second apartment complex in St. Clair.

Master bedrooms are spacious in the new apartment complex.Their second, this one with 107 units, is located near the intersection of 10th Street and Clinton Avenue. Wilson estimates that the second apartment complex will open some time next year.

"Demand for the apartments has been pretty high," says Wilson. "We’re seeing that these tend to move very quickly."

Dutton Estates is located at 1970 River Road in St. Clair.

Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.