Business ongratulations Robert V Scbecbtei; CLU ChFC Council President New York Life Insurance Company Detroit's Robert Schechter, CLU, ChFC, worked hard to earn the prestigious honor of being named New York Life's leading agent in 1997. It is a recognition he truly deserves. Since joining New York Life in 1971, Mr. Schechter built a reputation as one of the foremost experts in his field. Clients have come to depend on Mr. Schechter for his unequalled ability to deliver well thought-out solutions for estate planning. His success can be attributed to his experience, diligence, and genuine concern for people. Mr. Schechter has not only distinguished himself in business, but also in his community. As a spirited public citizen, Schechter devotes much of his time to many charities in the Detroit area. These charities include the Jewish Federation of metropolitan Detroit, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Jewish Federation Apartments which provides housing for the elderly. We believe that Mr. Schechter's unyielding service, knowledge, and dedication epitomizes the qualities you can expect from Robert Schechter & Associates. It is this commitment to the delivery of the highest quality professional counsel for all your financial services - and insurance needs that sets them apart. We applaud Robert Schechter for his outstanding work and community spirit. And we extend our sincerest thanks to the many Detroiters who helped him earn this special distinction by investing in New York Life insurance products and services. The Company You Keep.® Robert Schechter&Associates 6/12 1998 128 2000 Town Center • Suite 1820 • Southfield, MI 48075 • 248,357.9500 • 800.357.6954 Life Products • Annuities • Investment Products • Group Health Insurance • NYLCare development firm, and Pertex Textile Products, Inc. The purchase of the track is not Walkon's first land transaction with Ladbroke. About six years ago, he pur- chased a parcel and developed 12 acres at Middlebelt Road and 1-96. Originally occupied by a Home Quarters store, the site now boasts one of Livonia's two just-opened upscale Costco Wholesale stores and a restau- rant. The other Livonia Costco store, at Haggerty and Seven Mile roads, is also in a Walkon development. Walkon has been a key player in Livonia's economic development since he gave up his lucrative law practice nine years ago to concentrate upon land development. Walkon and his partners pursued Ladbroke for two-and-a-half months to make the deal for the DRC site. All their negotiations were handled through the parent company in England. "I see this as the premiere site in the metropolitan area. It's a site where you have 200 acres already assembled. There's not another area in the metro- politan area that compares to it," said Walkon. go out and attempt to attract upscale retail and Fortune 500 industrial com- panies that have outgrown or are seek- ing headquarters, offices or warehouse space." Millennium Park could draw research and development operations, technology centers and light manufac- turing facilities, said Walkon. Calling the development "a work in progress," he is not ruling out office buildings or even housing. Walkon said this is the largest development project he's been involved with in terms of space. "It is rare in Michigan to have a situation where you have 1.5 million feet of industrial and 600,000 feet of com- mercial in one setting in an urban area. It may well be the last site of this c7_ kind." Walkon, 56, was born in Detroit. He is a graduate of Mumford High School, Michigan State University and the Detroit College of Law. His family owned the former LaSalle Distributing Company on Livernois Avenue until 1978. His father, Harry, died in 1991, and his mother, Jenny, lives in Federation Apartments. Last November, Walkon married He is looking at both upscale com- mercial as well as industrial develop- ment. Of the 200 acres, about one- third will be what Walkon calls "clus- tered commercial." The majority of the project is industrial because it backs up to 1-96 and is easily accessi- ble from 1-275 and M-14. The devel- opment proposal includes nine indus- trial buildings, a retail center with five large tenants and four restaurants. That breaks down to 80 acres for the retail center and 110 for the industrial campus. The entire park will be heavi- ly landscaped, said Walkon. Although there is a 20 - screen AMC theater on Walkon's other Livonia development, there are no plans to build one at Millennium Park. "We are the gateway to the indus- trial area of Livonia. So we're not dis- rupting any residences or any neigh- borhoods. All we're doing is contribut- ing to an environment that's already existing," said Walkon. It should come as no surprise that all work on Millennium Park will be done using union labor. Walkon's for- mer law firm, Kasoff, Young, Gotteman, Friedman and Walkon, represented the ironworkers, riggers, and other building trades unions. Said Walkon, "Our philosophy on this project is to be good listeners, to get the input of citizens first, and then Sharon Rapp, who is also an attorney. She is the daughter of Dr. Seymour Rapp, and the sister of urologist Dr. Stanley Rapp and neurosurgeons Dr. Lawrence and Dr. Steven Rapp. Walkon and his wife live in Bloomfield Hills. ❑ Martin Grass, Rite Aid Corporation's CEO, was honored by the American Friends of the Hebrew University with the National Scopus Award for his leadership in the drugstore indus- try and his commitment to the ideals of higher education at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Paul Marion has joined Sterling Bank & Trust, Southfield, as account manager in the credit card division. The Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce will host a breakfast program on highlights of the Tax Relief Act of 1997 7:30-9 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the Fox and Hounds Restaurant, Bloomfield Hills. For reservations, call (248) 644-1700.