Quickentoano

Engineered to Amaze-

SPONSORED SECTION

Ni ce Digs Jewish-owned Village Green adds luxury apartments in Downtown Detroit.

Detroit has a lot to offer those seek-
Ving the urban lifestyle: new sports
stadiums, three casinos, hundreds of
restaurants and nightclubs, theaters
and concert venues. What's sorely
lacking is quality housing, according
to Jonathan Holtzman, CEO of Village
Green, who is working to change that.
The company partnered with
Avgeris and Associates Inc. in Lom-
bard, Ill., for the investment, renova-
tion and repositioning of Washington
Square Apartments into Detroit City
Apartments. A grand opening Oct. 5
attracted dozens of Detroit suburban-
ites and out-of-staters who want to
live in Motown.
"This project is reaffirming our sup-
port for Detroit," Holtzman said.
Located on historic Washington Bou-
levard adjacent to Grand Circus Park
with amenities unique in Downtown,
Detroit City Apartments is in the city's
Central Business District, within walk-
ing distance of Ford Field, Comerica
Park, the Fox Theatre, Detroit Riverwalk
and Hart Plaza. It's a block away from
Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue.
Originally built in 1981, the refur-
bished Detroit City Apartments has 29
stories, 351 apartments and offers all
the amenities you would expect in a
luxury boutique hotel. Its sixth-floor

outdoor Sky Park has
a gourmet kitchen and
bar, gaming area, fire
pit, resort swimming
pool, tennis court and
running track.
Holtzman made the
investment in Detroit
City Apartments to
answer a changing
demographic.
"In the early 1980s,
many apartment
rentals were built as
a part of the 'Detroit
Renaissance,' prema-
Above: Apartments fea-
turely it turned out,
ture wall-to-wall windows
as many people fled
among other amenities.
the city to live, work
Right: Tom Lam and Tiki
and shop in the sub-
Le love to call Detroit City
urbs," Holtzman said. Apartments home.
"Now, young people
want to reverse that trend."
fraternity, which has Jewish roots and
Count Tom Lam and Tiki Le as
operates a dental clinic in Israel.
among those young people. Both
Le said she wanted to be able to live
moved to Detroit from San Diego. Le
near her school and likes the security
moved to Detroit City Apartments last
she gets at Detroit City Apartments.
August to attend dental school at Uni-
The couple recently renewed their
versity of Detroit Mercy. Lam joined
lease. "Our leasing agent helped us up-
her in February. He's since found work
grade to a one-bedroom with a balcony
as a social worker helping people to
overlooking the ballpark," Lam said.
get jobs. Although neither are _Jewish,
They love living Downtown. "There
Le belongs to the Alpha Omega Dental
are so many places to go, hundreds of

restaurants and bars within walking
distance," Le said. "And there's always
the People Mover to get us home if we
have too much fun," Lam added.
The first step to getting more young
people like Lam and Le Downtown is
to improve the rental stock available.
"Most of the rental apartments in
the Downtown area were built 20 to
25 years ago, and they need renovat-
ing and repositioning — like Detroit
City Apartments," Holtzman said. His
company is looking to convert his-
toric buildings into chic yet affordable
housing for young professionals.
A successful Downtown also needs a
lot of retail business, Holtzman added.
"Village Green believes quality rental
and for-sale housing will encourage
retail businesses to relocate and will
contribute to Detroit's rebound."
Rental rates are very affordable in
the city right now. Rates at Detroit
City Apartments range from $730 per
month for a one-bedroom to $1,720
per month for a penthouse.
"The challenge lies in building new
rental properties," said Holtzman.
Currently "the numbers don't work"
for developers to get a return on their
investment. "However, Village Green
is committed to building more rental
properties in Detroit." I

YOU WANT IT, WE'VE GOT IT! HAPPY HOUR 7 DAYS A WEEK 4-7 PM

hPPETIZER MLR & mArrru

FISH TACOS

FRESH FRUIT & CHEESE PINE

Ris5 MARTINI'S DURING HAPPY HOUR

INCREDIBLE WINE LIST

CENTAUR

8

October 20 • 2011

6#10SPIETTA

DJ'S ON THE WEEKENDS

KITCHEN OPEN UNTIL 2 AM

WWW.CENTAUBBAR,COM I CASUAL SOPHISTICATION

2233 PARK AVE. BEHIND THE FOX THEATRE. VALET PARKING. FOR PRIVATE PARTIES OR RESERVATIONS, CALL N 313-963-4040

CENTAUR

