Ford Breaks Ground On Unique Urban Project

When you think of Ford Motor Company, real estate development is not the first thing that comes to mind. Based on the renderings of this unique urban environment featuring offices, retail, and restaurants, we may have to rethink that. As Shopping Center Business shares, the ground has been broken by the company on a project known as Wagner Place, which is located in Dearborn, Michigan.   

Wagner Place is a 150,000-square foot development that will serve as a centerpiece of sorts for Ford’s overall transformation of its facilities into a state-of-the-art campus. Ford has invested a whopping $60 million into the project, and plans call for roughly two blocks of mostly vacant buildings to be converted into a unique mixed-use urban space.

“Developing an urban office environment positions Ford to offer a work setting that will appeal to a new generation of employees. Wagner Place supports our goals to create a more collaborative and inviting campus atmosphere for all employees,” said Dave Dubensky, Ford Land chairman, and CEO.

 Beyond the offices needed for Ford employees, Wagner Place will also feature ground-floor retail and restaurants, as well as a rooftop patio. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. were on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony, and they sound about as excited as the employees must be.

“Ford’s continued investment in our state and in attracting talented people to its workforce is a great testament to the company’s belief in Michigan’s future. Recruiting and keeping talent that we need to continue Michigan’s global leadership in mobility will be further enhanced by projects like Wagner Place. Dearborn is an awesome city with so much to offer and so much more to come, just like the state of Michigan,” said Gov. Snyder.

“Wagner Place represents the ongoing evolution of not only our west downtown but the entire city. We’re excited to welcome new businesses and our Ford Motor Company partners to West Dearborn, and look forward to the development bringing hundreds of employees to the area, new customers and a renewed energy to our community,” said Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr.

Ford Land has been tasked with managing the development of the project, and the company can draw on the experience it has in creating mixed-use communities around other Ford facilities over the past 45 years. Mid-America Real Estate has signed on to handle retail leasing for the project.