Grand River Growth Plan -All Gibbs for City Jan 2 2026 - Flipbook - Page 21
Appendix A Grand River Corridor Growth Study
Zoning Policy & Urban Design Enhancements Recommenda琀椀ons
▪ Reducing and standardizing permi琀琀ed building heights
▪
Expanding building and landscape design op琀椀ons
▪
Adjus琀椀ng and standardizing on-site parking requirements
▪
Decreasing non-residen琀椀al permi琀琀ed land uses
▪
Other best prac琀椀ces, ini琀椀a琀椀ves, and policies as applicable
14. Retail Demand Summary
This study 昀椀nds that the East Grand River Avenue corridor is situated within a moderately strong, but
underserved retail market area. To a large degree, Grand River’s unmet commercial demand is
representa琀椀ve of an all too common real estate bias towards inves琀椀ng in growing, higher-income
suburbs. Sta琀椀s琀椀cally, though, the corridor’s households of $1.2 billion yearly retail spending make it
compe琀椀琀椀ve with many conven琀椀onally preferred loca琀椀ons. However, the East Grand River area’s aged
character and streetscape hide its real commercial market poten琀椀al.
▪
The Avenue area’s retail market demand, es琀椀mated for 2028, includes 15 new stores and 6
restaurants totaling 90,000 sf Combined, the new retail businesses could capture $30 million
in consumer spending currently leaving the southeast Farmington area
▪
Overall, apparel, books, electronics, furniture, hardware, and general merchandise stores
totaling 45,000 sf have an unmet market demand in the Grand River Avenue area
▪
The Avenue’s surrounding neighborhoods also share a need for a nearby, full-service, 30,000
sf supermarket o昀昀ering fresh produce, meats, specialty items, and interna琀椀onal foods could
provide an amenity and convenience for the southeast Farmington Hills community. The
grocery store could also provide an anchor business for a new village center
▪
The Grand River Avenue area also has a market demand for 5 full-service and quick-casual
restaurants, a bakery, a deli, and a brew pub. Combined, these 15,000 sf of new restaurants
could produce $5 million in dining sales. On average, the corridor’s new stores could
generate up to $350 sf/ year in sales, slightly higher than retail industry trends
Grand River Avenue Growth Planning Strategies
November 25, 2025
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