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(2014)

3100 W. Big Beaver Road in Troy, Michigan, is the former international headquarters of Kmart Corporation. The building, on the northwest side of the intersection of W. Big Beaver Road and Coolidge Highway, used to employ thousands of people, but has been vacant since 2006.

The building was erected in 1969, designed by Smith, Hinchman, and Grylls, Inc. In 1972, the Kresge company, the precursor of Kmart, moved its headquarters there from Detroit (where its former headquarters is now the Metropolitan Center for High Technology).[1] In 1975 a Michigan historic marker was erected to mark the significance of the company.[2] It was constructed for more than 5,500 headquarters staff.[3] When Kmart purchased Sears and moved its headquarters to Chicago in 2006, the building, then housing 2,000, was vacated; art from the corporate art collection, including a tapestry by Picasso, a signed Warhol poster, and exhibits from the science and technology collection including a work by Alan Bean signed by US astronauts, were sold off.[4]

The 40-acre building is enclosed by nine towers, six smaller, two larger, and one overlooking the rest at the corner nearest the intersection of W. Big Beaver and Coolidge. The tallest tower offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area, including the adjacent Somerset Mall.

The building was sold in December 2005 to Madison Marquette, a development company that planned to use the site for a hotel, condominiums, shopping, offices, and entertainment.[4] It was sold in 2006 for US$40 million. In 2009, The Forbes Company & Frankel Associates, owners of the mall, purchased it from Diamond Troy JV, L.L.C. for an undisclosed price.[5] While the site has remained vacant since 2006, plans to redevelop the site have been proposed. In 2008, a redevelopment project called the Pavilions of Troy proposed to tear down the old building and create an outside shopping mall, but the project was cancelled during the Great Recession.[6][7] The site is slated for demolition by the city of Troy after sitting vacant for 15 years. [8]

References

  1. ^ Associated Press, "A look at KMart's history", The Argus-Press, May 4, 2003, p. 6A.
  2. ^ "S.S. Kresge Co. - MichMarkers". www.michmarkers.com. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  3. ^ David Eggert, Associated Press, "Kmart's future in Michigan unclear after merger announcement", The Argus-Press, November 18, 2004, p. 6.
  4. ^ a b Associated Press, "At Kmart, the art is high-end: former headquarters sells off fine art", The Spokesman-Review June 21, 2006, pp. A8, A11.
  5. ^ Nancy Kaffer, "Former Kmart Corp. headquarters in Troy sold to Somerset owner", Crain's Detroit Business, January 6, 2010.
  6. ^ Terry Parris, Jr., "Pavillions of Troy breaking ground in former Kmart HQ", Development news, Metromode, May 29, 2008.
  7. ^ Gallagher, John. "Old Kmart headquarters site in Troy still vacant after 13 years. Here's why". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  8. ^ Aimery, Jakkar. "Flint pair charged for burglary attempts, drug possession at ex-Kmart headquarters in Troy". Detroit News. Retrieved 2023-10-17.

Further reading

External links

42°33′45″N 83°11′20″W / 42.56256°N 83.18880°W / 42.56256; -83.18880

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