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Observer; Sunday November 12, 2006
Topic Started: Nov 12 2006, 12:04 PM (183 Views)
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Schostak moves HQ to Livonia
BY DAN WEST
STAFF WRITER


One of metro Detroit's largest real-estate and development companies has moved its headquarters from Southfield to Livonia.

Schostak Brothers and Company relocated its headquarters into a 25,000-square-foot spot at the Laurel Park Place Office Building last month. The company constructed the 300,000-square-foot office building in the Six Mile-Newburgh area in 1989.

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Prior to the move, the family-run company had been headquartered in Southfield's Civic Center area for 10 years.

"I've very pleased that an organization of that magnitude decided to move their headquarters to our city," Mayor Jack Engebretson said. "They are a major player in development and it's a positive piece of news that they moved here."

The company is in the midst of a major overhaul at the old Wonderland Mall. The project, which is expected to cost more than $80 million, will produce at least three major tenants, including a new Target store and Wal-Mart Supercenter. Also, several strip buildings will be constructed to house some 40 smaller shops and eateries along Plymouth Road. The first stores are scheduled to open in late-summer or early-fall of 2007.

Schostak's restaurant group recently rebuilt a Burger King restaurant on Seven Mile near Middlebelt. The company also constructed Laurel Park Place Mall and owned it was sold last year.

"Wonderland is an important part of the company's past as well as its future," said spokeswoman Linda Busse. "With our partner REI, we also are redeveloping the old Northville Psychiatric Hospital which is nearby.

"We're excited to be relocating close to some of our most-important projects."

The 85-year-old company, currently run by the third generation of family, manages and/or owns more than 50 office buildings, retail and other development projects throughout Michigan and the eastern half of the United States. Company spokeswoman Linda Busse said the company plans to grow its portfolio over the next five to seven years to a goal of nearly 100 properties of retail and shopping center destinations.

dwest@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2109



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Sparks fly over cable resolution
BY DAN WEST
STAFF WRITER


A Livonia City Council discussion over a symbolic resolution on how to attract a cable television competitor to the city turned into a heated 70-minute debate.

Wednesday's debate was initiated by council members' desire to show support to state lawmakers for deregulation legislation that would improve cable television competition in Michigan. After a number of sharp comments, the City Council voted 4-3 to offer general support for a House bill on this issue. A House vote on the bill could take place as soon as this week.

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Council members Don Knapp, Jim McCann and Joe Taylor did not support the resolution because there were "no standards" for maintaining public access channels or incentives for a competitor to serve the entire community.

"Cable competition is needed in Livonia, that's not the debate here," Knapp said. "I think it's important to have language that encourages incentives to reach everyone in Livonia as soon as possible.

"It's ridiculous to think that AT&T will come here sooner if this resolution is passed or not," he added. "With that in mind, let's set some goals."

Councilman Tom Robinson refuted Knapp's suggestion because he said it would add bureaucracy that would slow the process of bringing a competitor to Livonia.

"I will pursue any avenue that doesn't prevent cable competition and that affiliated investment from going into another state," Robinson said. "We're saying get this done as quickly as possible."

For many months, the state House has worked on a bill that would eliminate some of the local bureaucracy that critics claim have discouraged multiple companies from supplying cable service in the same town. Influential forces in the most-recent version of the bill include support from AT&T and protests from the Michigan Municipal League.

The bill requires any video service provider to reach 25 percent of Michigan households within three years and 50 percent of the state's dwellings in six years. Officials at AT&T, a company that is already installing equipment in Livonia to provide video service soon through revamped telephone lines, have said they could reach 85-90 percent of Livonia's homes within three years.

If approved, the bill would also sever the city's contract with longtime cable provide, Bright House Networks, and curb requirements for providers to produce cable-access channels that broadcast programs such as school graduation ceremonies and City Council meetings.

Council members Brian Meakin, Terry Godfroid-Marecki and Robinson -- each of whom is up for re-election next year -- and Joe Laura supported the resolution.

Realizing that Livonia residents want a cable competition and the hope of lower rates and more service options, Laura said companies are motivated to act quickly by less-restrictive legislation that gives them the quickest return on their investment.

"We don't have to regulate the playing field, the playing field will regulate itself," Laura said.

Taylor said it takes "no guts" to approve such a resolution because the issue will ultimately be decided for the city in Lansing. He accused some of his colleagues of playing politics to get credit for approving a non-binding resolution.

"Everybody would like to be a hero in the eyes of the citizens," Taylor said. "We all want competition, but we need to be fair about this."

The council also approved a resolution to encourage Mayor Jack Engebretson to continue his ongoing efforts to negotiate a city deal with any cable provider to bring the service to Livonia's homes and businesses as soon as possible, in the event state and federal deregulation efforts hit a snag. Engebretson said he had started talks with AT&T last spring, but the company was unresponsive to questions brought by city officials.

dwest@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2109


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How does everyone feel about PEG stations (Public Educating Government). These are the school channel and city channel. I really appreciate having these channels. Am I in the minority on this?? There was some discussion about not requiring providers to supply this.
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