Of late,
downtown Dexter's landscape is blooming with new tenants, renovation work, and progress on the Mill Creek Park project. To start with, health care software provider
MedHub has recently purchased the Old Grain Mill property, consisting of two circa-1899 buildings totaling 13,825 square feet.
"They're proposing some renovations to finally achieve the vision that I think everyone had for that building ten years ago," says Allison Bishop, Dexter's community development manager. "They are going to continue to make the building as historically accurate as possible and finally have some activity over there, bring in new business and new jobs to the village, so we're very excited about them."
MedHub plans to hire at least five new software developers in 2012, according to its website.
And a new home décor store,
Nichols and Stafford, has opened at 8106 Main Street. Over the last eight months, the downtown has filled all but one of its vacancies – the former Dexter Pharmacy – Bishop says. The downtown is home to about 50 businesses.
The Dexter DDA has also purchased and will be taking possession of the former Dapco Industries building at 3045 Broad Street, bordering Mill Creek Park, in 2012. The village has awarded a contract to OHM/Bird Houk to do a feasibility study to determine whether the building should be leveled and rebuilt or renovated. Village officials intend for the new or renovated building to be mixed-use in nature.
"Anyone who decides to develop, lease, or live there will overlook the park and the creek," Bishop says.
On the outdoor front, the Mill Creek Park project work will continue through the winter, with much of the landscaping and final touches to be installed next spring, she says. "And with the [Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority] starting their construction next spring, we'll have close to 16 miles of trails between Dexter's downtown and north up to Hudson Mills."
The first phase of the Border to Border trail on the west side of town up to the Hudson Mills area should be done even sooner – by the end of November, adds Bishop.
Source: Allison Bishop, community development manager, village of Dexter; MedHub
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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