7.Liv development breaks ground at old B. Siegel department store

An $8.3 million redevelopment project well outside the downtown core officially broke ground today in Detroit. 7.Liv, the redevelopment of the old B. Siegel department store, will have ten residential units, 20,500 square feet of commercial storefront, and 29 underground parking spaces.

The development is led by Matt Hessler—who redeveloped the property at Cass and Peterboro that now houses Iconic Tattoo, the Peterboro, and more local businesses. 7.Liv is supported through JPMorgan Chase, Capital Impact Partners, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Invest Detroit, and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation.

The redevelopment sits along the Avenue of Fashion at the corner of 7 Mile and Livernois. The University District, Sherwood Forest, and Bagley—all seen as thriving neighborhoods—converge here. It’s also close to the Fitzgerald neighborhood—which is undergoing an extensive neighborhood revitalizations—and close to both Marygrove College and the University of Detroit Mercy. Many storefronts along Livernois have been revitalized in recent years, and project partners hope this development spurs future investment in the area.

“This exciting project will serve as a catalyst, allowing businesses to fill in along the avenue and create momentum for a new walkable shopping district along the ‘Avenue of Fashion,’” said Hessler, owner of Bagley Forest Properties and 7.Liv developer. “I’m excited about the business opportunities this project will generate, not only as the developer, but as a resident of the Livernois neighborhood.”

The 7.Liv redevelopment is expected to be completed in about 14 months.