Chelsea Downtown Development Authority Board Member Ron Weiser announced at the Jan. 21 DDA meeting that he expects a new Mexican restaurant to occupy the vacant restaurant space in the Clocktower complex Commons Building.
He told board members that the Los Tres Amigos lease begins March 1, provided they can get a liquor license, and that the chain has 14 restaurant locations in Michigan.
In addition, he said, several portions of the former Teddy Bear factory space are also expected to have new tenants. A portion of the warehouse building has been split off and both the northeast and southeast corners have been leased.
He said Crossfit gym, owned by a group of local folks, is expected to move into the northeast corner, and a sporting goods and T-shirt printing company are expected to occupy the southeast corner.
In addition, he said, more medical office space is expected to move into the commons building.
“There’s a lot of exciting stuff going on in Chelsea,” said City Manager John Hanifan, who chaired the DDA meeting.
Former chairman Pete Flintoft and former member Chris Martinson‘s seats expired at the end of 2015 and they chose not to be reappointed to the board. The City Council reappointed Patti Schwarz and Tim Merkel to the board for 4-year terms last week.
Hanifan told DDA members about the recent approval by the City Council that allows Zou Zou’s to request a redevelopment liquor license from the state. The coffee shop plans to make some changes and expects to complete an about $150,000 expansion project in the next six months.
In other business, a strategic planning work session to discuss the Palmer lot is expected to take place between the City Council and the DDA on Monday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m.in the City Council chambers.
The DDA also approved its meeting schedule for 2016, which will continue to take place on the third Thursdays of the month at 7:30 a.m. in the City Council chambers.
And, you can expect to see the downtown white Christmas lights come back to life this winter in the evening hours.
The DDA is also expected to discuss projects such as new wayfinding signs, additional stamped cross walks, outside lighting for historic buildings, and the painting of the downtown light poles at its next meeting on Feb. 18.
