Business Briefs: Early Plans for New Senior Residence Approved

Here's a snapshot of what's going on in the Birmingham business community this week:

Preliminary plans for senior residence home receives approval

The preliminary site plans for All Seasons of Birmingham, a senior living facility looking to move into 820 E. Maple Rd., were approved by the Birmingham Planning Board at their meeting Aug. 8.

The plans call for a three- and five-story independent senior living residence, with 123 apartments and eight live/work units. The group would demolish the former funeral home which now occupies the lot, and construct a new 150,499 square-foot facility.

The planning board had seen All Seasons' plans before, but sent them back with 15 conditions ranging from the species of street trees to be planted and emergency vehicle access.

In general, planning board members were in favor of the project Wednesday night, though several expressed doubts with plans for the live/work units — larger apartments located on the ground floor with a separate street entrance.

"I think (live/work) is a term we're all excited about," planning board member Berk Koseck said. "But when you look at the plans, it doesn't work."

Planning board member Gillian Lazar agreed, pointing out that the median age for the facility's residences will be 84 — long past the working age.

"It bothers me that we're even dwelling on live/work," she said. "I think we're opening up a can of worms, especially considering additional parking needs."

Alex Bogaerts, one of the architects for the project, said he and the owners from The Etkin Company and Beztec Companies are optimistic about the opportunity for live/work.

"We think this building will be a real hybrid," she said. "It meets the spirit of what your'e trying to do in the Triangle District."

Custom clothing shop moving into former Blockbuster space

The former Blockbuster store on South Old Woodward will soon be filled, though there will soon be another vacancy in downtown Birmingham.

Paul Cicchini Custom Clothier, which is currently located at 180 S. Old Woodward Ave., will be moving into the now-vacant Blockbuster space at 494 S. Old Woodward this December, according to a report in Downtown Birmingham/Bloomfield.

Blockbuster has been vacant since mid-2011, when the video chain began closing stores across the country. The current store will stay open until late October or early November.

In an interview with Downtown, store manager Herman Master said the move is improve parking and expand. The new location has 1,000 additional square feet than Paul Cicchini's current location and shares a parking lot with CVS off Frank Street.

"We're more of a destination store," Master said. "We don't get a lot of walk-in traffic because it's hard to find parking and they can't get to us."

Yoga studio, Sotheby's move across town

Several other Birmingham businesses have moved around town in recent weeks, including:

• has moved from 161 Townsend to 230 Willits Alley.
• has moved from 348 E. Maple Rd. to 411 S. Old Woodward.
• has moved from the historic Peabody House at 325 S. Old Woodward to 800 N. Old Woodward. Brogan's sister company Ignite Social Media will remain at 325 S. Old Woodward.

Upcoming Events:

• Ribbon-cutting: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 22,
• Member coffee: 8-9 a.m. Aug. 23, Bloomfield Township Public Library
• Back to School Breakfast: 8-9:30 a.m. Aug. 29,
• Vine and Dine: 6-9 p.m. Sept. 5,