A new apartment building has transformed the Sterling Heights, Michigan, area where it is located, turning a former commercial parking lot into a four-story, 129-unit multifamily complex within the area's M-59 Golden Corridor. The re-imaging of the property, known as the Sterling Center Apartments, and successful lease-up of the property has earned the Gallo Cos.' development a 2024 CoStar Impact Award for multifamily development of the year, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
The Sterling Center Apartments are owned and operated by Gallo Cos., a local family-owned and operated development, construction and property management company.
With an asking rent of $1,478 per unit, per CoStar data, Sterling Center Apartments seeks to provide a luxury housing option at an affordable market rate. The property is accessible to major highways, shopping, dining and retail, plus colleges, hospitals, a performing arts center and a minor league baseball park.
About the Project: The three-star apartment building is located off the M-59 economic hub at 44677 Schoenherr Road. Owner Gallo also developed the property. According to Gallo, the site was constructed in a C-2 planned comparison district located within the existing parking lot of a commercial shopping center of approximately 38,000 square feet. The site was not designated as mixed-use, but it was later found to be most comparable to mixed-use and commercial planned unit development under the city ordinance. This was based on the location, surrounding users and intent of the development. Mixed-use developments are highly desirable in the Sterling Heights area and the 127,978-square-foot building was constructed.
They Made it Happen: Frank Gallo, Donald Barlow, Mark Woodruff, Nicholas Russo, Jennifer Braker, Kyle Wilson and Brad Elmore of Gallo, along with Mark Shovers of Spire Design Group and Andy Wakeland of Giffels Webster, were involved in the development.