Gilbert thinking retail ahead of M-1 dig

Our favorite extravagant but hardly reckless spender Dan Gilbert is ahead of the pack again, hinting that once the M-1 is fully developed (by 2016) more Woodward corridor retail will be waiting for it.

Excerpt from the Detroit News:

And Gilbert, one of downtown’s major employers and private land owners, said his group has “definitely gotten commitments” from retailers who will be ready for business when the M-1 debuts.

“That’s the goal as we work behind the scene, versus just taking a rough shot of opening one (retail store) at a time here and there,” Gilbert said. He would not specify which retailers have made commitments.

Since August 2010, Gilbert’s portfolio of companies has moved 7,000 workers downtown.

Rock Ventures owns 15 properties and is working on buying its 16th at 1001 Woodward, across the street from Campus Martius and Quicken Loans’ headquarters in the Compuware Building.

For more, go here.