Bagley Forest Properties' plan to rehabilitate the former B. Siegel Department Store building in the Livernois and Seven Mile Avenue of Fashion district got a boost recently with funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund.

MSF's approval of a $1.3M Michigan Community Revitalization Program performance-based grant will contribute toward the total capital investment of $8M, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

The development is known as 7.Liv. The project will include the demolition of two adjacent structures and construction of a new building to complement the existing department store building.

“As a handful of new retailers and restaurants have begun to open storefronts on the avenue, 7.Liv will replace the blighted structures on the corner with a new mixed-use development," Bagley Forest Properties owner Matt Hessler said.

He added that 7.Liv will allow businesses to fill in along the street to create momentum for a new walkable shopping district along the old Avenue of Fashion.

When finished, 7.Liv will provide housing for nearby University of Detroit Mercy and Marygrove College staff and students, and will include retail space and underground parking.

“7.Liv will bring life back to the Avenue of Fashion district, and serves as a promising sign of the redevelopment of Detroit, especially beyond the core Downtown areas,” MEDC CEO Jeff Mason said. MEDC administers programs and performs due diligence on behalf of the MSF.