Tom Tolen / news@whmi.com


The new Fifth Third Bank branch on West Main in “Old Downtown” Brighton is set to open in the near future.

The branch, previously known as Old Kent Bank, has been a mainstay on North St. for many years. But Fifth Third is just one of six tenants that will occupy a new building, called “Allor on Main”, which is in the final stages of construction.

DN Building of New Hudson is the developer of the property. According to Megan Farkas of DN, leases have been secured with all six tenants including Fifth Third, which will occupy a portion of the first floor. The bank branch, along with Innerverse Pilates Studio and LG Scott's & Co. (a children’s boutique and child furniture store) are all slated to open by, or around, Sept. 1 The other businesses, which will open later, will include LE Clink Events and Elite Golf (a golf simulation business) on the second floor and Kasi, a restaurant, which will occupy the entire third floor.

The estimated construction cost of the nearly 23,000-square-foot building is $4.5 million, according to Brighton Community Development Director Michael Caruso. The building where Allor on Main is located was formerly a parking lot owned by Fifth Third Bank, which leased it to the city.

Allor on Main is impressive by its mere size. While most downtown buildings are one-or-two stories, its three stories make Brighton look more like a suburban Detroit community and less like a small town.

Long-time Brighton DDA member and past chairman Bob Herbst likes the new development. He tells WHMI that, quote, “It’s nice to see downtown is getting a good-looking building that’s going to last." Many changes have come to what historically has been called “Old Downtown" in the last few years. They include a new Main Street, wider sidewalks, new streetlights, the AMP concert venue and new stores. But Herbst says he believes the downtown area hasn't lost its small town charm. In his words, “Downtown Brighton has turned out very well," while adding, “We can’t resist change.”

Farkas says the addition of several new retail businesses at Allor on Main can only be good, telling WHMI, “It should help all the businesses downtown."

Another DN Building project now being considered for approval in Brighton’s downtown is called “Allor on North”. The outsize building - planned for five stories - would go up on Hyne and North streets, where Fifth Third Bank is presently located. That building is scheduled to be demolished as part of the Allor on Main project. The project received preliminary approval at a Brighton Planning Commission meeting earlier this week.

Allor on North would dwarf most other downtown buildings, and include 144 apartment units and 411 parking spaces - 130 of them for public parking. Caruso tells WHMI that for the project to get the green light at five stories would require "Special Land Use approval from the Planning Commission and City Council," as he put it. The proposed project could see further discussion at the next Planning Commission meeting, set for July 7, or City Council meeting, on July 8.