February 2026

An informative e-newsletter for the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

Underwriting the Past: A Practical Guide to Legal Due Diligence in Adaptive Reuse Projects

By Jordan B. Segal, Esq., Maddin Hauser

The restoration of Michigan Central Station in Detroit is one of Michigan’s most prominent examples of adaptive reuse. Once emblematic of industrial decline, the station’s transformation into a mixed‑use innovation campus illustrates the potential of reuse when capital investment, political will, and legal feasibility align. Michigan Central illustrates a broader principle: adaptive reuse succeeds when legal issues are identified and managed at the outset. This article highlights the core diligence “legs of the stool”—zoning and land use, title, survey, and environmental compliance—and offers a practical framework for triaging risk during due diligence.

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Winter Conference 2026

W South Beach, Miami
March 5-7, 2026
Program
Registration Information

Real Property Law Academy II
Michigan State University-MEC, Troy
April 29 & 30, 2026
9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

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Summer Conference 2026
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island
July 15-18, 2026

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Write an Article

Interested in writing an article for the e-Newsletter? Contact co-editors Samuel Kilberg at SKilberg@dykema.com or Glen Zatz at gzatz@bodmanlaw.com.

Can't remember where you saw that e-Newsletter article? Check the e-Newsletter article index.

We are also looking for suggested authors and topics for the Michigan Real Property Review. Please contact Chair-Elect, Leslee Lewis at llewis@dickinson-wright.com for suggested topics and ideas.

The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors, and they do not reflect in any way the positions of the State Bar of Michigan or the Real Property Law Section. These columns are meant for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Service, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of (i) avoiding tax-related penalties or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another person any transaction or matter addressed in this communication.