Meet The Planners: A Local Development Luncheon - March 12, 2026

This City of Westland local development luncheon held on March 12, 2026, featured planning directors from Westland and Leavonia discussing ongoing and upcoming development projects in their communities. Key procurement-related topics included residential housing developments such as Lombardo Homes' 43-home project on a former school site in Westland, senior living facilities including the Avenue with 96 private suites, and mixed-use redevelopment plans for retail and residential spaces at Laurel Park Place and Westland Mall. The discussion also covered new commercial projects like a Jack in the Box restaurant and a BMW motorcycle dealership, as well as grocery store developments including a Whole Foods and a Meyer store. Challenges highlighted included land availability, rising construction costs, labor shortages, and regulatory hurdles. The planners also addressed proposed state legislation aimed at streamlining housing development, noting concerns about local control and the bills' limited impact on affordability factors such as labor and materials costs. No specific contract awards or vendor selections were announced, but the meeting provided insight into capital improvement projects and development trends affecting procurement opportunities in the region.