The long-quiet expanse of parking and the old Sears footprint at Briarwood Mall is getting a second life as a four-story apartment complex called The Harlan, set to add about 370 new rental homes to Ann Arbor this summer. Leasing is now open, and the project will bring in new retail and a grocery concept right next to the mall. For nearby residents, it is one of the clearest local examples yet of a regional mall turning its parking lot into housing.
The Harlan and who is building it
According to Hines, The Harlan is a four-story, Class A residential community being developed with Simon Property Group that will offer about 370 apartments, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units. Hines lists starting studio rents near $2,100, with an initial move-in window this August. Planned amenities include two 13,000-square-foot open courtyards, a private dog run and pet spa, fitness facilities, a golf simulator, club spaces and co-working lounges. Leasing materials for the property are live, and the team says pre-leasing is underway.
How the mall site is changing
Industry reporting from Multi-Housing News notes that the project replaces the former Sears footprint at Briarwood and will be paired with a Harvest Market grocery store and a new walkable plaza. The same coverage details a 325-stall private parking garage with EV chargers and roughly 20,000 square feet of rooftop solar panels intended to power common areas, part of an effort to make the complex feel more like a neighborhood hub than a standard mall outlot.
Rents, who is likely to move in, and the local context
Hines' listed pricing puts studios at the lower end of the market-rate spectrum for Ann Arbor, but still well above what many local renters can afford. The new luxury units are expected to help meet demand from graduate students and professionals while doing little to close the gap in deeply affordable housing. The city, meanwhile, has been pursuing subsidized projects downtown, including a recently discussed $35 million move to support an affordable tower, as leaders try to balance private development with affordability goals, a process covered in detail by Hoodline.
Why mall owners are betting on housing
Retail property owners across the country have been repurposing underused department-store sites in hopes of generating steadier rental income while keeping foot traffic flowing to remaining stores, and Briarwood fits neatly into that playbook.
The Harlan's leasing office is open, and the developer's website lists floor plans along with move-in timing for late summer. Neighbors and city planners say they will be watching closely to see how the project affects traffic and parking once residents start arriving. For more on the latest update and the property's unit mix, see reporting from Crain's Detroit Business.
