Ben Smith
Principal, Summit Commercial
Detroit, MI 48202
Phone (313) 872-1300 x3
Property Types
Land, Office, Retail, Specialty
Markets
Detroit
Languages
English
Bio
Ben Smith is a Principal of Summit Commercial and is a real estate professional with over 22 years of experience in the commercial industry. His responsibilities consist of overseeing daily business operations and generating leads for brokerage, development, and property management opportunities. Ben also specializes in office, industrial, and retail sales/leasing, as well as, municipal property acquisition / disposition services. He has closed several multi-million-dollar transactions including the sale of the former Detroit Free Press HQ, American Community Insurance HQ, and the sale of a major health organizations headquarters.
Work Experience
Ben was formerly a Project Manager with DEGC where he helped supervise and manage several of Detroit’s economic development projects. These numerous construction and development projects included the $125 million Land Acquisition and Waterfront Reclamation Project; as well as, directing all architectural, construction, and City approval activities for the $14 million dollar riverfront promenade project. Ben also participated in the EPA, MDEQ, and City of Detroit environmental remediation plan which developed an 80-acre industrial site that laid the foundation for the eventual relocation of three waterfront cement plants.
Ben previously served as the Vice President of Brokerage and development for NAI Farbman. His responsibilities included directing land acquisition activities for large corporate clients, approving purchase agreements, clearing title, and directing development activities. He regularly interacted with various City Depts. Regarding development projects, and was responsible for negotiating permit approvals, variances, zoning waivers, and local tax incentives for a variety of projects.
As a Principal of Summit Commercial, he has helped guide the company through numerous transactions including the sale/leasing of several office buildings, retail shopping centers, apartments, industrial developments, medical buildings, educational facilities and vacant land. His team has played a strategic role in the disposition of approximately 1,200 City of Detroit real estate parcels, successfully returning these properties to the City’s tax rolls. These efforts have generated approx. $30 MM in revenue for the City, increased tax revenue, increased property values in several key areas, spurred private development and eliminated considerable blight. His team currently has several million in City real estate under contract in the Brush Park/Midtown area of Detroit, slated for tens of millions in residential & mixed-use development.
