Exploring Holland Park's hidden potential

If you’ve only driven by Holland Park, the new development at 815 Laurens Road, you’re likely not seeing the full picture. The development sits on 12 acres, a portion of which is a hidden open space.

The Laurens Road development is already home to Double Stamp Brewery, Home Team BBQ and Flying Rabbit Adventures, with Greektown Grille Express set to open early 2022.

Now, developer J. Darryl Holland is looking to put that open space to use with large event hosting capabilities available. The space — 1/2 an acre of which is picnic tables, while 3.4 acres is grassy area — is what Holland hopes will be a growing draw of the development. With the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail extension which is directly behind the development and set to be complete by December 2022, Holland is working to push the “park” aspect of the project’s name.

“I’d love to get the word out about special events, because we can host 50 to 500 people,” Holland said. “We’d love to do dinner events, weddings, concerts, team building exercises. We really want to push special events and concerts.”

From farmer’s markets to corporate events, he envisions large tents set up as people gather year-round.

Those are just the current plans, however. Soon, plans for a new building beside Home Team BBQ will be submitted to the city for approval. The three-story building would house office space and restaurant space, with an open-air rooftop area for diners and drinkers to look out on the 100-year-old oak trees that grow over the future trail site.

“We’re hoping to have that soon, assuming everything goes as planned,” Holland said.

In the meanwhile, Holland said anyone looking to utilize the outdoor space for events — even just an idea for an event — should reach out.

“Call me on my cell,” he said. “I’d love to hear it.”