DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown [Archive] - Page 52

LMich

Sep 12, 2018, 1:03 PM

So, with council returning from its summer recess, I thought I'd look through the agendas and items to see if I could find anything of interest.

1. The Lafayette West Brownfield Redevelopment Plan was referred to the Planning & Economic Development Committee at the September 6 meeting. This is the plan that will demolished WSU's old and long vacant Shapero Hall and replace it with a 12 story apartment building, two 4-story apartment buildings, 60 for-sale condominium townhomes, and underground and above-ground parking.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/519dad4c98198c78e243f34a6a47fbe98c3778ef/c=96-0-1253-870/local/-/media/2018/07/02/DetroitNews/DetroitNews/636661478664374544-lafayette-west998.jpg?width=534&height=401&fit=crop

2. Cass & York continues to moved forward. At the September 11 meeting, the Housing & Revitalization Department was requesting a public hearing be set for a request to establish a Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District (OPRA) for 6001 Cass, the office component of the project. This is specifically for the historic five-story building portion of this multi-block development. I believe the renovation has already started on this building, with scheduled completion for Fall 2021. The building will include 80,000 SF of office space, 25,600 SF of retail space, and a 6,000 SF art gallery for WSU. Components 2 & 3 of this project include the 130 residential units in two buildings, one named Antoinette (76 rental apartments) and one named Cass (54 for-sale condos), parking garage and more retail, and those are going on seperate approval tracks at the moment.

https://42floors.com/images/H22af327f217aab142136432e4f51b330099bb54fB505153OS780x520W0se/5c8536b2249bb3e54165444f2db2126b1483bcd3
42Floors (https://42floors.com/us/mi/detroit/6001-cass-ave)

3. The developers of Brush House have submitted to buy the land they want to developer their building on in Brush Park. This is at the southeast corner of Brush and Watson and includes a 5-story, 178 unit building with underground parking and ground floor commercial space.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9McYzQ83T_HyIBFgut0dw3JZ3Bk=/0x0:640x389/920x613/filters:focal(269x144:371x246)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60505595/Brush_House_exterior_rendering___Courtesy_of_City_Growth_Partners.0.jpeg

4. There was also action taken on the Special District Review for the Crowne Plaza Tower 2. We found in the paper, today, that the council overwhelmingly rejected this project, again, and it sounds like it's over some unresolved labor disbute and other issues.

DetroitSky

Sep 13, 2018, 2:22 AM

Orangetheory moving into the Boulevard; apartment pre-leasing starts soon (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/9/12/17851748/orangetheory-detroit-the-boulevard-apartment-pre-leasing)

The Platform announced a major tenant of the Boulevard, a mixed-use development slated to open this winter. Orangetheory Fitness will open its first Detroit location in the New Center building.

The popular fitness brand, started in Florida in 2010, has 17 locations in Michigan, with many across metro Detroit. It offers one-hour classes for all fitness levels.

Comerica Bank will also be a tenant in the building, and more retail tenants will be announced soon. The Boulevard will have 21,000 square feet of retail total, plus a 330-space attached parking structure.

The Boulevard, formerly called Third and Grand, is located close to both the Fisher Building and Henry Ford Hospital. The six-story development will bring 231 apartments, which will start leasing in October. The studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments will range in size from 908 to 1,158 square feet. Exact prices aren’t available yet, but they will be market-rate. 20 percent of the rentals are set aside as affordable housing.

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'One of a kind' campus at Marygrove to offer 'cradle to career' programs (https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2018/09/12/school-campus-marygrove-college/1272309002/)

The Detroit Public Schools Community District is opening a K-12 school on the Marygrove College campus next year — and it's unlike any other school the district has operated. In fact, it could be a one-of-a-kind in the nation.

For one, the school — approved by the Detroit Board of Education during a meeting Tuesday night — will be part of a unique "cradle to career" campus geared toward people from birth through college and careers.

What does that involve?

An early childhood center funded by a philanthropic partner, with programs aligned to K-12 education. A news conference is scheduled for Thursday to provide details. Chalkbeat Detroit identified the partner as the Kresge Foundation.
A K-12 school run by the Detroit Public Schools Community District. The district would hire and fund staff, and lease the space housing the school for no more than $1 a year.
The district will partner with the University of Michigan, which will operate a teacher residency program for would-be teachers that will operate more like a medical school — and provide a pipeline of trained teachers for the district. Under the medical school model, new teachers, after student teaching alongside veteran educators, will remain at the school for three more years for more training while helping newer teachers learn the ropes.

Detroit Denim plans to expand production, footprint in Detroit (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/news/detroit-denim-plans-expand-production-footprint-detroit)

Detroit Denim Co. could open a second location in the city come 2019.

Owner Eric Yelsma made the announcement Wednesday to a crowd of about 200 industry members who are visiting Detroit for the Design Retail Forum at the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit.

The Detroit-based jeans maker is actively scouting for a 1,000-square-foot storefront that offers dense foot traffic.

Detroit Denim, which employs about a dozen people, currently makes about 20 pairs of jeans a day. The company expects to stretch its production to 250 pairs by 2020 and 1,000 pairs by 2022, Yelsma said.

Gilbert's StockX to hire more than 1,000 (https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/09/12/dan-gilbert-stockx-investment-hiring/1272365002/)

Detroit-based StockX, a consumer marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of pricey sneakers, streetwear, handbags and watches, plans to hire more than 1,000 people in the next year after a $44 million round of funding. Most of those hires will be in Detroit.

The North One

Sep 13, 2018, 2:30 AM

DetroitSky

Sep 13, 2018, 3:08 AM

I'm wondering how StockX fits inside one campus martius when Gilbert has already made it clear there's no room. How many new hires are we talking at the actual HQ and not the "authentication centers"?

They might be in scattered locations temporarily until the addition to One Campus Martius is completed. There's definitely been some early work occurring in the building's "notch" lately. That's my best guess.

On a side note, One Campus Martius recently received StockX signs inside and outside.

LMich

Sep 13, 2018, 9:56 AM

Funny, I'd never heard One Campus Martius was full, but maybe it is. In either case, there will soon be a few hundred-thousand square feet of new space, soon, so space won't be an issue.

hybrydy

Sep 13, 2018, 1:16 PM

Funny, I'd never heard One Campus Martius was full, but maybe it is. In either case, there will soon be a few hundred-thousand square feet of new space, soon, so space won't be an issue.

all a game of chess, but the dailies keep saying there's no big blocks of class a office available. gilbert bought and reno'd 1300 saint antione to move rock connection folks out to accommodate meridian. he also moved all of bedrock into the metropole @ 630 woodward, likely to accommodate microsoft. i think long range one campus maritus will be gilbert's main property to court and lure in new companies downtown and he will continue to horse trade his companies in/out to accommodate new tenants.

i do think we're approaching a period where many of gilbert's initial tenants to move downtown are having their 7-year leases come up for renewal. those renewals are coming with significant price increases due to the inflated market he essentially created and now has a monopoly on. will the general conditions/amenities of the cbd be enough to get tenants to cough up more rent? we shall see.

LMich

Sep 13, 2018, 1:24 PM

I have basically zero doubt space will be filled. It's office sector gentrification. Do you believe no one will move in as those companies not able to pay the higher rents get pushed out? We've not seen that happen.

DetroitSky

Sep 14, 2018, 4:10 AM

Woodbridge house converted into six for-sale condos (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/9/13/17852254/woodbridge-house-converted-six-for-sale-condos)

The condos at Trumbull House range from a one bedroom, one bath unit at 510 square feet for $175,950 to a two bedroom, two bath “penthouse”—with private deck—at 1,195 square feet for $448,125. The house was gutted and redone with new mechanicals (A/C, furnace, electrical) and finishes. The condos have in-unit laundry, Nest thermostats, smart home entry, and gated parking behind the house. HOA fees are $250 per month.

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Pop-up Vespa store opens for 6 months in Fisher Building (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/transportation/pop-vespa-store-opens-6-months-fisher-building)

Joe Ricci Vespa of Taylor has opened a pop-up Vespa store in the Fisher Building in the New Center area.

The moped dealer will be open for six months outside of The Peacock Room, owned by Vespa enthusiast and owner Rachel Lutz. Test drives and information will be available for a $10 donation to the Michigan Humane Society.

Ricci, the CEO of Joe Ricci Automotive Group, said in a press release that he has been considering opening a Vespa store in Detroit as mobility trends evolve and that the pop-up is "the perfect venue to 'test-drive' the concept."

He said in an interview that if the pop-up can make eight to 10 scooter sales per month, that would financially justify "becoming a permanent fixture on the first floor" of the iconic Detroit building.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/VespaPopUp_i.jpg

Detroit Pistons Bring Blink Fitness To Midtown Detroit (https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-bring-blink-fitness-midtown-detroit)

The Detroit Pistons and Blink Fitness today announced plans to build a publicly-accessible Blink Fitness franchise inside the state-of-the-art Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center. The New Center facility will be the first Blink Fitness location in Detroit and one of several planned Blink Fitness openings slated in Michigan during 2019. Blink Fitness, a premium-quality value-based gym, announced in February that it will open 15 or more locations throughout Michigan.

https://www.nba.com/pistons/sites/pistons/files/styles/game_block_full_col/public/blink_001.jpg?itok=-ChgbSEV

Rock palace Grande Ballroom on track for national historic registry (https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/brian-mccollum/2018/09/13/grande-ballroom-national-register-historic-places-restoration/1280764002/)

After a decade-long quest by a determined group of supporters, the Grande Ballroom is set to make the federal registry, overseen by the National Park Service. It would join at least 18 other music and arts related properties in Detroit already on the list.

Approval would help the property qualify for tax credits, financing and grants — paving the way for restoration of the dilapidated building that was once the epicenter of Detroit's counterculture.

Proponents have just two remaining steps: approval from historical advisory agencies in Detroit and Lansing. They'll make their case with each on Thursday and Friday, and are confident it's all but a done deal.

What happens next is in the hands of Chapel Hill Baptist, which bought the property more than a decade ago.

"Obviously, the church would like to use it for their purposes — some people at the church call it 'the former Grande Ballroom,'" said Early. "But they're not above making it available for secular events. A lot of ideas are being kicked around."

Landing on the National Register of Historic Places does not assure protective status, funding or even a commemorative plaque. But it does make a property eligible for investment tax credits and federal preservation grants.

"We're working with the church to do a structural integrity report," said Early. "We've got an engineer going in once this nomination process is done. There's due diligence to really determine the viability of moving forward — we have to make sure there's no serious, serious problem with the building."

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/09/12/PDTF/f89ce30e-3dd2-4cfb-ba5c-1e8514633075-Grande_Ballroom-37.JPG?width=540&height=405&fit=bounds&auto=webp

DetroitSky

Sep 15, 2018, 4:22 AM

Ferndale yoga studio to join New Center redevelopment (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/ferndale-yoga-studio-join-new-center-redevelopment)

Push Design LLC, based in Detroit, is doing exterior design and rendering work for the redevelopment.

Barbat said he expects to start interior renovation in several weeks; the company is still obtaining permits for exterior changes. He declined to provide an investment figure or name general contractors.

Motown Coney Island is leasing the building's 1,275-square-foot, ground-floor corner space. Barbat said his company doesn't yet know if it will renew that lease.

Brighton-based Lake Trust Credit Union has signed a lease for the 1,425-square-foot space next door. No tenants have been chosen for the second-floor office space, Barbat said.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/barbat%20push%20design%20llc-01_i.jpg

^ While I'm glad to see this building being used more than it is in its current form, seeing longstanding businesses being pushed out is upsetting. Hopefully, if Motown Coney gets pushed out, they can relocate.

A small blurb about another Ferndale business opening a location in New Center (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/food-drink/corridor-sausage-lands-kroger-2-cookie-dough-bars-open-whitney-hosts-cityfest):

Ferndale-based cookie and edible cookie dough maker D'Vine Cookies & Dough is opening a kiosk in Detroit's New Center neighborhood.

D'Vine has a stall in the Rust Belt Market in downtown Ferndale. It also sells at Detroit Bubble Tea and Western Market in Ferndale.

The new first-floor stand at 3031 W. Grand Blvd. marks its first foray into Detroit, according to a news release. It will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, after a grand opening 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, during which it will give away samples.

DetroitSky

Sep 18, 2018, 3:59 AM

$2.5 million donation fuels affordable-homeownership project in Southwest Detroit (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/nonprofit/25-million-donation-fuels-affordable-homeownership-project-southwest-detroit)

The $2.5 million — plus an anonymous $100,000 from a colleague of Sam Yaker — will fund much of the nonprofit's Newberry Homes project in the neighborhood west of booming Corktown.

The gift will be used for mortgage lending, renovation work, to create a new Sam Yaker Park and Pavilion, and to provide financial advice to homebuyers.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/Newberry%20Neighborhood%20area%20Google-01_i.jpg

Universal McCann to open Detroit office, named Quicken Loans agency (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/advertising-marketing/universal-mccann-open-detroit-office-named-quicken-loans-agency)

Detroit-based mortgage lender Quicken Loans Inc. has signed on a new New York-based media agency that expects to locate 150 employees in a new office downtown.

Universal McCann and Quicken Loans agreed early last week to a "long-term" deal to bring the media company on as official agency of record, pushing the lender and its Rocket Mortgage brand's media strategy forward, according to a news release.

Quicken Loans declined to release terms of the agreement.

Universal McCann's new presence will supplement its existing office in Birmingham, which serves clients including FCA US LLC, said Scott Russell, president of its central region. Some — but not a substantial portion — of the Detroit employees will come from the Birmingham office, Russell said.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_280/public/first%20national%20building%20universal%20mccann-01_i.jpg

Peek inside the Fisher Mansion gives glimpse of Detroit's past, future (https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/09/14/hill-harper-fisher-mansion-home-tour/1289555002/)

The doors to the Charles T. Fisher Mansion in Boston Edison, a 36-block neighborhood of stately homes, were open to the media and select guests as a preview of the Junior League of Detroit's gala on Friday and 22nd Designers' Show House.

The historic,16,000-square-foot house was originally owned by Charles and Sarah Fisher, who, in 1922, moved into it. In the past year, the house's new owner, actor Hill Harper, has been renovating — and restoring it to its former glory — with the intention of making it a place to raise his young son.

"This is going to be my primary residence," said Harper, who added that he came to love Detroit while filming roles here and has since made several close friends. "There's an energy in the city, a creative energy."

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/09/13/PDTF/5ff5b103-e96c-44e0-ae06-b36a09971c00-junior-league-show-house-01.JPG?width=540&height=405&fit=bounds&auto=webp

animatedmartian

Sep 19, 2018, 12:50 AM

Detroit skyline vacancy rates tick upward as rents rise (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/detroit-skyline-vacancy-rates-tick-upward-office-rents-rise)

Vacancy rates for Detroit's most expensive and well-known office properties are slightly up this year due to smaller companies being pushed out from higher rents.

For the most part though, Detroit's skyscrapers are pretty much full. Of the 21 buildings being tracked only 6 have less than 90% of their total space leased out. Half of those 6 are 3 towers in the Ren Cen complex (specifically towers 100, 200, and 600). The other 3 buildings are 211 West Fort Street at 80% leased, Brewery Park at 82% leased, and the Fisher Building at 87% leased.

Average rents are around $23.47/sqft or about 4% higher than last year. As expected, once new office buildings are constructed and completed, rents will be heading towards the $30/sqft range or higher.

Relatively speaking, Detroit is keeping pace with quite a few other Midwestern cities, but still punches below its weight relative to metro population size. Basically, it's still a bargain buy for any national company looking purely at rental costs for relocation.

LMich

Sep 19, 2018, 9:02 AM

Glass going it at the Element Detroit filling the old Metropolitan Building. Photos are courtesy Roxbury Group via Curbed Detroit (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/9/18/17876154/metropolitan-building-detroit-new-windows).

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Glass should be done by the end of the month, and the hotel is shooting for an end-of-year opening. The hotel will contain 110 rooms, 2,000 sq ft meeting space on the mezzanine, 7,000 sq ft of retail space on the ground floor and in the basement, and a rooftop bar and patio.

LMich

Sep 19, 2018, 10:27 AM

Update on the Park Avenue Building redevelopment.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/09/05/PDTN/53a6f3ce-c28b-492d-a987-fcf53d36069d-2018-0905-dg-lastruin0073.jpg?width=534&height=712&fit=bounds&auto=webp
David Guralnick | The Detroit News

Last 'dangerous' downtown Detroit building being rescued (https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/09/18/last-downtown-downtown-detroit-building-rescued/1194817002/)

Dozens of bricks and chunks of limestone from the 11th floor of a long-vacant Park Avenue building came crashing onto the street in April. Nobody was hurt by the rubble that covered an area the size of an SUV, but it was an urgent reminder why Detroit officials had long considered the building a safety hazard.

Now, after decades of neglect, the historic structure at at 2001 Park Ave. on the edge of Detroit's Grand Circus Park — the last downtown building that officially had been designated "dangerous" by the city — has been stabilized by its new owner and taken off that list.

One week before pieces came raining down, the structure known as the Park Avenue Building was purchased for $4.9 million by an entity linked to a Novi development firm. The new owner promptly secured the property and since then has taken the first steps in an estimated $10 million to $15 million renovation for upscale rental apartments and ground-floor retail. Plans are to transform the 104,500-square-foot former office building into 75 to 100 apartments with 4,000-5,000 square feet of first-floor retail.

The planned revival of the building would mark a stunning turnaround in a city that gave rise to the phrase "ruin porn," referring to the tens of thousands of vacant, blighted properties that still plague Detroit. But in downtown — the 127 blocks bordered by the freeways and the Detroit River — the problem is almost history.

In 2010, the Park Avenue was among the 48 big, empty downtown buildings counted in an analysis by The Detroit News. Since then, billions of dollars have been invested into dozens of properties, reviving the once-bleak city core. The Park Avenue was one of the last buildings in the central business district that sat empty and neglected for years, if not decades, with no working development plan.

After Sachs died in January, his estate began to actively look for a buyer.

Soave had been looking for a downtown building five years ago but kept getting outbid. He was successful this time.

seabee1526

Sep 19, 2018, 2:00 PM

animatedmartian

Sep 19, 2018, 8:24 PM

As it turns out, "The Corner" development is being built with pre-fab/modular units. This is drone footage of the first unit being installed. Also a good view of the progress on Elton Park in the background.

r42dcB5OK-c

deja vu

Sep 19, 2018, 11:21 PM

That's pretty cool. I can't help but notice the crowd of people amassing in the road as traffic tries to go by.

animatedmartian

Sep 20, 2018, 2:54 AM

That's pretty cool. I can't help but notice the crowd of people amassing in the road as traffic tries to go by.

Most of those are media people, apparently. The combination of this being the Tiger Stadium site and the use of modular containers (sprinkled with a bit of the overall 'Corktown/Detroit Revival' theme) makes this a somewhat unique news story.

DetroitSky

Sep 20, 2018, 4:47 AM

Ad agency startup plants flag in Eastern Market (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/advertising-marketing/ad-agency-startup-plants-flag-eastern-market)

Two years after swapping TV news careers for the startup life, the team at Standard Wonder Group moved from a house in Royal Oak to an office with a view in Eastern Market in Detroit.

The advertising agency has been settling into its new third-floor digs at 2362 Russell St. for the past couple weeks, said Seth Myers, 40, one of four partners in the company.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/width_792/s3/standard%20wonder%20group%20interior.jpg

German developer pours $1.2 million into remaking Detroit street (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/german-developer-pours-12-million-remaking-detroit-street)

Herz owns six buildings on and around Dunedin and about eight vacant lots under a development company, Detroit Rock Solid Inc., that he owns with his brother Matthias. They have invested around $1.2 million so far on acquisition and renovation in the past three years, with Detroit-based Rebound Design Build as general contractor.

Four-block Dunedin Street sits near the intersection of West Grand and Rosa Parks boulevards. Herz said he wants to eventually bring infill housing and retail to the stretch that borders the LaSalle Gardens neighborhood.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/dunedin%20street-main_i.jpg

Hundreds of volunteers gather to build brand new playground in northwest Detroit (http://www.modeldmedia.com/devnews/FreedomPathPark.aspx)

Local neighborhood group Grand Seven Detroit applied for and received a grant from national non-profit KaBOOM! They also received funding from Toronto, Ontario-based financial services provider Foresters Financial.

Representatives for those organizations and volunteers from throughout the community joined together on Saturday, Sept. 15 to construct the playground. More than 325 volunteers attended the event, constructing the playground within six hours. That number exceeds Foresters' initial prediction of 200 volunteers.

"This is an area currently undergoing significant revitalization efforts," says Foresters manager of sales engagement, Kaylie McCann.

http://www.modeldmedia.com/Images/Features/issue598/nw_playground.jpg?s=f

Howes: Churchill heir poised to deliver public art to new Detroit school (https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/columnists/daniel-howes/2018/09/17/churchill-heir-plans-art-installation-new-cornerstone-school/1338073002/)

In an unlikely corner of the city, students showing up next fall at Cornerstone’s planned Adams-Young Academy would be greeted by Sir Winston Churchill’s granddaughter.

Or her art, anyway. Edwina Sandys visited Detroit over the weekend to scope out the site for a sculpture essentially commissioned by Cornerstone Schools’ Founder Clark Durant. They envision a public art installation for Cornerstone's latest project, already underway in the abandoned John R. King School on Cheyenne south of McNichols near Schaefer.

DetroitSky

Sep 21, 2018, 12:26 AM

Major renovations to start at Belle Isle Conservatory (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/9/20/17883334/major-renovations-start-belle-isle-conservatory)

The Albert Kahn-designed Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle will undergo $1.9 million in renovations starting in October, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. This will mean that part of the popular attraction will be closed for about six months.

The DNR states that structural work will start on the dome October 1. From October to April, the show house and the north and south wings will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will be able to gain access through the lily pond, and special events are on hold until May 2019. Much of the dome itself—which has majestic palm trees—will be closed to visitors

Wayne State to break ground on Gateway Performance Complex (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/9/20/17882782/wayne-state-break-ground-gateway-performance-complex)

A busy part of Midtown will see more construction soon. Wayne State University officially breaks ground on the Gateway Performance Complex Thursday evening.

The $65 million development will bring a new performing arts complex to Cass Avenue, along with the renovation of the adjacent Hilberry Theatre.

According to a release, the new complex on Cass Avenue will include:

Three new, state-of-the-art theatres including: the Gretchen Valade Jazz Center, a proscenium and studio theatre
New educational production space for students to hone their skills in performance, design and management
A modern café that where guests mingle before performances, during intermissions, and after events
A patron lounge where invited guests can relax and socialize before the show

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Mvt15v5Wal2mssc95qvXj0BMRXs=/0x0:870x434/920x613/filters:focal(366x148:504x286)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61478525/hilberry_gateway_rendering_1.0.jpg

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Mw1YSr6lANKUtwFQIyxr2LjV9PI=/0x0:2385x1288/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2385x1288):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13124521/hgc_conceptual_diagram.jpg

New residents move into City Modern in Brush Park (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/9/20/17879526/city-modern-brush-park-detroit-residents-move)

A Bedrock representative tells us that nine of the condos are currently occupied, and 24 of the total 104 condos are still on the market.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xB0wQRnRQo69Q-cPZ08_nE4s01g=/0x0:3924x3005/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3924x3005):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13122919/IMG_1943.jpg

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/P17E40Y3QyVUjRddqUYDHPbTs0A=/0x0:1080x1350/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:1080x1350):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13122923/IMG_2340.JPG

Bedrock also tells us that they expect to start leasing 124 Alfred—the apartment building for seniors—in October. This building will have 54 apartments (mostly one-bedroom, with seven two-bedrooms) for people 55 and over who make 80 percent of the Area Median Income. This building will also have first-floor retail space and 40 parking spots below ground. It’s located a block up from Woodward, so we’ll start to see more businesses coming into the neighborhood.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1QwYrXuzpa9VXymtZPAdr96B2Pk=/0x0:4128x3096/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4128x3096):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13122967/20180919_165554.jpg

M Den to open first store in Detroit (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/m-den-open-first-store-detroit)

M Den has signed on for a 4,000-square-foot space with two storefronts on the ground floor of Little Caesars' new $150 million home with pizza-shaped windows, the release said. One storefront will sell M Den merchandise. The other will be called The Victors Collection by The M Den, with more high-end products for alumni.

The store will also offer new "Detroit-themed" items and may host autograph signing events with professional athletes, the release said.

DetroitSky

Sep 21, 2018, 5:38 AM

Photo update time!

August 26

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Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Co. renovation on Cass and Parsons appears complete

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1429 Townsend Street

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Saint Charles Residences

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Saint Charles Terraces

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Live Cycle Delight Fitness & Yoga has opened in the retail space at The Coe

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River Terrace Apartments renovation

August 27

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Church of Scientology Building at 1 Griswold Street. The barricades have been removed since I took this and the building is once again lit up at night. Renovations still appear underway.

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Lawyers Building

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Waymarking Skate Park has been dismantled, hopefully more proof that work on the Monroe Blocks project is to begin soon.

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Hudson's site

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Gabriel Houze

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Checker Building at Elton Park

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Lake Trust Credit Union and Ensoul Yoga's soon-to-be location

August 31

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Magic Dollar, 18647 Livernois Avenue

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18615 Livernois Avenue

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Biggby Coffee, 18685 Livernois Avenue

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Bink's Grill, 18455 Livernois Avenue. This building was abandoned for years.

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741 Seward Street

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4616 Cass Avenue

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4642 Second Avenue

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First Congregational Church restoration

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Spread Deli & Coffee House, 4215 Cass Avenue

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Shinola Hotel's Woodward buildings

September 2

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9512 Woodward Avenue. This building appears to have restarted renovations after a long hiatus during the recession.

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Corktown Lofts

September 7

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Crystal Car Wash, 18900 Woodward Avenue. Not the biggest development by any means, but its one of many smaller business renovations and expansions I've been seeing around the city lately.

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Blue Moon Cafe & Greenhouse site with the Healing House in the background. Part of the Avalon Village project in Highland Park.

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Improvements being made at Riverside Park

September 11

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Grinnell Brothers Building

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Fisher Arcade Building

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Element Detroit at the Metropolitan Building

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Shinola Hotel's Farmer Street building

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Book Tower

September 12

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Lawyers Building

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51 Blaine Street

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629 Gladstone Street

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12920 Grand River Avenue

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9204 Grand River Avenue

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The Sawtooth and Magnet restaurant

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St. Joseph renovations

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2315 Orleans Street

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Kaps Wholesale addition, 1300 Maple Street

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Some cleanup has occurred at Busy Bee Hardware

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Viola Building

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Wolverine Packing Co.

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Forest Park improvements being made as part of the deal for Wolverine Packing to build on part of the park's former grounds.

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Citizens Bank branch opening in The Scott

September 14

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Detroit Life Building

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Book Tower

September 14

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Fisher Arcade Building entrance

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Grinnell Brothers Building base

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Besa restaurant opening soon in the Vinton Building's retail space.

September 15

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I believe this is Brush Park Village North phase 2.

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South side of The Kelemen. The front hasn't changed much.

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James Place Lofts

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Rainbow Child Care Center of Detroit

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No idea whats being built here. Alfred Street between Orleans Street and the Dequindre Cut, adjacent to the former Thorn Apple Valley slaughterhouse.

September 17

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Eco Homes

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Eco Homes

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Fisher Arcade Building entrance again. It appears there's a retail space and office entrance in the Grinnell Bros Building and one single retail space in the Fisher Arcade.

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City Club Apartments CBD Detroit

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City Club Apartments CBD Detroit

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Book Tower

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Book Tower

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Louis Kamper Building

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Newport Garage

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Free Press Building

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The Farwell

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Hudson's site

September 19

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The Corner

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The Robertson, Elton Park

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2100 Trumbull, Elton Park

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2120 Trumbull, Elton Park

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Checker Building, Elton Park

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Tiger Towns at the Corner

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Checker Alley, Elton Park

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The Crawford, Elton Park

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8th Street Row, Elton Park

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Good Stuff restaurant, 1444 Michigan Avenue

September 20

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WSU Gateway Performance Complex groundbreaking ceremony

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820 W. Baltimore Street

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Detroit Pistons Performance Center

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The Boulevard

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Boost Mobile, 2920 W. Grand Boulevard. Soft opening today, September 21.

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Third location of Zo's Good Burger. This is their third location. I couldn't find an address but it's a few doors west of the Boost Mobile above.

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Cadillac Place ground level work.

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9155 Woodward Avenue. No idea whats going on here, but there has been activity the past week or so.

Thanks!

LMich

Sep 21, 2018, 8:50 AM

Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for these tours. Makes me so pissed when I hear about something who has no idea what's going on with the lazy refrain "But nothing is happening in the neighborhoods!" I'd like to see way more redevelopment, of course, but there are all kinds of small projects happening all over the city.

- Since it's been demolished, you sometimes forget how much work is going on down in the pit at Hudson's. But your picture shows just how dilligently they are working to continue to prepare the site.

- I wonder what's going on at Grand River and Joy? I was over that way sometime last year; still really rough so I'm glad to see this intersection getting some attention. There are some solid residential neighborhoods off of Joy, but the street in between Grand River/96 and Linwood could be a huge boon for the neighborhood, again. Heck, the all of the commercial corridors in Dexter-Linwood deserve better than what they are, now.

- That brick and those stone accents on James Place Lofts? :slob:

Honestly, seeing all of this redevelopment for me is so overwhelming.

animatedmartian

Sep 21, 2018, 9:18 AM

For some reason, the real small scale stuff gives a lot of optimism. I mean, Detroit has seen big projects that people thought would jump start the city, but seeing those small businesses and duplex and small apartments getting renovated feels like something long-term and sustainable.

I'm not gonna complain if some new high rises are announced this year though, just saying. Unless they're ugly of course.:haha:

LMich

Sep 21, 2018, 9:25 AM

Meh. So long as they propose them outside of downtown, I wouldn't even complain, then, if they were ugly. lol

detroit_alive

Sep 21, 2018, 2:48 PM

- Since it's been demolished, you sometimes forget how much work is going on down in the pit at Hudson's. But your picture shows just how dilligently they are working to continue to prepare the site.

Word is that Gilbert has a tenant lined up to take all the office space in the 'pedestal' building and is pushing to beat the published schedule.

LMich

Sep 21, 2018, 3:37 PM

They are certainly moving quickly enough that it would be completely possible to beat the schedule they released last November/December. I'm glad to hear that the office building has a tenant, and I am still very anxious to hear if he's still vying for a hotel in the residential tower, or if they considered it and drop the idea.

They are being super-quiet about details. Bedrock, Homrich, Hardman...I've gotten replies back from the first two, and the third won't even respond. The only leaks are what we are going to get from the inside, which is what I figure your information comes from, or they leak it themselves from the top.

hybrydy

Sep 21, 2018, 4:52 PM

awesome photo update indeed!!!

what is the Newport Garage project? deferred maintenance?

caldor120la

Sep 21, 2018, 5:17 PM

DetroitSky: Wonderful photos each and everyone just great. I'am amazed how these buildings can be brought back to life. I know we have the crafts people to do it but, seeing the renovations take place is amazing. Thank you again.

DetroitSky

Sep 22, 2018, 2:18 AM

I'm glad you guys enjoy my photo updates! I've already started on the next one.

awesome photo update indeed!!!

what is the Newport Garage project? deferred maintenance?

I don't know exactly what's going on. They've been working on it the past 2 months or so. There's scaffolding protecting the sidewalk and they've removed almost all of the old plastic panels in the windows. Lately they've been repairing some of the concrete facade. It's probably just general maintenance and upgrades.

Heidelberg Project is coming home, with new HQ in neighborhood (https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/09/21/detroit-heidelberg-project/1346622002/)

In June 2017, the Heidelberg Project purchased 3442 McDougall and its adjoining lots for $490,000. Two months later, in August 2017, it went in 50-50 with artists Jesse Cory and Roula David, owners of Inner State Gallery and 1xRun, and purchased 2905 Beaufait — a 20,000-square-foot building two blocks from the Heidelberg Project — for $350,000.

The nonprofit will be moving into the McDougall headquarters in February. Come spring, the Beaufait warehouse is slated to open as a café, gallery and event space.

And while the group is still working to purchase 40 vacant parcels from the City of Detroit — this year, unlike last, it's seeming more like a possibility.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/50ef9dab2c31b3a696ac052fcdcd77660f63a131/c=210-0-2338-1600/local/-/media/2018/09/19/DetroitFreeP/DetroitFreePress/636729834623760917-0918018-heidelberg-21.jpg?width=540&height=405&fit=crop

Advance Plumbing grows Midtown operation with fixture-filled showroom (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/advance-plumbing-grows-midtown-operation-fixture-filled-showroom)

Nearly century-old Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply Co. is expanding its Midtown operation with a new showroom behind a renovated historic facade.

The fourth-generation family plumbing distributor will host a grand opening Tuesday to be attended by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, according to a news release.

The showroom at 3740 Cass Ave. sits next to Advance Plumbing's existing wholesale plumbing and heating business at 150 Parsons St. It moved to the building it has renovated at Parsons and Cass in 2016, the same year it won a $100,000 Motor City Match grant.

Harry Chernick founded Advance Plumbing in 1920, originally at 2984 Grand River Ave. near Motor City Casino. It also opened a second store in Walled Lake in 1990, according to its website. It sells bath and kitchen fixtures, faucets, sinks, toilets, showers and some lighting.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/advance%20plumbing%20midtown_i.jpg

DetroitSky

Sep 24, 2018, 8:45 PM

New Shinola Hotel renderings released (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/9/24/17896796/shinola-hotel-renderings-released)

The Shinola Hotel has been hiring and is expected to open in December.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Zj1tobxF7Ix33pky0iRE6Xulgso=/0x0:1920x1476/920x613/filters:focal(807x585:1113x891)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61523415/Living_Room_ShinolaHotel.0.jpg

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Muralist Plots New Cocktail Bar in Hamtramck (https://detroit.eater.com/2018/9/24/17897842/high-dive-new-cocktail-bar-opening-hamtramck-shark-toof-artist)

A artist who goes by the name Shark Toof is preparing to open a new cocktail bar in Hamtramck, according to Metro Times. Shark Toof, whose murals of ferocious sharks can be seen at Eastern Market, has taken over the former Carbon Lounge at 11474 Joseph Campau Ave. with plans to turn it into a bar called High Dive.

The bar is set to open on an as-of-yet-unspecified date in October after some interior renovations and updates to the facade. Among the additions to the building: a red fiberglass shark installation, much in the style of the artist’s murals. Shark Toof is also adding some vintage details to the space including booths encircling marble-topped antique tables and an Art Deco glass lamp over the pool table.

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DetroitSky

Sep 26, 2018, 2:46 AM

Cass Corridor hotel redevelopment gets $5.69M boost from state (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/9/25/17901540/cass-corridor-hotel-redevelopment-5-69m-boost-state)

The Michigan Strategic Fund approved $5.69 million in loans for the redevelopment today.

The Albert Kahn-designed building is right by the Masonic Temple, and plans call for both residential (70 apartments) and a 100-room hotel. The design is being led by McIntosh Poris Architects, who also led the design of the Foundation Hotel.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dn8-WPHW0AAc1AS.jpg

Bar to open where '70s Cass Corridor jazz spot once stood (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/food-drink/bar-open-where-70s-cass-corridor-jazz-spot-once-stood)

An old live-music and artists' bar on Cass Avenue in Detroit's Cass Corridor is getting remade.

Robert Cobb opened Cobb's Corner Bar at Cass and Willis Street in 1970, alongside the Willis Gallery. He aims to reopen with the same name, offering more food and aiming for "moderate" prices, within the next month or two.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/cobbs%20corner%20bar-main_i.jpg

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Midtown men's clothier owner to begin manufacturing in Detroit (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/manufacturing/midtown-mens-clothier-owner-begin-manufacturing-detroit)

The co-founder of 1701 Bespoke, a men's custom clothier in Midtown Detroit, plans to set up clothing manufacturing in the city's New Center area.

Max Schmidt, 31, started Commonwealth Sewing Co. with Detroit investor Andrew Stott, and they're leasing a space in a renovated former manufacturing facility south of Grand Boulevard and west of the Lodge Freeway.

Commonwealth will do manufacturing work for 1701 Bespoke, but the plans are bigger than that, Schmidt said. It also plans to do fabric-cutting jobs for other local apparel makers and he wants to provide training for workers.

Belle Isle Conservancy gets $750,000 toward Oudolf garden (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/nonprofit/belle-isle-conservancy-gets-750000-toward-oudolf-garden)

The Hudson-Webber Foundation will grant the Belle Isle Conservancy $750,000 for its new garden from internationally renowned designer Piet Oudolf.

The approximately 2-acre garden on Detroit's Belle Isle Park is among recipients of a round of gifts from the Detroit-based foundation worth $2.2 million, according to a Hudson-Webber news release.

The Dutch garden designer's creation on the island park requires $3 million-$4 million, according to a document on volunteer group Oudolf Garden Detroit's website dated Aug. 30. That figure comprises $150,000 for design, $900,000-$1.7 million for garden installation and $2 million-$2.2 million for an endowment to maintain the garden.

As of Aug. 30, Oudolf Garden Detroit had raised enough money for the design and another $150,000 toward the installation. The Hudson-Webber grant was announced Monday.

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Bilingual primary health care office opens in southwest Detroit (http://www.modeldmedia.com/devnews/MedicinaUrbinaGO.aspx)

Medicina Urbina, a modern, holistic primary health care office, is celebrating its grand opening Thursday, Sept. 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. with Castalia cocktails featuring Detroit's own Cabresto Tequila and a DJ set from Vinnie Massimino of Portage Garage Sounds.

Dr. Mark Beard, founder of Medicina Urbina, combines osteopathic medical techniques with standard medical practices in his holistic approach to health and wellness. As an Osteopathic Physician, Dr. Beard specializes in using his hands to treat joint and muscle pain.

The doctor has taken a community-minded approach to health care, working in Michigan's underserved areas since 2008.

Dr. Mark Beard

"Medical care has been overrun by profit driven business, degrading one of the most sacred relationships: the one between patients and their physicians," Beard says.

"I started Medicina Urbana in my city to break free from that, and to serve my Detroit community with the skills I have."

http://www.modeldmedia.com/Images/Features/issue599/medicina_urbana_-_facade_4-2018_photo_cred_juan_carlos_perez.jpg?s=f

LMich

Sep 26, 2018, 8:32 AM

hybrydy

Sep 26, 2018, 2:40 PM

Seeing news like 640 Temple and Cass + York just really drive home to me how much work Olympia has to do to be significantly better neighbors. They have so many buildings under the control very similar to these other ones in the neighborhood, and yet, unless it has something directly to do with their stadium or office operations, they simply conveniently never turn up done. Like, they seem to be allergic to residential and hospitality projects, which is why so much of their district which was formerly designated residential will now be office (and some retail) space.

Just a mini-rant. I'm not as critical of Olympia as many here, but just seeing the news of 640 Temple reminded me of the American Hotel and the old Eddystone and so many other properties they're just sitting on while other developers are renovating or building new housing and hotels left and right.

think we all agree, and as expected another announcement of already announced projects

The District Detroit Adds Disney Executive, Provides Updates on Development Projects (http://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/Annual-2018/The-District-Detroit-Adds-Disney-Executive-Provides-Updates-on-Development-Projects/)

Updates:
- M Den and Frita Batidos on Columbia St + 40k in additional retail
- pre-construction planning for 150 Bagley St., formerly the United Artists Building :shrug:
- Olympia Development of Michigan (part of Ilitch Holdings) continues to evaluate proposals at 408 Temple St. (formerly the American Hotel) and 100 Temple St. (formerly the Alhambra)
- Work is already underway in preparation for new, historically-accurate windows at the former Eddystone Hotel at 110 Sproat St
- 9-story Little Caesars world headquarters campus expansion (just south of the Fox Theatre and Office Building) is nearing the final phases of construction and will open early next year
- Earlier this year, Olympia Development of Michigan and the Detroit Medical Center announced the Sports Medicine Institute will occupy two floors of a new building at 2715 Woodward Ave., with additional tenants expected to be announced later this year.

The North One

Sep 26, 2018, 5:09 PM

WTF is there to "evaluate" about the American and Alhambra? Still contemplating the potential for turning them into parking lots? I cannot fucking stand Ilitch trash, strip them of ownership of these properties now.

DetroitSky

Sep 27, 2018, 2:57 AM

I'm in the same boat as The North One. The only thing they care about is pizza, sports and parking lots. While we're on the topic of the Ilitch family, the American Hotel is currently entirely boarded up, Temple West's garage section is operating but the residential section is still dirt, and parking lot at Cass and Temple was recently repaved with no curbs against the Alden Apartments, implying they expected to get demolition permits for the Alden.

Based on what I've been hearing, the DMC Sports Medicine Institute has begun foundation work. I don't believe it surprises anyone that this is the next project to move forward in District Detroit, as its a project involved with a partner. The Ilitch family alone seems to be incapable of fulfilling promises.

Meanwhile, the Fine Arts Building is going on 10 years of being a facade suspended by metal scaffolding with no solid plans, The Blenheim, which sits right along the new Columbia Street project, has no solid plans, its still undecided what will go in the Detroit Life Building as they're only doing facade work now, the old Moose Lodge still sits abandoned with no plans at all...the list goes on.

Alright, I'm done ranting. Here's some development related news from today:

Lafayette Park apartment complex to get revamp after $11.55 million sale (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/lafayette-park-apartment-complex-get-revamp-after-1155-million-sale)

The team plans nearly $2 million in renovations, first on the exteriors of the complex's 13 buildings, Mondry said. It also expects to improve paving and landscaping, and then the interiors over time as units come available. Rainy Hamilton of Detroit-based Hamilton Anderson Associates is handling architecture work.

The apartment complex at 1387 E. Larned St. is just east of downtown Detroit and I-375, across from the incoming small-format Meijer Inc. store. The 2 1/2-story buildings' units are an average of 887 square feet, with studios and one- and two-bedrooms available. The complex was built in 1971.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_280/public/carlton%20apartments_i.jpg

Civil engineering firm triples office space in downtown Detroit (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/news/civil-engineering-firm-triples-office-space-downtown-detroit)

A Missouri-based construction engineering firm with roots in Detroit has tripled the space in its downtown office as it prepares to double its staff in the next two years.

Burns & McDonnell, which opened the office in 4,000 square feet at 2111 Woodward Ave. in January, took up an additional 8,000 square feet.

The firm has a three-year lease for the original second floor and extra eighth-floor space of the Francis Palms Building that houses The Fillmore Detroit. The building is owned by an entity of developer Charles Forbes.

Benjamin Nabozny, who heads the office, expects to add more than 20 new employees over the next two years and 100 in the next five years. The firm seeks to fill engineering, technician and construction and project-management roles, among others. Burns & McDonnell expects to expand its global workforce by 1,000.

mousquet

Sep 27, 2018, 10:50 AM

- That brick and those stone accents on James Place Lofts? :slob:

I'm a bit late on that one, but I got to say the same picture just caught my attention.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1888/43796342055_0790a57f09_h.jpg
James Place Lofts

Apparently, this is not exactly one's average precast brick that's a little dull.
But this texture looks better, really adds some interest in the contemporary building.
Good for the spot.

LMich

Sep 27, 2018, 1:52 PM

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/08/20/PDTF/9537c169-e27b-4ae7-b290-3a3c542c1dce-20180817_161818.jpg?width=534&height=401&fit=bounds&auto=webp
Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press

Downtown Detroit's new Fort Street Galley food hall reveals its vendors (https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/mark-kurlyandchik/2018/09/27/detroit-fort-street-galley-food-hall-restaurants-announced/1384310002/)

Poised to make its downtown debut in less than two months, Detroit's newest food hall-style concept Fort Street Galley has announced its first featured vendors.

They include a healthier barbecue concept from a James Beard Award-winning chef, a Korean approach to raw American fish, inspired sandwiches from a pair of Selden Standard alums and Detroit's first and only Filipino restaurant.

Fort Street Galley is a project of the Pittsburgh-based Galley Group, which operates two food hall concepts in that city and is in the midst of expanding westward with another in Ohio expected to debut around the same time as Detroit's.

Unlike other food halls, where vendors lease stalls from the operator with a business model similar to traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants, the Galley Group takes a 30-percent cut from its vendors' revenues and covers most of their expenses.

animatedmartian

Sep 28, 2018, 6:38 AM

So this is kinda cool. If you haven't been to Downtown Detroit in a while, this video does a cool real time walking tour (minus a cheesy tour guide). Kinda like a real life streetview but if you were there in person. It looks like it was filmed on a Sunday so this is probably the least amount of activity you'd see on a given week.

xGa9AbKO-4s

DetroitSky

Sep 29, 2018, 1:15 AM

So the Downtown Detroit Partnership released an annual report (http://downtowndetroit.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/DDP-Development-Report-Final.pdf) that contains many development updates, many of which have not been publicly spoken about in years.

Some updates include:

139 Cadillac Square, formerly known as The Lawyers
Building was built in 1922, is the only remaining high-
rise in Detroit constructed in the Chicago School style of architecture. Originally intended as an office building for lawyers who practiced in the Wayne County Building, the 45 apartments reflect a $9 million historic renovation.
220 West, a five-story building in Detroit’s Financial District, spent its earlier years as a glove factory. Today, the 36,500-square-feet building boasts a redesign of the 1970s façade, including a new walkable green alley and retail spanning the side with store-front windows. Floors two through five will serve as creative office lofts with exposed brick walls and wooden rafters creating a modern feel. The building incorporates green features throughout.

As well as updates on these projects in the pipeline:

1. 1242 Washington Boulevard: to be developed into office space by Karp and Associates by 2020.
2. Gateway Center Building redevelopment, 1101 Washington Boulevard: residential space by Karp and Associates. This was announced back in 2016 as a residential, retail and parking high rise on the site of Gateway Center and the parking lot directly to the north.
3. Lofts on Broadway, 1320-1364 Broadway: residential by 2019. This was originally announced years back but a fire in 2 of the 3 buildings held the project back.

Gordie Howe bridge to cost $4.4 billion, be complete in 2024 (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/construction/gordie-howe-bridge-cost-44-billion-be-complete-2024)

The Gordie Howe International Bridge will cost $4.4 billion to construct and maintain through its first 30 years, and be complete by the end of 2024, officials announced Friday.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which is overseeing the project, signed a $4.4 billion ($5.7 billion Canadian) contract with Bridging North America — a consortium of Canadian companies consisting of ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Fluor Canada Ltd. and Dragados Canada Inc., officials said at a media event in Windsor.

The 36-year contract for the mammoth international project includes $2.9 billion ($3.8 billion Canadian) for the design and build of the bridge over six years, as well as $1.47 billion ($1.9 billion Canadian) for the operation and maintenance of the span over the Detroit River through the length of the contract.

Construction preparation started months ago, design of the bridge will be ongoing and concurrent with construction through 2020, and project delivery is scheduled for the end of 2024, according to Bridging North America.

No Michigan taxpayer money is being used for the project.

The project, to be LEED Silver certified, includes four major parts: the six-lane, 1.5-mile-long bridge with pedestrian pathways; 130-acre Canadian point of entry; 167-acre U.S. point of entry; and the infrastructure build-out to connect the bridge to I-75 in southwest Detroit.

If all goes according to plan, the landmark project will result in the largest cable-stayed bridge in North America, with towers rivaling the height of the Renaissance Center.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/1152x647/public/Gordie%20Howe%20International%20Bridge_Lanes%20and%20Multi-Use%20Path_i.jpg

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/1152x647/public/Gordie%20Howe%20International%20Bridge_US%20Port%20of%20Entry_i.jpg

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/1152x647/public/Gordie%20Howe%20International%20Bridge_Michigan%20Interchange_i.jpg

Large LED sign proposed for Renaissance City Club Apartments downtown (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/large-led-sign-proposed-renaissance-city-club-apartments-downtown)

The owners of the Renaissance City Club Apartments at 555 Brush St. have proposed installation of a 54-foot by 25-foot dynamic LED sign weighing 4,500 pounds above the property's 33rd story on the western facade at a height of 306 feet, according to a planning commission document.

Last week, the commission heard from Farmington Hills-based City Club Apartments and city staff about the proposal, which is to be considered again at the commission's Oct. 4 meeting, said Rory Bolger, a city planner.

DetroitSky

Sep 30, 2018, 10:07 PM

Warner Norcross + Judd is opening office next to Little Caesars Arena
(https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/warner-norcross-judd-opening-office-next-little-caesars-arena)

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is opening a large office next to Little Caesars Arena and relocating its Southfield office to Detroit.

The Grand Rapids-based law firm is leasing almost 30,000 square feet — the entire third floor — of a to-be-built building sandwiched between the arena and the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business on Woodward Avenue. The Detroit office is expected to open in September 2020 with about 60 employees, said Linda Paullin-Hebden, executive partner of the firm's Southfield office.

She declined to say how much the firm is spending on the relocation, but did say that it will cost more to be in the new five-story building, which will also have the Detroit Medical Center as a tenant.

I believe the DMC is using two floors in the new Sports Medicine Institute building, meaning 3 of its 5 floors are leased.

LMich

Oct 1, 2018, 9:21 AM

2. Gateway Center Building redevelopment, 1101 Washington Boulevard: residential space by Karp and Associates. This was announced back in 2016 as a residential, retail and parking high rise on the site of Gateway Center and the parking lot directly to the north.

So this is just going to be the redevelopment of the existing building? I had to google this one because it's so incredibly non-descript that I'd forgotten what it looks like. The parking lot to the north must have a high-rise building; I'd not compromise on that. I guess I'd never realized how forgettable the other side of the block from the Book Cadillac was.

Anyway, Karp & Associates does good historic renovations. They've done pretty well on the Farwell.

animatedmartian

Oct 1, 2018, 11:58 AM

So this is just going to be the redevelopment of the existing building? I had to google this one because it's so incredibly non-descript that I'd forgotten what it looks like. The parking lot to the north must have a high-rise building; I'd not compromise on that. I guess I'd never realized how forgettable the other side of the block from the Book Cadillac was.

Anyway, Karp & Associates does good historic renovations. They've done pretty well on the Farwell.

How tall are we talking because I can just look at that lot and see a lack parking as a big obstacle.

We could probably get away with a boutique hotel without parking though those are usually only several floors. It'd be a nice filler, but nothing substantial.

It's unfortunate, but it'll probably be a repeating pattern with the smaller lots left in the downtown core. Unless you assemble enough lots together (and/or demolish something) or buy one of the bigger lots from the big players (Gilbert, Olympia, GM, etc.), you'll probably see shorter buildings on the smaller lots.

LMich

Oct 1, 2018, 12:20 PM

You don't even need parking on that block for this to be substantial. In any case, I'm talking a legit high-rise. Doesn't have to be a skyscraper, but it should be average the height of its block and the blocks to the north, which all have monumental ol buildings on them. Not every development downtown, anymore, needs directly adjacent or on-lot parking, though developers are sure to still want such an amenity for tenants.

DetroitSky

Oct 1, 2018, 1:34 PM

As far as I know, Dan Gilbert is still planning on building a new garage for the Book Tower right over there. Could be that Karp is considering leasing some of that garage. The planned site is really the only place in that area a garage could be built anyway unless they work parking into the base of the new building like how they proposed a few years back.

The Gateway Center Building used to look a lot nicer but it had a nasty mid century renovation. It’s one of the few downtown buildings that’s still in really poor condition. I’ll be happy to see it restored or torn down.

subterranean

Oct 1, 2018, 3:50 PM

From a Crain's article (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20160105/BLOG016/160109932/new-mixed-use-development-planned-across-from-westin-book-cadillac) from 2016 interviewing Karp re: Gateway:

“But it’s not historic. It’s not architecturally significant. So there’s no (financing) incentives available for it from a historic standpoint. For us to spend the money rehabbing it, we are better off doing a larger structure encompassing the surface lots to the north,” he said."

LMich

Oct 2, 2018, 8:43 AM

An update on the redevelopment of Brewster-Douglass redevelopment project in Midtown.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/c2ea2105cf6de4b71fa351b9c1d6ddb345b710ee/c=89-0-914-619/local/-/media/2016/09/12/DetroitNews/B99439868Z.1_20160912151311_000_GSN14O06C.1-0.jpg?width=534&height=401&fit=crop

Local firm drafting master plan for former Brewster-Douglass site (https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/10/01/local-firm-drafting-master-plan-former-brewster-douglass-site/1491495002/)

A Detroit-based global architectural design and planning firm is drafting a master plan for the $300 million development of the former Brewster-Douglass housing project.

Mark Rossetti, president of Rossetti, announced Monday that Bedrock Detroit selected his firm to create the plan for the 22-acre site near Interstate 75 south of Mack Avenue near the Brush Park neighborhood.

Specs:

The development will include 913 apartments, condos and townhouses, catering to people of varying income levels as well as an 80-room hotel. Other development features include three acres of public space, 19,000 square feet of retail and 60,000 square feet of childhood education space.

Construction is scheduled to start next summer with the first units available in early 2021.

BTW, just looked at the FAA obstruction evaluation tool after seeing someone bring it up on another page. Looks like they approved the tower crane that will be used to build the addition to Compuware back on September 21, and the approval stretches until March of 2020. So it looks like maybe this one will finally be starting construction before the end of the year?

hybrydy

Oct 2, 2018, 12:31 PM

An update on the redevelopment of Brewster-Douglass redevelopment project in Midtown.

Local firm drafting master plan for former Brewster-Douglass site (https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/10/01/local-firm-drafting-master-plan-former-brewster-douglass-site/1491495002/)

Mark Rossetti, president of Rossetti, announced Monday that Bedrock Detroit selected his firm to create the plan for the 22-acre site near Interstate 75 south of Mack Avenue near the Brush Park neighborhood.

boy the dailies have gone to shit. can't even get a name correct. who's the editor?

https://www.rossetti.com/sites/default/files/matt_rossetti_-_global_sports.pdf

hybrydy

Oct 2, 2018, 1:37 PM

Warner Norcross + Judd is opening office next to Little Caesars Arena
(https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/warner-norcross-judd-opening-office-next-little-caesars-arena)

I believe the DMC is using two floors in the new Sports Medicine Institute building, meaning 3 of its 5 floors are leased.

http://rivista-cdn.dbusiness.com/images/cache/cache_c/cache_4/cache_4/WarnerNorcross-0d76f44c.jpeg?ver=1538414933&aspectratio=1.7699115044248

Warner Norcross will occupy the entire third level of the five-story, Class A office building, which is expected to open in fall 2020. The workplace will house about 55 attorneys and staff, and will feature conference rooms, collaborative work spaces, dedicated parking, and a lounge overlooking Woodward.

The firm will be joined in the 127,000-square-foot building (2715 Woodward) by the Detroit Medical Center, which in June announced it will lease part of the building to operate a state-of-the-art Sports Medicine Institute. The building, which will offer approximately 17,000 square feet of street-level retail space, will be located in The District Detroit, the 50-block area that includes Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, Ford Field, Fox Theatre, and numerous other buildings.

source (http://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/Annual-2018/Law-Firm-Warner-Norcross--Judd-to-Open-Detroit-Office-Next-to-Little-Caesars-Arena/)

DetroitSky

Oct 3, 2018, 3:16 AM

The Checker Building at Elton Park starts pre-leasing (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/10/2/17928162/checker-building-elton-park-pre-leasing-corktown)

This building will have 45 one-bedroom apartments and seven two-bedroom apartments on Trumbull. Curbed visited the building as work is finishing on the apartments.

The apartments have polished concrete floors, exposed brick walls, and exposed columns and beams. The one-bedroom options range from 600 to 900 square feet, and start at $1,020 per month. The two-bedroom apartments range from 950 to 1,175 square feet and start at $1,900 per month. This $2 per-square-foot rate is typically seen in downtown rentals.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Xl0tX5As2krSpLEe32aspv1BTns=/0x0:4128x3096/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4128x3096):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13198851/20181002_102352.jpg

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tt7L1JqmOlOHukaozS9FfMYjKfU=/0x0:4128x3096/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:4128x3096):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13198815/20181002_101842.jpg

New joint venture to lease Grand Circus Park garage, improve park (https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/10/02/new-joint-venture-lease-grand-circus-park-garage-improve-park/1500982002/)

Parking garage users will begin to see immediate improvements at the garage, said Ryan Hunt, president of Nashville, Tennessee-based Premier Parking, in a statement. Renovations will include security and technology updates that will take place over the next two years, the operators said.

The partnership will also establish a nonprofit conservancy for financing long-term capital improvements for Grand Circus Park.

“The Roxbury Group is dedicated to the Grand Circus Park district and to helping give the residents and businesses of our neighborhood the service and amenities that they deserve,” said David Di Rita, a principal of Roxbury, a Detroit-based real estate development and investment firm.

Detroit’s Bird Bee to Open Sister Store Urban Angelo in Brush Park (http://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/Annual-2018/Detroits-Bird-Bee-to-Open-Sister-Store-Urban-Angelo-in-Brush-Park/)

Urban Angelo, upcoming sister store to Capitol Park’s Bird Bee, will open in November at The Scott at Brush Park. The store will feature apparel and accessories for both men and women, drawing inspiration from monochromatic aesthetic, art, music, and street culture.

The 1,500-square-foot store will be located at 90 Erskine St. and offer a cross between streetwear and contemporary fashion, as well as a curated selection of elevated basics, including denim, loungewear, and outerwear.

http://rivista-cdn.dbusiness.com/images/cache/cache_c/cache_1/cache_4/UrbanAngello-4a6d641c.jpeg?ver=1538503087&aspectratio=1.6556291390728

^With this opening, I believe that means the last vacant retail space in The Scott is between Empire restaurant and the new Citizens Bank branch.

Hotel Eddystone work begins in advance of window installation (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/hotel-eddystone-work-begins-advance-window-installation)

Trash and debris are being removed from the long abandoned Hotel Eddystone across from Little Caesars Arena in advance of the anticipated installation of new windows.

The work is needed before the Ilitch family's Olympia Development of Michigan puts in the promised historically accurate windows, the company said Tuesday in a statement to Crain's.

A reporter spotted a worker in the 13-story eyesore's upper floors Tuesday morning, and materials were seen coming down a chute on its western side.

Detroit-based Olympia, which is spearheading the District Detroit development project anchored by the new arena, said in August that windows were expected to be installed in September after it blew through a deadline to redevelop the hotel, which was spared from demolition following a protracted battle with the city and historic preservation community.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_280/public/EddystoneChute_i_1.jpg

Owners of Provisions in Ferndale to open cheese, chocolate shop in Midtown (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/food-drink/owners-provisions-ferndale-open-cheese-chocolate-shop-midtown)

The owners of Provisions in Ferndale plan to celebrate the store's one-year anniversary by opening a new chocolate, cheese and charcuterie business in Midtown.

Founders William Werner and Zach Berg, both 34, are planning to open a new store at 4240 Cass Ave. with quadruple the offerings of its original outpost. Expanding from a 150-square-foot space inside of Farm Field Table to 1,028 square feet on the ground level of The Auburn apartments will give the shop a wealth of new opportunities and satisfy a long-running vision for the owners.

"It was always the long-term goal to open in Detroit. We've been contemplating (a Detroit location) since we opened last year," Werner said, adding that they'd been looking at locations in Midtown and Corktown seriously since January.

Their new lease is for three years with two three-year options. They plan to invest around $30,000 to build out the new space — a process expected to start in the next week or two.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/mongers%20provisions%20storefront-MAIN_i.jpg

Mahindra-Funded Agricultural Center Opens in Detroit (https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/mahindra-funded-agricultural-center-opens-in-detroit-2018-10-02)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held this morning to mark the opening of the new Mahindra Agriscience Learning Center at Detroit's Pingree Farms. The Center will serve as an on-site classroom where students will focus on agricultural and animal science, and will allow the farm to further expand both their Agriscience curriculum and student enrollment. "The Mahindra Agriscience Learning Center will provide an excellent educational environment for students and community members to study and learn a wide range of food production techniques," said Mahindra Automotive North America's CEO and President Rick Haas.

LMich

Oct 3, 2018, 8:35 AM

More on Elton Park.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/02/PDTN/7156a249-a06f-4329-9ecf-f1da2b6e822d-2018-1002-dm-me-elton-park0198.jpg?width=534&height=401&fit=bounds&auto=webp
Daniel Mears / The Detroit News

Elton Park lofts in historic Checker Cab Building near completion (https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/10/02/elton-park-lofts-historic-checker-cab-building-near-completion/1486103002/)

By the end of the year, the first group of tenants are expected to move into a $150-million mixed-use development that has transformed the former Checker Cab Building in Corktown.

The former cab building, part of the first phase of the Elton Park project on Trumbull near Michigan Avenue, will feature 45 one-bedroom apartments and seven two-bedroom apartments. It’s one of six mixed-use buildings in the development just east of the old Tiger Stadium. Pre-leasing for the apartments began Tuesday for occupancy as early as December.

A rendering and more photos by the New's Daniel Mears:

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/02/PDTN/e7c0af6e-cf59-427a-b24b-956b0939456f-2018-1002-dm-me-elton-park0063.jpg?width=520&height=390&fit=bounds&auto=webp

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/02/PDTN/d068d05c-6904-4c4c-bd53-c8838e69f8a7-2018-1002-dm-me-elton-park0137.jpg?width=520&height=390&fit=bounds&auto=webp

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/02/PDTN/7e100ef2-6821-40f3-8ef7-f56eb9fae5ac-2018-1002-dm-me-elton-park0096.jpg?width=520&height=390&fit=bounds&auto=webp

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/02/PDTN/abf24de8-b0b5-4041-8cb9-313e0b86472c-2018-1002-dm-me-elton-park0058.jpg?width=520&height=390&fit=bounds&auto=webp

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/02/PDTN/b608efbd-c3af-4a55-8e7d-f3ce79498482-2018-1002-dm-me-elton-park0188.jpg?width=520&height=390&fit=bounds&auto=webp

DetroitSky

Oct 4, 2018, 1:22 AM

Gilbert's Hudson's site skyscraper may grow to 912 feet in height (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/gilberts-hudsons-site-skyscraper-may-grow-912-feet-height)

Billionaire mortgage mogul and real estate maven Dan Gilbert's skyscraper slated for downtown Detroit may grow by more than 100 feet to 912 feet tall, Crain's has learned.

While the final height has not yet been determined, Joe Guziewicz, vice president of construction for Gilbert's Bedrock LLC, confirmed that it will be taller than the 800 feet that was previously announced as the company looks to get "the most flexibility for how we use it and how we program it."

"We may end up at 900," Guziewicz said, adding that the city has been briefed on the plan. "This has been an ongoing struggle for us for the last eight months. We get one shot and we want to be sure we have the right components inside."

Those include residential, and possibly hotel and other uses, although a final configuration of the space hasn't been decided. The previously revealed $909 million cost is almost certain to grow, although by how much is not known.

The maximum height of 912 feet was arrived at because that's the height the elevator cores as they are currently designed can support, Guziewicz said.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/HudsonsSiteDemolition_i.jpg

LMich

Oct 4, 2018, 9:48 AM

Read about this in the dailies a few days ago. More than the parking garage, I'm really curious about the conservancy to be created for the actual park, and whether they will just be responsible for capital improvements, or if they'll manage the park with their own rules and regulations?

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qEq5re_1AHiu_UROzNTfexM33MA=/0x0:1200x800/920x613/filters:focal(504x304:696x496)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61637401/IMG_0014.0.jpg
Michelle & Chris Gerard (http://www.michelleandchrisgerard.com/)

Grand Circus Park underground garage to undergo major renovation (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/10/3/17933300/grand-circus-park-underground-garage-undergo-major-renovation)

Building improvements have been widely documented during this era of downtown Detroit’s resurgence—how about the infrastructure underneath it? Detroit has many underground parking structures in varying degrees of functionality. As more people come downtown—and many drive—the condition of the structures becomes important as the city moves forward.

The 790-space underground structure at Grand Circus Park will undergo renovations, according to a recent press release. A partnership between the Roxbury Group (who redid the David Whitney Building and are currently restoring the Metropolitan Building), Pike Pointe Parking LLC, and Premier Parking will form Grand Circus Holdings. The group will lease and operate the structure, as well as form a non-profit conservancy to take care of the historic park above it.

Two significant developments nearby also have underground parking in their plans. The former Statler Hotel site on Grand Circus Park currently is under construction for 288 apartments plus 400 underground parking spaces at the City Club Apartments. A few blocks away, the Hudson’s site was home to an underground parking garage. That’s been dug out for the tower and development that will rise at the site, along with 700+ underground parking spaces.

Anyway, they say the improvements will take place over an 18-month schedule.

DetroitRises

Oct 5, 2018, 1:45 AM

Photos of construction at “The Corner”

https://i.imgur.com/tWFYSOp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/OAYasFo.jpg

DetroitSky

Oct 5, 2018, 10:45 PM

Madewell, Le Labo, Drought, Good Neighbor coming to Shinola Hotel (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/madewell-le-labo-drought-good-neighbor-coming-shinola-hotel)

Madewell's downtown Detroit location, first reported by Crain's in August, will take approximately 2,500 square feet and have Woodward frontage. A sign for the retailer, which is a division of New York City-based J. Crew Goods Inc. (NYSE: JCG), was installed on the building Friday morning. A spokeswoman for Madewell declined comment.

Le Labo, which was founded in New York in 2006, is leasing about 1,000 square feet and will also have Woodward frontage. Estee Lauder Cos. (NYSE: EL) purchased it in 2014.

"They are one of the most coveted beauty brands in the world," Skiba said. "They have less than 25 locations in the U.S. and specialize in candles, skin care and custom fragrances for men and women."

Drought, which has eight locations in the region, including two in the city, will move from its first-floor space in Gilbert's Chrysler House high-rise at 719 Griswold St. It has other locations in Detroit's Eastern Market (on Saturdays only), Ann Arbor, Royal Oak, Berkley, Bloomfield Hills and Plymouth.

Madewell and Le Labo will be open when the hotel opens in December. Drought's Chrysler House location will remain open until its space in the hotel is ready; it's not yet determined when Good Neighbor will open.

Carli Goltowski, owner of Good Neighbor and a former Shinola employee, said she has a five-year lease for her first store but wouldn't disclose her rental rate.
It will employ three-five part-time employees to start as it sells men's and women's apparel, ranging from large brands such as Levi's and Red Wings boots to local and national independent makers, Goltowski said.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/1152x647/s3/Madewell%20at%20Shinola%20Hotel.jpg

^I find it kind of odd we still haven't heard if a Shinola store is planned in the hotel or not. Also, since the article doesn't give much as far as the locations of the stores, it seems that Madewell is actually located in the Healy Building, not the hotel; Le Labo will be in the hotel along Woodward; Good Neighbor will be located along Farmer Street and Drought will be in the activated alley.

Former ‘ugliest apartment building’ gets fresh new look (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/10/5/17937212/former-ugliest-apartment-building-fresh-new-look)

Alex Pereira—known for the Lorax, Up, and Wonderland Houses, as well as the JD Baer House in Woodbridge—has redone the building in his signature bright colors and is now leasing the apartments.

Up for rent are six one-bedrooms, three two-bedrooms, and three private office suites. Two units are renting at $1,100 for those making 80 percent of the Area Median Income; the rest are renting at Midtown prices. A one-bedroom is coming in at $1,300 per month, with a two-bedroom currently renting for $1,900.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GZ53BPlSPbgjcT4w1wIdt52bnq8=/0x0:4032x3024/920x613/filters:focal(1694x1190:2338x1834)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61660581/MVIMG_20181003_151305__1_.0.jpg

Handball courts make a comeback in Palmer Park (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/10/5/17942890/handball-courts-comeback-palmer-park)

The People for Palmer Park are hosting a grand reopening of the handball courts at the park on Saturday at noon. The old courts were in awful shape, as seen below, but because of a partnership between the Michigan Handball Association (MHA) and the People for Palmer Park, along with help from the city’s Parks and Rec department, the courts will reopen to the public.

Before the courts were cleaned, resurfaced, and repainted. Courtesy of the People for Palmer Park
The courts were last used as compost bins for manure and wood chips from the nearby Mounted Police horses. No worries! All of that has been cleaned up.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mnrwj33D0TF0EzGpGHfj5pKrDmc=/0x0:1945x1320/920x613/filters:focal(818x505:1128x815)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61667967/Handball_courts_Palmer_Park_2018.0.jpg

First look at the Fillmore Detroit's striking restoration (https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2018/10/05/fillmore-detroit-restoration-ceiling-painting-live-nation-forbes/1534672002/)

The real "whoa" factor comes inside the main auditorium, where the grand domed ceiling has been deep-cleaned and meticulously repainted for the first time since the C. Howard Crane-designed venue opened as the State Theatre in 1925.

Lavish canvas murals portraying a rustic scene — much like the ones in the original theater — have returned in place of the curtains that have lined the walls for decades. The proscenium around the stage has been deep-cleaned, as have the marble-painted columns lining the walls, which had been dulled by layers of nicotine.

The auditorium is the most striking part of the makeover, but new touches fill the entire complex, included redone bathrooms, a new lobby chandelier, a new bar top and a mezzanine that includes new carpeting and reupholstered seats.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/05/PDTF/fd88e93c-d0d3-4520-9c38-a7fedf2775dc-100518_fillmore-10.jpg?width=534&height=401&fit=bounds&auto=webp

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/05/PDTF/567e49b3-f749-4649-bc3c-8814c5aa8dd2-100518_fillmore-7.jpg?width=540&height=405&fit=bounds&auto=webp

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/05/PDTF/bf2f9de0-300b-4660-9379-dac08904a0a9-100518_fillmore-3.jpg?width=540&height=405&fit=bounds&auto=webp

Gordie Howe International Bridge groundbreaking ceremony held in Windsor (https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/gordie-howe-international-bridge-groundbreaking-ceremony-held-in-windsor)

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Rick Snyder in attendance.

The bridge is estimated to be completed in six years, but with the new trade agreement in place, Snyder and Trudeau are trying to speed the process up.

The two touted an economic boom is expected with the new bridge.

"It's going to strengthen the community of Windsor," Snyder said. "It's going to strengthen the community of Detroit. It's going to provide an ongoing opportunity to do incredible things and it's just not about business, it's the opportunity to ride bikes, to build cultural ties, about educational opportunities this bridge brings."

DetroitSky

Oct 9, 2018, 3:15 AM

Piety Hill storefront to open as flower shop/bar/retail combo in 2019 (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/10/8/17952154/piety-hill-storefront-open-flower-shop-bar-retail-combo-2019)

A husband and wife team plans to open a little bit of everything—a flower shop, beer and wine store, and a bar under the name Garden Flora—in one of those storefronts early next year.

Expect florally-focused beers, hand-tied bouquets of flowers, plus wine and beer retail offerings in the shop. The building sits next to an urban farm run by Central Detroit Christian, and Richard and Laura Ludka intend on purchasing flowers from their neighbors when they’re in season.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/d-i29xaKWGWZY_WHjZA0_kw2umc=/0x0:3943x2615/920x613/filters:focal(1657x993:2287x1623)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61693757/exterior1.0.jpg

Restoration of Old Wayne County Building complete following $7 million effort (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/restoration-old-wayne-county-building-complete-following-7-million-effort)

Work on the 225,000-square-foot building at 600 Randolph St. — one of the last prominent vacant buildings in the downtown core — began in December 2016, with the majority of the work focusing on the exterior masonry and window restoration. Work on the stairs and concrete around the building was also done.

The building is owned by 600 Randolph SN LLC, a New York-based investment group that paid $13.4 million for it and a 120-space surface parking lot at 400 E. Fort St. in July 2014.

Both properties had previously been owned by Wayne County, which occupied the building before moving its executive branch employees into the Guardian Building. The Old Wayne County Building has been vacant ever since.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/Old%20Wayne%20County%20Building_i_0.png

Global auto supplier opens $160 million facility in Detroit (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/automotive/global-auto-supplier-opens-160-million-facility-detroit)

Flex-N-Gate Detroit owner Shahid Khan, Gov. Rick Snyder and Mayor Mike Duggan officially opened the $160 million, 480,000-square-foot facility Monday afternoon.

The city said it's the largest investment in Detroit by an auto supplier in more than 20 years. Flex-N-Gate makes exterior trim components and other products. It will supply parts to Ford Motor Co.

Flex-N-Gate is partnering with the city on access to jobs and job training for city residents. About half of the plant's 230 current employees live in Detroit. Up to 750 people could be employed at the facility.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/FlexNGate_ribboncutting_i.jpg

Guiltyspark

Oct 9, 2018, 5:06 AM

Piety Hill storefront to open as flower shop/bar/retail combo in 2019 (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/10/8/17952154/piety-hill-storefront-open-flower-shop-bar-retail-combo-2019)

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/d-i29xaKWGWZY_WHjZA0_kw2umc=/0x0:3943x2615/920x613/filters:focal(1657x993:2287x1623)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61693757/exterior1.0.jpg

Restoration of Old Wayne County Building complete following $7 million effort (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/restoration-old-wayne-county-building-complete-following-7-million-effort)

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/Old%20Wayne%20County%20Building_i_0.png

Global auto supplier opens $160 million facility in Detroit (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/automotive/global-auto-supplier-opens-160-million-facility-detroit)

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/FlexNGate_ribboncutting_i.jpg

The WC building is an absolute gem. I am so glad it got restored.

LMich

Oct 9, 2018, 8:08 AM

I just wonder about the tenant. They say they are seeking a single tenant for the whole thing, but what kind of tenant would fit in these kind of floor plates? They'd be better off making this multi-tenant. Actually, I'd have loved to see Wayne County stay in the building.

phoenixboi08

Oct 9, 2018, 10:10 AM

Interesting. Quite "German Baroque" in style.
Detroit really has nice stuff all throughout town.

Though, this would be nicer with a large pedestrian plaza out in front...
Somebody should get on that :)

LMich

Oct 9, 2018, 10:41 AM

hybrydy

Oct 9, 2018, 2:23 PM

Project with 360 apartments, 120-room hotel planned for east Detroit riverfront (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/project-360-apartments-120-room-hotel-planned-east-detroit-riverfront)

$136 million project to begin construction in first quarter 2020, take at least two years to build
City Growth Partners has $192 million in development in the pipeline
ODA Architecture out of New York City brought on to design the project

The project by Detroit-based City Growth Partners LLC would also include 30,000-40,000 square feet of retail space and a 120-room boutique hotel, said Moddie Turay, founder and principal partner and a former Detroit Economic Growth Corp. executive.

The Economic Development Corp., which is staffed by the DEGC, approved Tuesday morning transferring development rights to the 3.1-acre property bounded by Atwater, Franklin, Riopelle and Rivard streets from St. Louis-based McCormack Baron Salazar Development Inc.to an entity affiliated with City Growth Partners.

glad mccormack is selling. we don't need orleans landing phase 2 (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/voices-kirk-pinho/second-phase-orleans-landing-scrapped)

The North One

Oct 9, 2018, 4:23 PM

Very unlikely to happen. Randolph is a state highway and it connects to the Detroit-Windsor tunnel just a few blocks to the south. In any case, Cadillac Square is right across the street. They could put some trees in the little island; but really what they need to be doing with this area is filling in the surface parking.

yeah, some infill development around the building would be a huge improvement, I'm kinda annoyed nothing around there has been proposed yet, it's a pretty prime location.

animatedmartian

Oct 9, 2018, 4:52 PM

detroit_alive

Oct 9, 2018, 6:18 PM

glad mccormack is selling. we don't need orleans landing phase 2 (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/voices-kirk-pinho/second-phase-orleans-landing-scrapped)

Agreed. That project had so much potential but was executed so poorly.

DetroitSky

Oct 9, 2018, 6:24 PM

The second phase of Orleans Landing was cancelled about a month ago anyway.

subterranean

Oct 9, 2018, 10:07 PM

Agreed. That project had so much potential but was executed so poorly.

Was it? From the looks of some of the photos I’ve seen, I thought it looked great. We’re they just from flattering angles? What’s wrong with it in your view?

detroiterforlife

Oct 10, 2018, 2:55 AM

https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2018-10/hudson+site+plan.pdf

for all things Hudsons site! Dig in guys! lots of details and UPDATED renderings for the 912 foot tower!!

detroiterforlife

Oct 10, 2018, 2:56 AM

https://i.imgur.com/YxhPq8o.png

The North One

Oct 10, 2018, 3:03 AM

The setbacks really compliment the surroundings and is much more visually interesting than that awful box ever was.

From the side, this is a very slender tower.

Are there any already built examples of the infinite floor plate concept?

animatedmartian

Oct 10, 2018, 3:46 AM

Was it? From the looks of some of the photos I’ve seen, I thought it looked great. We’re they just from flattering angles? What’s wrong with it in your view?

The potential of the project was there and well-intentioned, but it looks pretty cheap and out of place with the higher quality projects that are now being proposed in Detroit. Orleans Landing would be a better fit if it was built in a neighborhood on the periphery of Downtown like Corktown or on the edges of Midtown but definitely not for a prominent location on the riverfront.

Also, there have been numerous complaints about lousy management. I don't know any residents, but I'd imagine if you're paying $2,000 a month to live close to downtown on the waterfront next to a park and a 3 mile long bike path, an apartment complex labelled as 'luxury' ought to reflect that.

And actually about the management, Village Green, I think the company experienced some shakiness in the past couple of years. Something like the original CEO had left the company in 2016 to form a separate real estate company as he wanted to spend more on developing new properties in Detroit while the partnering company wanted to spend more on management. Of course the CEO kinda took a big chunk of money and employees with him after the split so that probably trickled down to poor management at properties Village Green still had ownership of, Orleans Landing included.

It seems like one of those cases where a project probably got built at the wrong place at the wrong time even though at the time it seemed like a good idea.

davidberko

Oct 10, 2018, 3:51 AM

:cheers:

Yaaaas!
Better

subterranean

Oct 10, 2018, 4:30 AM

I’m still trying to process these huge changes. I think I’ll like it, but materials will be key. I’m definitely on board with the 912’.

LMich

Oct 10, 2018, 9:17 AM

Isn't that parking lot to the left of the photo apart of the Wayne County Building? Seems like plenty of space to build something that provides enough parking for something new and the WCB.

But yea I'm still wondering about the tenant too. I keep thinking law firm but that wouldn't take up the whole building, right? There's gotta be some space left over if it's just one tenant.

Yes, the parking lot directly to the north has always been included, but it's always been included as...parking for the building. So, something could be built on it, but it doesn't seem likely any time soon.

BTW, the facades on Orleans Landing, IMO, turned out great. And the layout is good as far as auto-oriented design goes (parking in courtyards behind/to the sides of the housing). But the rest of it is vinyl quickly beyond the facades, and no fault of most of the tenants, but this area has been used for years for drag racing and late night crusing and car parades...and the development did not stop them from continuing this behavior along these streets. I think eventually it works itself out. In any case, the new second phase looks very interesting and far more dense.

Really, though, not bad architecture or site plans all things considered. We're not talking little silly Crosswind condos, here. Not bad at all:

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39962607_1132254903589795_4322426881644167168_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&oh=feb6403fba9947a3f7889604ff9ad54e&oe=5C5EE487

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39846784_1132257013589584_6434698901692874752_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&oh=b79ea6980b3262eb0437e10038655e51&oe=5C5B5F1B

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/31523430_1031756046973015_5703376643901358080_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&oh=94c8af3bbff3e1a19e21264ec8f743ad&oe=5C5387B3

https://www.facebook.com/pg/OrleansLanding/photos/?ref=page_internal

Of course stuff closer to the RenCen needs to be denser, and this next phase is.

seabee1526

Oct 10, 2018, 1:55 PM

I’m still trying to process these huge changes. I think I’ll like it, but materials will be key. I’m definitely on board with the 912’.

I curious to find out if Monroe Blocks will be getting some sort of redesign as well.

LMich

Oct 10, 2018, 2:32 PM

Higher quality shots of Orleans Landing Phase II:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpJdU7pXUAEVayg.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpJdWUUWkAAb3gT.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpJdYKsWkAIejAO.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpJdZttXoAAUp6p.jpg

https://twitter.com/kirkpinhoCDB/status/1050005009352577024

detroit_alive

Oct 10, 2018, 2:56 PM

Was it? From the looks of some of the photos I’ve seen, I thought it looked great. We’re they just from flattering angles? What’s wrong with it in your view?

Aside from issues with management and quality of the build, my main issue with Orleans Landing is with the site planning. The put a lot of effort into creating urban scaled streetscapes but handicapped their use. There is zero retail/restaurant in the development currently and the spaces do not translate well to this kind of use. The small amount of greenspace created is uninspired, isn't landscaped, and not meant for people (see along Riopelle). And while somewhat hidden in the courtyards, the project has a very large amount of surface parking creating a much lower density overall.

I am not saying these issues cannot be fixed in time but as it stands it isn't very urban other than its streetfront massing. At the time this was the best new residential development in Detroit but since then other projects such as City Modern and Elton Park have really raised the bar.

animatedmartian

Oct 10, 2018, 3:18 PM

Higher quality shots of Orleans Landing Phase II:

Not crazy excited about that design. Really solid, kinda monotonous. The street level is interesting to look at but the rest of the design needs to be broken up.

subterranean

Oct 10, 2018, 3:42 PM

Aside from issues with management and quality of the build, my main issue with Orleans Landing is with the site planning. The put a lot of effort into creating urban scaled streetscapes but handicapped their use. There is zero retail/restaurant in the development currently and the spaces do not translate well to this kind of use. The small amount of greenspace created is uninspired, isn't landscaped, and not meant for people (see along Riopelle). And while somewhat hidden in the courtyards, the project has a very large amount of surface parking creating a much lower density overall.

I am not saying these issues cannot be fixed in time but as it stands it isn't very urban other than its streetfront massing. At the time this was the best new residential development in Detroit but since then other projects such as City Modern and Elton Park have really raised the bar.

That all makes sense.

DetroitSky

Oct 10, 2018, 11:37 PM

Italian restaurant, beer hall coming to Shinola Hotel in Detroit (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/food-drink/italian-restaurant-beer-hall-coming-shinola-hotel-detroit)

San Morello will be an "urban Italian neighborhood restaurant" of 3,700 square feet, according to a statement from NoHo partner Luke Ostrom. It will be joined by the 5,500-square-foot Brakeman, a beer hall with rotating Midwest drafts and games such as table tennis and shuffleboard.

The third known offering is 800-square-foot Evening Bar, a NoHo-operated bar in New York with craft cocktails and small plates that's making its way to Detroit.

Grand Rapids-based Madcap Coffee to open Detroit shop (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/food-drink/grand-rapids-based-madcap-coffee-open-detroit-shop)

A Grand Rapids coffee company has brewed up plans to open a location in "the heart of Detroit" — but where exactly it isn't saying.

Madcap Coffee Co. said Tuesday in a news release that it aims to open in mid-December and employ 10-15 workers.

William Davidson Institute Makes $1.7 Million Donation to the Belle Isle Aquarium (http://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/Annual-2018/William-Davidson-Institute-Makes-17-Million-Donation-to-the-Belle-Isle-Aquarium/)

The Belle Isle Conservancy today announced that the William Davidson Foundation in Troy has awarded a three-year, $1.7 million grant to stabilize, restore, and modernize the Belle Isle Aquarium.

A portion of the gift — $700,000 — has helped start facility engineering studies, repairs to critical infrastructure, and the development of plans to modernize the Aquarium in keeping with Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation standards.

LMich

Oct 11, 2018, 12:22 PM

Something's about to go down at the Park Avenue House in Foxtown.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vQCx5HdOg6tdf6OwvD81AhBHm5o=/0x0:1938x1289/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:1938x1289):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13251429/Screen_Shot_2018_10_10_at_8.10.12_PM.png
Google Streetview

Detroit hotel residents, many low-income, given 30 days to move (https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/10/11/park-avenue-house-eviction-detroit/1579500002/)

People living at Park Avenue House — a hotel at 2305 Park Ave. known as an affordable housing option in the city — received notices this past weekend that they have 30 days to vacate.

The news, which was accompanied by rumors that the building has been sold, highlights the continued development and interest in downtown Detroit but also draws attention to limited affordable housing options in an increasingly desirable city.

Details of the building's sale — what is believed to have spurred the notices — are fuzzy. The Wayne County Register of Deeds and City Assessor's office have yet to show documentation of a sale. As of Sept. 27, the 180-unit, 13-story building, which also houses the Town Pump Tavern and is just south of Little Caesars Arena, was listed for $15 million, according to CPIX, a commercial real estate information exchange.

The Free Press made multiple attempts to reach out to the building's manager Sean Harrington but it has yet to hear back.

DetroitSky

Oct 11, 2018, 11:35 PM

seabee, Curbed is reporting (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/10/11/17962290/residents-downtown-building-180-apartments-receive-eviction-notices) they've heard from numerous sources that a major hotel chain has purchased the Park Avenue Hotel. Whether this is true or not, I find it very unlikely the building would be demolished.

Madewell set to open in downtown Detroit (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/10/11/17965056/madewell-open-downtown-detroit)

The Shinola Hotel won’t open until later this year, but a retail space right next door is set to open next week. Women’s clothing store Madewell will officially open Tuesday, October 16 at 10 a.m. at 1426 Woodward.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mMimymLsM6oJbCK9Xcobdt5A6gA=/544x0:3750x2458/920x613/filters:focal(1775x875:2435x1535)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61735455/20181011_134854.0.jpg

Tech company DMI to hire 750 in Detroit over next two years (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/mobility/tech-company-dmi-hire-750-detroit-over-next-two-years)

Maryland-based mobile device management and mobility advisory firm Digital Management Inc., branded as DMI, plans to grow its presence in Detroit four-fold by 2021.

DMI currently employs 250 at its 150 West Jefferson Avenue office in Detroit, called the Center of Excellence for Connected Vehicles, most working on contracts to help connected vehicles communicate with each other and with the city of Detroit, Detroit Public Schools and others. But its growth in the automotive and health care sectors globally will require an additional 750 employees in the region, said Jay Sunny Bajaj, founder and CEO.

subterranean

Oct 11, 2018, 11:47 PM

Made well is a cool store. They’ve sold strictly women’s clothing until this year, when they finally started offering a limited supply of men’s stuff.

animatedmartian

Oct 12, 2018, 4:04 AM

So Detroit Public TV has started doing in-depth reporting on various issues and news stories around the city (not like the major news media is bad at this... except that they are), and development is one of the subjects they look in to. This first two clips look at a renovation in Islandview and the pre-fab construction on The Corner in Corktown. I'd be curious to see them interview someone from Bedrock (hopefully Dan Gilbert) or someone from Olympia on their projects and/or their overall visions and whatever.

Bf0acc5Gyck

BOHuADa1pWU

RossDetroit

Oct 12, 2018, 12:11 PM

Plenty of space at the parking site next to the WCB. I would like to see another skyscraper. Room enough for underground parking, a tower and movie theatres. Movie theatres would bring more (young) people and atmosphere downtown.

animatedmartian

Oct 13, 2018, 2:42 AM

Downtown Detroit Partnership has an interactive 3D map for most downtown construction projects.

https://arcg.is/0eKriK

DetroitSky

Oct 15, 2018, 11:07 PM

Church of Scientology opens doors of downtown Detroit center
(https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/10/15/scientology-church-opens-doors-detroit/1645980002/)

The Church of Scientology began operations Monday at its new downtown Detroit location.

Church staff arrived Monday morning to its newest center in Metro Detroit, located on Jefferson at Griswold in the former Standard Savings Building.

Their arrival comes a day after the church held a private grand opening and dedication ceremony at the 55,000-square-foot building. Church officials said more than 2,000 parishioners attended Sunday's event.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/15/PDTN/f952ef7f-ed30-4f68-aede-035778ca01c4-2018-1015-ctj-me_scientologyopen018.jpg?crop=3140,4928,x0,y0&width=534&height=712&fit=bounds&auto=webp

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/15/PDTN/c69b4765-24f3-4b86-8efb-5a42c72eccda-church-of-scientology-detroit_displays_06C6831.jpg?width=540&height=405&fit=bounds&auto=webp

Albert Kahn Building redevelopment to cost $58 million (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/albert-kahn-building-redevelopment-cost-58-million)

Construction is expected to begin in January and take about 18 months to complete, said Matthew Sosin, principal of Farmington Hills-based Northern Equities Group, which is half of the joint venture that bought the building and five other West Bethune Street parcels in June for $9.5 million from another joint venture led by Detroit-based developer The Platform LLC. Birmingham-based Lutz Real Estate Investments is the other co-owner of the property along with Northern Equities.

The redevelopment is expected to bring about 211 apartments and 75,650 square feet of retail and other commercial space to the area across the 326,000-square-foot building at 7430 Second Avenue. A Neighborhood Enterprise Zone tax abatement will be sought for the residential space, the document says.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/AlbertKahnBuilding_i.jpg

New craft beer bar opens above Gather in Eastern Market (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/food-drink/new-craft-beer-bar-opens-above-gather-eastern-market)

Fourteen more taps, to be exact, of craft beers from around the world. There's also a rooftop patio scheduled to open in the spring.

The new bar, called Collect (spelled "Cøllect," to include the Danish word øl, which means beer) debuted officially Monday in the 1,200-square-foot floor above Gather, which opened at 1454 Gratiot Ave. in 2016 as a minimalist, American fare eatery.

Husband-and-wife co-owners Kyle and Lea Hunt invested $40,000-$50,000 in the new bar.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/collect%20bar-MAIN_i.jpg

davidberko

Oct 15, 2018, 11:34 PM

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/toronto-developer-scouting-detroit-real-estate-market

This is a good sign. Detroit could use another big name investor

DetroitRises

Oct 17, 2018, 12:24 AM

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/toronto-developer-scouting-detroit-real-estate-market

This is a good sign. Detroit could use another big name investor

If only he would buy and develop all the parking lots and the few remaining gems in Ilitch territory

LMich

Oct 17, 2018, 1:38 PM

West Riverfront Park has finally gotten a name.

Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation gifts $100M for parks, trails in Detroit (https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/john-gallagher/2018/10/17/detroit-parks-donation-ralph-wilson-foundation/1657876002/)

In one of the largest gifts of its kind ever, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation is donating $200 million to create new parks and recreational trails in Detroit and in the Buffalo, New York, area.

The gift will be split equally between the two regions. In the biggest Detroit piece, the foundation is donating $50 million to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy to build the planned 22-acre west riverfront park.

In a ceremony Wednesday at the west riverfront site on what would have been Wilson's 100th birthday, the conservancy will announce that the new park will be named the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park in honor of Wilson, a longtime metro Detroit resident whose business achievements included his ownership of the Buffalo Bills pro football team.

The 22-acre west riverfront was the focus of a major design competition earlier this year, also funded by the foundation, in which Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, a New York-based landscape architecture firm, won the commission to design the new park.

The Van Valkenburgh vision for the west riverfront parcel — currently just a flat grassy expanse of ground — would reshape the site in significant ways. The water's edge would be opened up to allow for swimming in a dramatic new inlet called "The Cove." The inlet will encourage swimming in warm weather and skating during the winter.

https://mediaassets.wxyz.com/photo/2018/10/17/Screen%20Shot%202018-10-17%20at%206.45.22%20AM_1539773133247.png_100622786_ver1.0_640_480.jpg

DetroitSky

Oct 17, 2018, 8:45 PM

^ great news!

City Council OKs $104 million tax breaks for Ford's Corktown campus (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/city-council-oks-104-million-tax-breaks-fords-corktown-campus)

Detroit City Council on Tuesday approved $104 million in tax breaks spread over 35 years to subsidize Ford Motor Co.'s rescue of the long-abandoned Michigan Central Station and creation of a sprawling 5,000-worker campus in Corktown.

The City Council also approved a community benefits agreement in which Ford has agreed to invest $10 million in the greater Corktown neighborhood as part of its development of a $740 million autonomous and electric vehicle technology campus west of downtown Detroit.

A majority of council members approved measures that will relieve Ford of $104 million in city taxes and $239 million in total tax breaks over 35 years using the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act, a Commercial Rehabilitation District and a Renaissance Zone.

Davenport University chooses New Center One building for Detroit campus (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/education/davenport-university-chooses-new-center-one-building-detroit-campus)

Davenport University plans to open a new satellite campus in Detroit's New Center One building in January in response to an opportunity the Grand Rapids-based business school sees in customizing college degrees and certificates for employers in the city.

The university has leased 12,000 square feet of first-floor retail space in the New Center One building at 3031 W. Grand Blvd. in the heart of New Center, where development activity has heated up in the past year. Davenport's space will include six classrooms, a computer lab and work and study areas and be built to serve more than 2,000 students per semester.

The North One

Oct 17, 2018, 10:41 PM

That park is sorely needed, the west riverfront is so dull, this will make it beautiful. Hopefully, we can get some development around it soon.

DetroitSky

Oct 18, 2018, 1:06 AM

That park is sorely needed, the west riverfront is so dull, this will make it beautiful. Hopefully, we can get some development around it soon.

Agreed. That large vacant parcel next to the Salvation Army building on Fort Street would be perfect for a decent sized mixed use development fronting the park.

LMich

Oct 18, 2018, 10:28 AM

hybrydy

Oct 18, 2018, 3:46 PM

I'd really like to see the massive post office facility reconstructed into something with a mix of uses, eventually. I can't imagine they are efficiently using all that space these days.

I learned recently that the area in between the park and Corktown was actually developed as a planned industrial park, which is where the name of the neighborhood comes from (West Side Industrial). Redevelopment of the area, then, would require a pretty big rezoning. I don't think it needs to be developed as a bunch of high-rises, but I'd say you could maybe carve out a few blocks up to Lafayette to begin with.

Another interesting thing is that I heard that Norfolk Southern is filing to abandon part of their Boatyard railroad yard immediately east of the park, between Rose Parks and the Ambassador Bridge. It would really be something if eventually you have the park stretch from downtown to Riverside Park on the other side of the bridge.

the park will be a destination on part of the Joe Louis Greenway. Excited to see the see the city reconnect in way not tied the automobile.
http://detroitgreenways.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Joe-Louis-Greenway-v3-2018-FINAL-digital-use-compression.pdf

more on West Side Industrial history here:
http://corktownhistory.blogspot.com/2013/02/ethel-claes-and-west-side-industrial.html
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015037314161;view=1up;seq=21

The plan called for multistory office buildings to be constructed along the Lodge Expressway; warehouses and wholesalers to be established between Sixth Street and Trumbull; light industry and trucking terminals between Trumbull and Twelfth Street; and in the middle of it all, "a commercial center to include a hotel for out of town buyers and truck drivers, a cafeteria, small shops and employee meeting rooms" (The Municipal Employee, April 1961). A two-acre site was reserved next to the "commercial center" for a public park to include "landscaped recreation areas with shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits and benches"--evidently the preferred recreational accommodations of truckers and wholesale buyers.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/imgsrv/image?id=mdp.39015037314161;seq=21;width=1190
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/imgsrv/image?id=mdp.39015037314161;seq=24;width=1190

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10998898_933246316694993_4501657746965767678_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&oh=fce3f89413f34291b4c4fb22b2c2d454&oe=5C5FAE63
The northwest corner of Howard and Tenth Streets in 1956, and today, after the West Side Industrial Project was implemented.

Top photo courtesy Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library, bottom photo courtesy Google Street View.

DetroitSky

Oct 18, 2018, 9:38 PM

Urbānum brings furniture, home decor, and more to New Center (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/10/18/17995026/urbanum-brings-home-decor-new-center)

The shop will host a grand opening party Wednesday, October 24 from 5:30 to 8:30. The party will benefit Humble Design, which helps families transition out of homelessness in part by providing decor and furniture. The public is welcome to attend the event, but they should register.

Urbānum is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hx6_3V9pKMrPvp0TL3fdevyFB-g=/0x0:3024x4032/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3024x4032):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13292865/Urbanum_Exterior_114839.jpg

The Hamilton Midtown reopens after $12M renovation (https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/10/18/17995724/hamilton-midtown-reopens-after-12m-renovation)

This was an unusual renovation. Broder & Sachse purchased the building in 2016, and while most renovations or new residential go for the 20 percent affordable, 80 percent market-rate method, the development group worked with the city and the United Community Housing Coalition to try to keep many of the current residents in place.

The building was about 60-70 percent occupied at that time, renting to residents below market-rate. With this deal in place, residents who qualified were temporarily moved out, and could choose to come back to the updated apartments. Their rent would face a five percent increase (if paying $600 before, it would go up to $630), and it won’t go up more than one percent a year.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RjgeT4O_4tuoow--jHvscD-as4s=/0x0:2048x1411/920x613/filters:focal(861x543:1187x869)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61825977/TheHamilton_100.0.jpg

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sOJy0k4pRYkM_Y1UBv1TFIC81bw=/0x0:2048x1365/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2048x1365):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13294679/TheHamilton_132.jpg

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/463KrqXUfRU_JBHtPSGMRUxSjdA=/0x0:2048x1389/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2048x1389):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13294775/TheHamilton_107.jpg

Park Avenue House buyer is Oakland County developer Mario Kiezi (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/park-avenue-house-buyer-oakland-county-developer-mario-kiezi)

Bill Nowling, a partner at Detroit-based public relations firm Lambert & Co. and a spokesman for Kiezi, said the sale of the building for an undisclosed price isn't expected to occur until the first quarter next year.

"The intention is to return that property to being a hotel," Nowling said Thursday afternoon. "We are not commenting on what flag will be there yet."

Pegasus owners buy New Parthenon, Santorini restaurants (https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2018/10/18/papas-parthenon-santorini-restaurant/1683727002/)

The family, which owns Pegasus Taverna and the Atheneum Suite Hotel, confirms that they will remodel the longtime Greek restaurant that closed earlier this week.

They have also purchased Santorini Estiatorio, located at 501 Monroe St., which shuttered last month and is undergoing major renovations, including a roof.

LMich

Oct 19, 2018, 8:05 AM

"The intention is to return that property to being a hotel," Nowling said Thursday afternoon. "We are not commenting on what flag will be there yet."

Interesting. I figured they were going to turn it into higher-end residences. You can tell how under hotelled downtown was that so many hotels have been added in the past few years. It's kind of hard to believe, but they know the market better than I.

hybrydy

Oct 19, 2018, 4:56 PM

Interesting. I figured they were going to turn it into higher-end residences. You can tell how under hotelled downtown was that so many hotels have been added in the past few years. It's kind of hard to believe, but they know the market better than I.

The Detroit metro area and CBD lodging markets have experienced significant and record growth in recent years. The CBD’s demand growth has outpaced the additions to supply, resulting in occupancy levels similar to those experienced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. ADR peaked for the market in 2017. The renovations of existing hotels and the anticipated entrance of several additional, smaller boutique properties should support continued rate growth, with minimal impact on hotel occupancy levels. Most notably, the Detroit Foundation Hotel, a boutique property built in the former Detroit Fire Department Headquarters, opened in May 2017, and the Siren Hotel opened in the renovated Wurlitzer Building in March 2018. Additionally, the 130-room, boutique Shinola Hotel is expected to open by Thanksgiving 2018 and is anticipated to lead the market in average rate. The redevelopment efforts in Downtown Detroit continue to attract more demand to the CBD. Limited sales volume occurred in Detroit in 2014 and 2015, with most sales occurring in the surrounding suburbs and representing limited-service lodging facilities. No transactions of noteworthy importance took place in Downtown Detroit in 2016 or 2017. Overall, moderate value gains are expected in 2018, before tapering off somewhat through 2019.

https://hvi.hvs.com/market/united-states/Detroit

animatedmartian

Oct 20, 2018, 2:41 AM

A tower crane is being erected at One Campus Martius.

https://scontent.fdtw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44347836_957482844435685_2908620967464927232_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent.fdtw1-1.fna&oh=5cc14f3efeaba856385f748a7467a8df&oe=5C4C57C8

Window panes being installed at the Metropolitan Building.

https://scontent.fdtw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44451587_957482861102350_1763275918312210432_o.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ht=scontent.fdtw1-1.fna&oh=9b7536a3cc4a5b0364f2978786df63a6&oe=5C5D37CD

Alleyway being paved behind the Shinola Hotel.

https://scontent.fdtw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44491692_957482841102352_85682364172206080_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent.fdtw1-1.fna&oh=2a6aa0963076ccedc0bc097288519c34&oe=5C5BFFB6

And finally, progress on the 2nd floor of the Statler City Apartments.

https://scontent.fdtw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44342899_957482921102344_1786622634683793408_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ht=scontent.fdtw1-1.fna&oh=53207129b1300ab5cada81296133c068&oe=5C44486A

Oh, and the Book Tower.

https://scontent.fdtw1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44292606_957482931102343_766224519248478208_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.fdtw1-1.fna&oh=c71b993de541c979376b3533e2147a02&oe=5C8690ED

From Daily Detroit (https://www.facebook.com/TheDailyDetroit/posts/957483211102315).

DetroitSky

Oct 20, 2018, 9:52 PM

MLS bid promises $50 million soccer complex in Detroit atop $20 million for 100-plus fields (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/sports/mls-bid-promises-50-million-soccer-complex-detroit-atop-20-million-100-plus-fields)

Local billionaire businessmen have promised Major League Soccer they will spend $95 million, including $50 million to build a soccer training and academy facility at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Seven Mile Road and an additional $20 million to create 100 youth soccer fields across the city in their bid to land an expansion team.

They would spend $25 million to retrofit Ford Field to accommodate a new MLS team, but won't build a retractable roof because it's not worth the hassle.

The details were laid out in a Sept. 24 letter from Quicken Loans Inc. Chairman and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and Detroit Pistons Vice Chairman Arn Tellem to MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Assistant Commissioner Mark Abbott. Tellem is the bid's liaison to MLS and top aide to Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, who would co-own the team. Gores is copied on the letter along with Detroit Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford and Lions President Rod Wood, who are involved because of the bid's use of Ford Field as a home stadium for the proposed expansion team.

It's unclear if any of the $95 million promised in the letter would use any public funding. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is mentioned in the letter as backing the youth soccer field projects. Proposed are 12 soccer parks totaling more than 100 fields built over three years that would serve 150,000 kids, the letter says.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/MLS%20at%20Ford%20Field%20Interior%20Angle%20View_i_0.jpg

6 basketball courts in Detroit city parks refurbished as part of Pistons agreement (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/recreation/6-basketball-courts-detroit-city-parks-refurbished-part-pistons-agreement)

Six basketball courts in Detroit parks have been refurbished as part of a six-year, $2.5 million investment to upgrade 60 courts in the city.

The project is a component of a community benefits plan created with the city as part of the Detroit Pistons' 2017 move downtown to Little Caesars Arena. Pistons owner Tom Gores and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan took part in Friday's announcement about the completion of the project's first phase.

Work included smoothing out and painting court surfaces, and repairing rims and stanchions. Another 20 courts will be refurbished by early next year.

https://crain-platform-cdb-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/width_792/public/Pistons%20courts_i.jpg

Neighborhood butcher shop and restaurant Marrow opens in West Village (https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/dining/2018/10/17/neighborhood-butcher-shop-and-restaurant-marrow-opens-west-village/1615007002/)

Marrow, a new butcher shop and restaurant in Detroit's West Village, is hoping to be not only a spot where you can pick up a nice chunk of meat to cook for dinner but also a dine-in destination so you can completely avoid cooking all together.

Specializing in locally sourced, sustainably raised meat and produce, the new spot operates as store by day with organic, grass-fed beef, pork and chicken plus sausage, meatballs, deli meat and dry-aged cuts. Look for more unique proteins, too, such as rabbit mortadella and duck rillette.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/10/15/PDTN/84c4dfc0-584f-4ba0-9e55-2a5bfd6dd92c-Cheers_-_Marrow_1.jpg?width=540&height=405&fit=bounds&auto=webp