DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[Docta_Love]

Yea idk what he's getting at other than being a troll. But I forgot I found something a bit more like a concrete update on the Packard Plant redevelopment.

10 developments set to reshape U.S. cities in 2018
A look at some of the megaprojects and supertall towers opening or hitting big milestones later this year

By Patrick Sisson
Curbed
Jan 11, 2018

....

Packard Plant: Detroit

The earliest stages of what may be one of the biggest redevelopment projects in North America should be complete by the end of the year. This 3.5 million-square-foot, Albert Kahn-designed former auto plant, which had famously fallen into disrepair and disuse, should see its $16 million Administration Building open its doors later this year. Tenants have already staked claims for restaurant, gallery, and event space.

The continued build-out of this mammoth structure should help set up a very exciting 2019 for renovated and restored Detroit real estate, with numerous 20th-century towers—the Book Tower, the Detroit Free Press Building, and the David Stott Building—slated to get new leases on life.

https://www.curbed.com/2018/1/11/16879676/2018-real-estate-megaprojects-developments-hudson-yards

[DetroitSky]

Originally Posted by Docta_Love

Yea idk what he's getting at other than being a troll. But I forgot I found something a bit more like a concrete update on the Packard Plant redevelopment.




https://www.curbed.com/2018/1/11/16879676/2018-real-estate-megaprojects-developments-hudson-yards

This is a post I enjoy much more than dysfunctional troll posts. I went by Packard a few weeks ago and it didn't seem quite far enough along for an opening within the next year, but I suppose we will see. Regardless of the opening day, it's crazy to think a redevelopment of Packard is really underway.

[Docta_Love]

Agreed

Detroit Real Estate Snapshot: Boston-Edison Home Sells for $630,000
Deadline Detroit
January 15th, 2018





The sale of this house at 848 Chicago Blvd. in Detroit's Boston-Edison neighborhood is a reminder that beautiful homes are available in the city. It's also a reminder that property in appealing neighborhoods is increasingly expensive.

The restored five-bedroom home was listed for $639,000 and sold on Friday for $630,000, according to Robin Runyan of Curbed Detroit.

The real estate site Redfin describes it:

Excellent Restored Historic Residence in Boston Edison Historic District. Built in 1915 this home was formerly 204 Chicago Boulevard and the home of Harry S. Grant of the Grant Iron and Metal Company.

This home has old world crafted architecture fused with 21st century enhancements. Merging the old with the new 848 Chicago is a handsome solid brick home with an elegant center staircase. The updated kitchen includes quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and wine refrigerator.

The beautiful master bedroom suite has a fireplace, full bath and walk-in closet. The third floor has been fully renovated to include bedroom, full bath with claw-foot tub and loft-style sitting area perfect for an office, work studio, etc. Original features such as hardware has been preserved and hand-restored.

Exterior enhancements include new driveway, restored porch, underground sprinkler system, updated landscaping, restored solid brick three-car garage, two patio areas and designer cedar fence.

http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/...hot_boston-edison_home_sells_for_630_000


I also found a Michigan realtors pdf its got number of sales and prices from by city, region and county from the period between November 2016-2017 link can be found here btw -


http://www.mirealtors.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=gCgqoP5mB8Q%3d&portalid=0

[Docta_Love]

New electric auto company look to relocate from Upstate NY to the Motor City. Their model pictured kinda reminds me of a Lada a Russian made suv with a bit of a cult following outside of the US.

Bollinger Motors, creator of electric sport utility truck, plans to move to Detroit
They’re hoping to open a research and design center ASAP

By Robin Runyan
Curbed Detroit
Jan 12, 2018





An innovative automobile company is planning a move from its current Catskill location to the Motor City. Bollinger Motors, creators of the first world’s first all-electric off-road/on-road sport utility truck, plans on moving its employees as soon as it finds the right location in Detroit.

We sat down with founder Robert Bollinger, currently in town to search for real estate and visit the auto show.

The company was created in 2014 after Bollinger, formerly a Creative Director in New York City, realized he needed a better, more evolved vehicle on his upstate New York Catskills farm. Engineering and prototyping started in October 2015. In July 2017, the Bollinger B1 prototype was unveiled at the New York Auto Show.

Bollinger, who has a degree in Industrial Design from Carnegie Mellon, always intended on becoming a car designer. Detroit is a natural fit for the company, and Bollinger sees great opportunity for his new company here, along with a wealth of talent to hire. The proximity to vendors also swayed his decision.

The company currently has eight employees and he intends to hire ten more after the move. The company will be more of a research and design center, hiring engineers, welders, and marketers for the new office. They plan to launch the all-electric sport utility truck in the second half of 2019, with full production in 2020. The company could move to manufacturing here in the future.

Initially, Bollinger was looking for a place along the I-75 corridor to set up shop. But after spending more time in the city, he realized he wanted to be closer to the people here. He’s currently searching for something in the 15-25,000-square-foot range, in good enough condition that they can move in and take on renovations along the way.

He says they’re excited about bringing their electric truck to the Motor City. This kind of vehicle has a unique audience, with interests in off-roading, capability, and environmental concerns.

https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/1/12/16884434/bollinger-motors-move-to-detroit

[Docta_Love]

As of November 2017 here are some of the current numbers from the Detroit Board of Realtors the link is in one of my previous posts.

2017 YTD SALES - 4,046

2016 YTD SALES - 3,405

17-16 YTD % CHANGE - 18.83%

2017 YTD AVG PRICE - $49,989

2016 YTD AVG PRICE - $41,300

17-16 % CHANGE - 21.04%

NOV 2017 SALES # - 372

NOV 2016 SALES # - 337

17-16 % CHANGE - 10.39%

NOV 2017 AVG PRICE - $52,412

NOV 2016 AVG PRICE - $47,266

17-16 % CHANGE - 10.89%

Metro Detroit home sales end 2017 on high note

By TYLER CLIFFORD
Crain's Detroit Business
January 16, 2018


-Metro Detroit median home sales up 6.3 percent in December from a year ago
-Detroit's median sales price up nearly $10,000
-Prices expected to continue to rise in 2018


Of the 4,436 homes sold in December in metro Detroit, the median sales price was $170,000, up 6.3 percent from $159,900 in 2016. In Detroit, where the housing market is still catching up, 357 homes sold about a month faster and for an average of nearly $10,000 more year over year.


City of Detroit

Sales, Dec. 2016: 369

Sales, Dec. 2017: 357

Percent increase/decrease: -8.6 percent

Median sale price, Dec. 2016: $21,500

Median sale price, Dec. 2017: $30,000

Percent increase/decrease: 39.5 percent

Average days on market, Dec. 2016: 74

Average days on market, Dec. 2017: 44

Percent increase/decrease: -40.5 percent

On-market listings, Dec. 2016: 1,955

On-market listings, Dec. 2017: 1,832

Percent increase/decrease: -6.3 percent



Macomb County

Sales, Dec. 2016: 1,113

Sales, Dec. 2017: 1,068

Percent increase/decrease: -4 percent

Median sale price, Dec. 2016: $147,000

Median sale price, Dec. 2017: $154,900

Percent increase/decrease: 5.4 percent

Average days on market, Dec. 2016: 38

Average days on market, Dec. 2017: 37

Percent increase/decrease: -2.6 percent

On-market listings, Dec. 2016: 2,988

On-market listings, Dec. 2017: 1,951

Percent increase/decrease: -34.7 percent



Oakland County

Sales, Dec. 2016: 1,603

Sales, Dec. 2017: 1,507

Percent increase/decrease: -6 percent

Median sale price, Dec. 2016: $207,250

Median sale price, Dec. 2017: $235,000

Percent increase/decrease: 13.4 percent

Average days on market, Dec. 2016: 40

Average days on market, Dec. 2017: 37

Percent increase/decrease: -7.5 percent

On-market listings, Dec. 2016: 5,057

On-market listings, Dec. 2017: 3,633

Percent increase/decrease: -28.2 percent



Wayne County

Sales, Dec. 2016: 1,680

Sales, Dec. 2017: 1,610

Percent increase/decrease: -4.2 percent

Median sale price, Dec. 2016: $108,750

Median sale price, Dec. 2017: $122,000

Percent increase/decrease: 12.2 percent

Average days on market, Dec. 2016: 47

Average days on market, Dec. 2017: 37

Percent increase/decrease: -21.3 percent

On-market listings, Dec. 2016: 5,437

On-market listings, Dec. 2017: 4,283

Percent increase/decrease: -21.2 percent



Livingston County


Sales, Dec. 2016: 269

Sales, Dec. 2017: 251

Percent increase/decrease: -6.7 percent

Median sale price, Dec. 2016: $245,000

Median sale price, Dec. 2017: $250,000

Percent increase/decrease: 2 percent

Average days on market, Dec. 2016: 42

Average days on market, Dec. 2017: 48

Percent increase/decrease: 14.3 percent

On-market listings, Dec. 2016: 784

On-market listings, Dec. 2017: 513

Percent increase/decrease: -34.6 percent

Source: Realcomp Ltd. II

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/201...detroit-home-sales-end-2017-on-high-note



Edit; I'll add in some missing metro numbers starting with Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors numbers as of nonmember 2017.

2017 YTD SALES - 3,472

2016 YTD SALES - 3,558

17-16 % CHANGE - -2.42%

2017 YTD AVG PRICE - $303,659

2016 YTD AVG PRICE - $285,677

17-16 % CHANGE - 6.29%

NOV 2017 SALES - 291

NOV 2016 SALES - 243

17-16 % CHANGE - 19.75%

NOV 2017 AVG PRICE - $293,505

NOV 2016 AVG PRICE - $292,268

17-16 % CHANGE - 0.42%



Genesee County


2017 YTD SALES - 4,474

2016 YTD SALES - 4,976

17-16 % CHANGE - -10.09%

2017 YTD AVG PRICE - $140,777

2016 YTD AVG PRICE - $130,321

17-16 % CHANGE - 8.02%

NOV 2017 SALES - 333

NOV 2016 SALES - 364

17-16 % CHANGE - -8.52%

NOV 2017 AVG PRICE - $142,182

NOV 2016 AVG PRICE - $134,474

17-16 % CHANGE - 5.73%


Livingston County

2017 YTD SALES - 2,715

2016 YTD SALES - 2,761

17-16 % CHANGE - -1.67%

2017 YTD AVG PRICE - $290,401

2016 YTD AVG PRICE -$262,983

17-16 % CHANGE - 10.43%

NOV 2017 SALES - 239

NOV 2016 SALES - 233

17-16 % CHANGE - 2.58%

NOV 2017 AVG PRICE - $290,382

NOV 2016 AVG PRICE - $275,989

17-16 % CHANGE - 5.22%



Oakland County


2017 YTD SALES - 16,233

2016 YTD SALES - 16,196

17-16 % CHANGE - 0.23%

2017 YTD AVG PRICE - $292,404

2016 YTD AVG PRICE - $274,037

17-16 % CHANGE - 6.70%

NOV 2017 SALES - 1,467

NOV 2016 SALES - 1,349

17-16 % CHANGE - 8.75%

NOV 2017 AVG PRICE - $286,564

NOV 2016 AVG PRICE - $275,064

17-16 % CHANGE - 4.18%



Macomb County


2017 YTD SALES - 10,606

2016 YTD SALES - 11,134

17-16 % CHANGE - -4.74%

2017 YTD AVG PRICE - $187,991

2016 YTD AVG PRICE - $175,135

17-16 % CHANGE - 7.34%

NOV 2017 SALES - 929

NOV 2016 SALES - 928

17-16 % CHANGE - 0.11%

NOV 2017 AVG PRICE - $190,012

NOV 2016 AVG PRICE - $177,224

17-16 % CHANGE - 7.22%



***No full Wayne County numbers so ill hold off on just doing downriver for now.

[Docta_Love]

New condos take shape in Brush Park
9 new condos will soon be ready

By Robin Runyan
Curbed Detroit
Jan 17, 2018





.... The development is located at 262 Mack Avenue, between Brush Street and John R. And along with a few other condo developments in the works in the neighborhoods, these ones will be for sale.

Alexander Real Estate is leading this development, and they tell Curbed that the project will have nine for-sale condos ranging in size from 1,000 to 1,300 square feet. Three units will be strictly first floor units, while six will be two bedroom, two bath, two story townhouses. More details—including renderings and layouts—will be released in the coming months.

Brush Park has seen a surge in new construction in recent years, including many new (much-needed) condo projects. Bedrock’s City Modern is the largest, and some should be ready early this year. Another building on Watson is being reconstructed into high-end condos. And another new build on Eliot Street will add four modern units to the neighborhood.

https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/1/17/16900640/new-condos-under-construction-brush-park

Riverwalk connector to be built over the water, more west Riverfront plans revealed soon

By Robin Runyan
Curbed Detroit
Jan 16, 2018





We’re getting closer to seeing what’s in store for the city’s West Riverfront. A design competition kicked off last year and in early February, four finalists will reveal their designs to the public. This competition will be for the Riverfront space running from Rosa Parks Boulevard and Eighth Street; so what about the space in between the existing Riverwalk and the West Riverfront Park?

Residents at Riverfront Towers—located right in between the end of the Riverwalk and the West Riverfront Park—were recently shown concepts from the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy. The 3.5-mile Riverwalk currently ends at the Joe Louis Arena, and Riverfront Towers residents have their own riverfront space. A new design would extend the Riverwalk over the water in order to connect the pathway, reaching 17 feet out from the shoreline.



Residents have voiced concerns over noise levels and security, especially later at night and after special events. A previous design had the Riverwalk only 6.5 feet out from the shoreline. To attempt to curb noise, “Quiet Zone” and “No Radios” signs would be placed on the connector, and foot traffic after late events would be rerouted to West Jefferson. The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy would also add security cameras and patrol the boardwalk for safety. The Riverfront Towers would only be accessed by a key or card.

The new boardwalk would open in 2019.

The West Riverfront design presentation will be held February 8. More details to come.

https://detroit.curbed.com/2018/1/16/16896762/riverwalk-connector-west-riverfront-plans

Kresge commits $6 million to Detroit neighborhood projects

By SHERRI WELCH
Crain's Detroit Business
January 17, 2018


A 2015 grant from the Kresge Innovative Projects program supported the expansion of the Downtown Boxing Gym academics and boxing center.

-Kresge commits another $6 million to Detroit neighborhood revitalization projects
-New funding builds on $5 million in grants to support the projects since 2015
-Grants will support planning and projects, with streamlined initial application process


The Kresge Foundation has committed an additional $6 million over the next three years to support neighborhood revitalization in Detroit.

Of the total, $1.5 million will be made available for projects each year, and an additional $500,000 will fund technical assistance and network-building for grantees provided by Michigan Community Resources.

The new commitment builds on a three-year, $5 million investment in the pilot of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit.

During its first three years, from 2015 to 2017, the program supported 16 planning efforts and 40 projects.

Projects that have seen funding through the program have ranged from street and sidewalk improvements to the conversion of empty or under-utilized buildings into neighborhood hubs, the transition of blighted properties into greenways, artist-neighbor collaborations in parks and the creation of rain gardens and bioswales, which are drainage efforts that ease pressure on sewers.

"The outpouring of interest in grassroots change confirms our belief that neighborhood residents have the imagination and verve to make change," Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director of Kresge's Detroit program, said in a news release. "What they need is financial backing and technical support."

The new funding will provide planning grants of up to $35,000 and implementation grants of up to $150,000.

The application process has been streamlined to require less documentation initially than the program's pilot phase, requiring a concept proposal that answers four basic questions either with a one- to two-page written response or with a three- to five-minute video, Kresge said.

The foundation is also giving grantees 24 months to carry out projects instead of 18 months to allow more time for community engagement, planning, design and other activities.

....

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/201...million-to-detroit-neighborhood-projects

Subaru invests $2 million in American Center for Mobility

January 16, 2018
Crain's Detroit Business
By DUSTIN WALSH



The first phase of the American Center for Mobility opened in December. The project includes a 2.5-mile highway loop with on- and off-ramps, a 700-degree curved tunnel, customer garage and operations center.



-Subaru invests $2 million in American Center for Mobility
-Automaker to begin testing at the site this week
-Phase two of construction begins in the spring


The American Center for Mobility secured $2 million in funding from Subaru of America Inc., the Ypsilanti Township autonomous vehicle testing site announced Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

ubaru joins AT&T, Toyota Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co., Hyundai America Technical Center Inc. and Visteon Corp. in funding the newly opened site. To date, ACM has secured $110 million in funding toward the total $135 million cost of the 500-acre proving grounds at Willow Run.

The state of Michigan approved $35 million for the nonprofit controlling ACM, Willow Run Arsenal of Democracy Landholdings LP, to support the construction of the first phase of the project — which includes a 2.5-mile highway loop with on- and off-ramps, a 700-degree curved tunnel, customer garage and operations center. Phase one opened in December.

The Strategic Fund board also approved a state Renaissance Zone designation that waives property taxes for 15 years, worth $1.9 million per year.

The remaining funds came form private partners including Subaru, which was on site last week for training and will begin testing at ACM later this week, the nonprofit center said in a news release. Subaru members will serve on ACM's advisory board as well.

"The U.S. market has long been a very important part of the success of Subaru, and as so, it is a major goal of ours to create a product that will be appealing to the U.S. customer," Kaminga Shirakawa, vice president of Subaru Research and Development, said in the release. "We are looking forward to working with ACM in the future development of the facility and using this impressive resource to provide the highest quality products possible."

Construction of the next phase at ACM is expected to begin this spring and will feature a technology park for customers, an urban driving environment and ACM's new headquarters, which are housed at the former Willow Run airport terminal.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/201...-million-in-american-center-for-mobility

[deja vu]

So Detroit didn't make the Amazon HQ2 cut:

Detroit misses 20-city short list for Amazon HQ2
By Paula Gardner | MLive
January 18, 2018

(Editor's note: This report has been updated.)

Twenty cities in North America still are vying for the $5 billion Amazon HQ2 as the online retial giant seeks a second headquarters for 50,000 employees. Missing from the semi-final round: Detroit and Grand Rapids. It's a decision that Gov. Rick Snyder called disappointing.

"(It) won't set us back - we're accelerating to the next opportunity," he said this morning. "We know it's out there."

But on the list - which is weighted heavily on the eastern half of the United States - are fellow Midwest cities Chicago, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio. Other cities making the initial cut:

Los Angeles
Austin, Texas
Dallas
Denver
Nashville
Boston
New York
Newark, New Jersey
Philadelphia
Washington, D.C.
Miami
Raleigh, North Carolina
Northern Virginia
Atlanta
Montgomery County, Maryland

And one Canadian city: Toronto.

[SupaK]

Originally Posted by deja vu

So Detroit didn't make the Amazon HQ2 cut:

Montogomery County, MD borders DC which borders Northern Virginia....looks like the DMV is covered from these choices. Lot of money, resources, transportation...

[DetroitSky]

Originally Posted by deja vu

So Detroit didn't make the Amazon HQ2 cut:

Not surprising, but it still pisses me off. I don't understand why Amazon insisted on holding this contest, honestly. Why make 200+ cities across North America waste time, money and effort to submit bids if they're just going to go to one of the areas it was always assumed they'd go to in the first place?

[The North One]

Amazon is a vile company through and through so It's really not surprising, they pull this sort of stuff in their business model all the time. They got a lot more PR including the whole country so they just went with it.

[M. Brown]

I wouldn't care as much if there weren't cities that were chosen that meet less of the criteria that Amazon was looking for. Doesn't seem quite right even if they say its because of the lack of talent. I was just hoping Detroit would make it to the second round.

[deja vu]

I'm not surprised, or disappointed. I'm actually somewhat relieved. The whole thing does resemble a giant PR stunt. Even if it wasn't conceived that way, this contest has won the company excessive free publicity. But it may also prove to benefit the 200+ losing cities that put their best foot forward, because while they are courting Amazon directly, they are also making the case to other companies for why they should consider investing in those cities. Detroit will continue to reinvent and revitalize without Amazon calling it a second home. And I am glad that the Midwest was at least represented on the list.

It will probably go to Atlanta though.

[mousquet]

Boston has some solid tech industry... They probably can't even afford San Francisco.

I never really understood what's been so special about Amazon.
It's like you order something, then they deliver it to you.
Ouais, bof, that's what I always did as a spoiled kid.
Nothing exceptional in there IMO.

In our idealistic world, every single downtown shop would have their Amazon service.

[SupaK]

On the District Detroit webcam, there's a huge crane behind the Hotel Eddystone. Does anyone know what project that's for?

[LMich]

If it's right behind the Eddystone, it may be for the Eddystone itself. I don't recall anything in the plans significant enough for a "huge" crane, otherwise. Could it be to finish off the WSU School of Business?

[Docta_Love]

I looked at the cam it should be this Temple West "mixed use development" / parking garage.

[Docta_Love]

Not to rehash the whole Amazon argument but here's one thought that I've consistently come back to there was a poll done by a Michigan State professor that proved pretty spot on in his Crain's interview following the disappointing results. Detroit has turned a corner and the downtown revival is slowing spreading out across the city but despite how well the Metro area matches up to the best in many metrics and is moving in the right direction has not gone far enough yet specifically and especially on transit.

There's nothing good about Detroit & Windsor not making at least the top 20 cut except it highlights in the biggest and boldest way possible what we are still lacking in order to live up to our potential as a truly world class city. Economically Metro Detroit's GDP is and has been about on par with Singapore and Hong Kong or Rome, we have one of the strongest tech sectors in the country but it doesn't make up for our short comings even if they are in the process of being addressed.

On Amazon bid, doubters were right, but so were the backers

CHAD LIVENGOOD
Crain's Detroit Business
January 18, 2018

Gilbert, the billionaire founder of Quicken Loans Inc., said Anderson's index failed to take into account Detroit's ability to attract highly educated workers from up to five hours away, which became a key selling point to address the online retail and tech giant's black hole-creating suck on tech talent.

Detroit's elimination Thursday from Amazon's continental sweepstakes for a second corporate campus with 50,000 high-paid workers revealed a lot about the shortcomings in the region's competitiveness — our disjointed mass transit systems, our fractured system of public education and our struggle to retain college graduates who have been leaving the state in droves for more than a decade.

And, as it turns out, the Anderson firm's index had a better feel of Amazon's pulse than perhaps Gilbert was willing to acknowledge in the heat of a six-week race chasing the biggest economic development prize in recent memory.

"Detroit looked good on cost of doing business. Detroit looked decent on the size of workforce. They looked excellent on universities," Anderson said in an interview Thursday.

But, here's the rub: "And they looked terrible on transit," Anderson said. "And you add that up and it's not good enough to make the cut — on a strictly numeric basis."

Fifteen of Amazon's top 20 cities were in Anderson's top 20. Anderson's top six cities — New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. — all advanced to the second phase of Amazon's HQ2 evaluation process.

For as much energy and excitement surround the revival of downtown Detroit, the reality of the conditions of our roads, quality of our education system and readiness of our workforce is hard to ignore or paper over with glossy-colored books and riveting videos.

That's why it's not too surprising that Amazon passed over Detroit for cities and regions that have long been magnets for young workers with more robust mass transportation options and better K-12 education systems.

....

The takeaway from Seattle was that Detroit's not quite fully equipped for Amazon's need of a large pipeline of talent flowing through a seamless mass transit system.

"She made it very clear that if this was five years from now, they think it would have been a different decision, they think we would have been included," Rahal said Thursday in an interview. "... They looked and asked, 'What are the places that are likely to attract 25- to 30-year-olds?' "

....

Amazon's dangling of billions in investment and 50,000 new jobs made everyone in the halls of power in this state and others stand up and take notice.

And then they had to take stock of our strengths — like the little-known fact that the University of Michigan exports more MBA graduates to Amazon's Seattle headquarters than any other university — and our weaknesses that go beyond potholes and a region long divided by class and race, urban disinvestment and suburban isolation.

"Mass transit, that's just a failure of our governance," Anderson said. "That's not the weather."

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans is working with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and his counterparts in Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties on a new regional transit system tax proposal that could go before voters this November.

And on the talent front, Gov. Rick Snyder is making a final-year-in-office stab at addressing the existing shortages in computer science-educated workers that existing Michigan companies are facing.

Snyder's "Marshall Plan for talent," which he's expected to pitch to lawmakers for funding on Feb. 7, was an outgrowth of the Amazon project.

State officials are planning to move forward with a Pure Michigan-like talent attraction marketing campaign that before the Amazon bid had been "on the drawing board," said Roger Curtis, director of the Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development.

....

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/201...bters-were-right-but-so-were-the-backers

Lexus Velodrome to open Jan. 29 with mission of efficiency, affordability

By ANNALISE FRANK
Crain's Detroit Business
January 18, 2018






TRACK FACTS

-Capacity of 980 — approximately 400 seated in the middle of the track and 580 along the track's upper rim

-$4.5 million build cost funded by Detroit Fitness Foundation through an angel investor

-64,000-square-foot facility

-Six expected total sponsors

-Tenth-of-a-mile-long cycling track

-$150 — cost of a 10-person suite


The Detroit Fitness Foundation announced its naming rights deal with Lexus in November for the indoor cycling facility, but hasn't yet released names of any other sponsors. The nonprofit wants six total, said Hughes, who is also a designer of velodromes.

Details of the Lexus agreement were not released.

The new Detroit structure near the intersection of I-75 and Mack Avenue comprises an indoor cycling track, a concrete eighth-of-a-mile oval track for running, walking and inline skating, and a multipurpose area for exercise classes.

Its run starts off with a cycling race Jan. 26-27 called the Lexus Championship Games. Subsequent races Feb. 16-17, March 16-17 and April 20-21 will be named after other, yet-to-be-named sponsors. They'll also have weekly Saturday night races between the major games.

The cycling track — a tenth of a mile — is smaller than an Olympic one, making it more cost-efficient to build, Hughes said. The Detroit structure is also the only indoor velodrome of its kind in the Midwest, and one of few in the U.S., he added.

About 40 percent of operating costs are expected to come from sponsors, 30 percent from memberships and user fees, and 30 percent from food and merchandise sales, Hughes said.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/201...with-mission-of-efficiency-affordability

[LMich]

Finally, the old Coach Insignia spot is getting another tenant. They are shooting for a fall opening.

Romain Blanquart | Detroit Free Press

James Beard Award-winning chef Shawn McClain to open restaurant atop RenCen

By Mark Kurlyandchik | Detroit Free Press

January 21, 2018

The rumors are true: Shawn McClain, a James Beard Award-winning chef known for properties in Chicago and Las Vegas, will open a new restaurant atop Detroit's Renaissance Center.

The as-yet-unnamed restaurant will take up approximately 20,000 square feet on the building's 71st and 72nd floors, home previously to Coach Insignia, which shuttered almost one year ago when the landlord declined to extend its lease. Back then, General Motors subsidiary and RenCen owners Riverfront Holdings, Inc. issued a statement saying the search was on for a "world-class restaurant" to replace it.

That search now appears to be over.

[deja vu]

^Wow I've been way out of the loop, I didn't even realize that Coach Insignia closed down. When we were kids, my brother and I would try to sneak up there to get views of the city.

[LMich]

It was kind of easy to miss. Unless you were a regular customer, once they announced the shutdown, it didn't really make news after that. And, it's only been a year. Sounds like it wasn't doing bad business, but rather Riverfront Holdings probably sees the opportunity with the resurgence of downtown to shoot for aim for something that's going to bring them higher rent payments.

Kind of glad that the new new Hudson site tower is going to have what sounds like a public observation deck. I've heard that in more recent years the restaurants that filled that space at the top of the RenCen were pretty strict about letting people up there just to gawk. They expected you to be a customer to get the view.