DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[DetroitSky]

Detroit grants approval for controversial apartments near Boston-Edison

The city of Detroit granted an approval Friday for a developer's controversial plan to put 49 market-rate apartments plus office and retail into an empty building near Detroit's Boston-Edison neighborhood, saying the project likely won't cause traffic problems or diminish property values.

The proposed redevelopment of 9851 Hamilton, a three-story building from 1920 that was once a church's community center, faced significant opposition from Boston-Edison residents at a Jan. 15 public hearing before the city's Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department, or BSEED.

[BVictor1]

Jefferson from 375 to Grand Blvd should be lined with vertical density.

[seabee1526]

Wouldn’t a Q extension be good from Campus Martius down Monroe with the Greektown section already tore up down to 375?

[The North One]

Not sure what the fuck is wrong with Bedrock lately. This is a joke.

[VegasMatt]

Redesign ? - with additional details:







https://www.freep.com/story/money/busine...-blocks-detorit-development/83006270007/

[DetroitMan]

Rare site at former Detroit golf course seeks developers

The DEGC is seeking a developer to build on more than 22 acres of the roughly 120-acre former course off of West Seven Mile Road between Lahser and Berg roads. The remainder of the site is being converted into a roughly 98-acre park.

It is pretty open-minded on what could go on the smaller parcel, although the RFP says “institutional, healthcare, educational, mixed-use, retail, housing, recreational and other uses that align with the city’s economic development goals for the immediate area” all fit the bill.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estat...-golf-course-seeks-development-proposals

Cava picks downtown Detroit for first Michigan location

Detroit will be the first city in Michigan with a fast-growing fast-casual chain.

Mediterranean brand Cava will open its first Michigan location this summer in downtown Detroit. The restaurant will run out of a space at 636 Woodward Ave. in the Bedrock Building, according to a news release.

Cava will join Chipotle on the list restaurants inside the Bedrock Building.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/restaurants/cava-brings-open-downtown-detroit-location

[DetroitMan]

Detroit considers moving Corktown DPW yard to free up land for development

A 43-page presentation Crain’s obtained from a Freedom of Information Act request earlier this month said officials are discussing the possibility of turning the site — which is at Michigan Avenue and 19th Street — into “a new model of urban mixed use communities.” Immediately south of DPW yard would be used for a new Amtrak station and transit facility as well as an eight-story parking deck, as depicted in the plan prepared with input from Michigan Central, the city, the Michigan Department of Transportation and presented to Amtrak officials last fall.

But not so fast, said Sam Krassenstein, the city’s director of infrastructure. He described the conversations as “very early-stage planning” and there have been no formal decisions made for the site, which has a maintenance garage and salt dome, and materials for street paving, potholes, winter maintenance are all housed there.

With Michigan Central Station and the neighboring former book depository redeveloped, a still-being-worked-out vision for a new transit hub and parking deck, a plan for a new Detroit City Football club soccer stadium nearby, new construction like the Godfrey Hotel and Perennial Apartments and several other new housing projects completed or under construction, it may make sense to relocate the city's facility elsewhere.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/detroit-considers-moving-dpw-yard-corktown

[DetroitMan]

Real estate developer bets on growth with lower-cost projects near Henry Ford Health campus

Brownell, a veteran of the mortgage space with stints at now-Rocket Mortgage and the now-defunct Home Point Financial, said he’d long wanted to work more on the residential development side. Aside from his work at Holcomb, he’s also built up a small apartment portfolio in the Downriver suburbs where he grew up.

The two vacant buildings now owned by Holcomb, located just south of West Grand Boulevard, are slated for conversion to 40 residential units, which Brownell said will be “naturally affordable,” priced at between 60% and 80% of the area median income, or between $42,420 and $56,560 for a single person in Wayne County. The two buildings would also have six ground-floor commercial spaces, with one of them likely home to a daycare center, something Brownell said has been identified as a need in the area. Completion is expected in the fall.

From its purchase of The Belcrest apartment building in Midtown to its redevelopment efforts near New Center, Brownell said the company has eschewed “complicated capital stacks,” instead favoring the city’s Neighborhood Enterprise Zone property tax abatement program, which significantly lowers the property tax bill for the owner.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/holcomb-development-capitalizes-henry-ford-health-project

BAMF secures tax incentives for $94M Detroit project

Grand Rapids-based BAMF Health has secured tax incentives to further its plans to create 90 jobs and invest $93.8 million in a new center in downtown Detroit.

As part of the project, BAMF will serve as the anchor tenant at Bedrock’s planned Gratiot Life Science Innovation Building on Gratiot Avenue at I-375, occupying the 45,000-square-foot first floor of the building. Tuesday, the Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $1.5 million performance-based grant toward the project as well as a 15-year state essential services assessment exemption, forgoing some property taxes on its project to the tune of $982,000.

“BAMF Health’s investment in Detroit will bring good-paying jobs and millions in economic growth to Wayne County,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a press release. “BAMF’s new facility will help them better serve Michigan patients. It will reinforce Michigan’s reputation as a leader in health care and the best place to pioneer cutting-edge technology that not only grow our economy but makes peoples’ lives better. Let’s keep working together to build a healthier, more prosperous future for all Michiganders.”

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/health-care/bamf-health-secures-tax-incentives-94m-detroit-project

[DetroitMan]

Long-vacant Executive Plaza in Detroit has possible buyer

On April 6, the receiver and that prospective buyer — Southfield-based Blackacre Management — entered into a $5 million tentative deal for Executive Plaza and the three parking lots, which are located across the street.

Todd Szymczak, an executive vice president at Farbman, noted in a letter attached to recent court documents that Blackacre is doing "a similar rehabilitation project" in downtown Pontiac. That project, now nearing completion, was to convert the old 15-story Oakland Towne Center office tower into 99 market-rate apartments, plus four floors of retail and commercial space.Dalen Hanna, founder and CEO of Blackacre Management, told the Free Press the week of April 28 that he and his business partner, Maha Banno, are indeed in the process of buying the Executive Plaza properties.

He said full details of their "conversion plans" will be announced in the near future.

"We have a proven track record of transforming large-scale properties into successful mixed-use developments," Hanna said in an email. "The site spans nearly 10 acres of prime real estate, with unbeatable views of the Detroit skyline and riverfront."The buildings were originally constructed by the state, and they were built to last. It’s the kind of scale, structure, and location we look for, and exactly the type of project Blackacre is built to take on," he continued. "We’ve done this many times — breathing new life into legacy buildings through adaptive re-use conversions."

https://www.freep.com/story/money/busine...-detroit-has-possible-buyer/83371802007/

[DetroitMan]

Long-vacant Detroit high-rise starts a new chapter as senior housing

Work formally commenced Tuesday at Lee Plaza on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, a key milestone in a years-long effort to build a complex capital stack to redevelop the 95-year-old, 15-story tower into 117 units of affordable housing for the city’s senior population. The roughly $60 million project includes multiple development partners and support from myriad public sources in order to close a substantial financing gap, as Crain’s has previously reported.

The capital stack required for the project was akin to trying "to figure out how to fit 10 pounds into a 5-pound sack," said David Di Rita, principal of Detroit-based development firm The Roxbury Group.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/historic-lee-plaza-starts-new-chapter-senior-housing

How Detroit is converting old downtown office buildings into lofts, hotels

At least five office-to-housing or office-to-hotel conversion projects are under construction this spring, promising nearly 300 apartments, more than 100 hotel rooms and multiple food and beverage spots. Meanwhile, four more projects could be on the horizon.

News about two of the future projects emerged in April: a possible partial conversion of one of the smaller Renaissance Center office towers to residential lofts, and a possible full conversion of the long-empty Executive Plaza office complex at 1200 Sixth St. into the future "Wayne Tower," complete with 450 apartments and a hotel.

This growing lineup of conversion projects underscores how the downtown Detroit of the future, once envisioned as a "live, work, play" destination, is leaning more toward "live" and "play" in the post-pandemic era.

https://www.freep.com/story/money/busine...fice-buildings-lofts-hotels/83454865007/

[airforceguy]

Belle Isle leaders hoping to bring a public square to the park

Leaders at Belle Isle are hoping to create a new public commons area aimed at making the park more accessible and connected for the more than 5 million annual visitors.

The Belle Isle Conservancy and the State of Michigan are in the early stages of developing a plan to bring a public square to the 982-acre park. "Getting in your car, going directly to wherever you plan to go, whether that's the aquarium or the beach or wherever. You do your thing, you get back in your car, and then you leave," said Meagan Elliott, president of Belle Isle Conservancy, describing the current visitor experience. The initiative stems from a study a few years ago, when the Belle Isle Conservancy partnered with the State of Michigan to look into improving travel throughout the park.

"Folks said that they wanted better ways to get around the island," said Elliott.

https://www.wxyz.com/news/region/detroit...ing-to-bring-a-public-square-to-the-park

[airforceguy]

Toastique expanding in Michigan, adds another metro Detroit location

Artisan toast and juice concept Toastique, a fast-casual restaurant which also offers smoothies and a coffee bar, is expanding across the United States, and announced a fall opening for the chain's second Michigan location.According to a Friday Bedrock news release, a Toastique will debut at 89 Monroe St. in downtown Detroit. Toastique is taking the space formerly occupied by a hair salon.

When it opens, Toastique is expected to be an all-day café with a wellness-focused menu offering nutritious grab-and-go options.

https://www.freep.com/story/entertainmen...-downtown-detroit-this-fall/83873989007/

[airforceguy]

I'm glad to see the owners have an aggressive timeline to get this done. I also like the fact they are planning to have commercial space along 20th St so its not a dead zone.

'Aggressive' timeline revealed to build pro soccer stadium in Detroit by 2027https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif

The Detroit City FC professional soccer club intends to start demolishing the old Southwest Detroit Hospital in July so that it can finish building a 15,000-capacity soccer stadium on the site by spring 2027.

Two of the club's co-founders shared this schedule plan and other previously unreported details on the project during a Tuesday night, May 27, meeting of the Corktown Business Association. Club co-founder Sean Mann described the schedule, which calls for an early 2026 start to vertical construction, as an "aggressive timeline," but one necessary to get the stadium finished in time. The project also includes a large multilevel parking deck to go near the future stadium.

"The goal is to get this done by the spring of '27," Mann said at the meeting, held at the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit.

He and fellow soccer club co-founder Todd Kropp said that this summer they plan to reveal final renderings for the stadium as well as the venue's official name.

https://www.freep.com/story/money/busine...-fc-soccer-stadium-timeline/83879509007/

[airforceguy]

Crain's Detroit had a more detailed article today regarding Detroit City FC land buying spree. I'm really happy that the owners are pushing to create a mixed-use environment around the stadium..



Detroit soccer club buys more land for new stadium

According to land bank documents, the $538,210 purchase is contingent upon the team also acquiring other privately-owned parcels that are sandwiched between the land bank-owned properties at 2827 Standish St.; 2835 Standish; 2841 Standish; 2845 Standish; 1858 21st St.; 1852 21 St; 1846 21 St; 1822 21 St; and 1816 21 St.

In all, the nine parcels to be purchased by DCFC's affiliate, 402310 Holdings LLC, total about two-thirds of an acre. It would have about 160 spaces, the land bank documents say. The “402310” in the affiliate company name is an inverted homage to the late Brazilian soccer legend Pele, who was born Oct. 23, 1940.

In an interview Thursday, Sean Mann, co-owner and co-founder of DCFC, said the organization doesn’t want to have “a sea of surface parking lots” as part of the project but also needs to be “mindful of the quota the city has for stadiums,” which is one spot for every six seats, meaning some 2,500 or so are needed. There is also a large parking deck envisioned with close to 700 spaces.

“We don’t think (large swaths of surface parking) contributes to what we’re trying to do in our own backyard with this project,” Mann said, referencing that he and other team co-owners live in the southwest Detroit area where they are proposing to build the stadium.

​https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/detroit-city-fc-soccer-club-buys-more-land-new-stadium

[airforceguy]

Michigan Central Station to get one of Hilton's newest luxury hotels in 2027

A luxury NoMad hotel is slated to take over the top five floors of the redeveloped Michigan Central Station — and could put Detroit on pace to have two five-star hotels open at roughly the same time.

Josh Sirefman, CEO of the Michigan Central nonprofit that oversees the 30-acre campus by Ford Motor Co. in Corktown, said the hotel flag, a recently acquired brand of McLean, Va.-based Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., is expected to open in 2027 with nearly 180 guest rooms. In addition to the rooms, NoMad — which has a flagship location in London and is also opening a location in 2027 in Singapore — at least two restaurant spaces are envisioned, including one on the depot’s western side, where a carriage house is located to be enclosed in glass.

“The NoMad team, Michigan Central and the Ford teams are very sensitive to adding to the incredible culinary community in Detroit,” Sirefman said during a tour of the property with reporters on Friday.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/michigan-central-station-get-nomad-hilton-hotel-2027

[DetroitMan]

Invest Detroit to open $48M innovation hub in former school

The former Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School in Midtown Detroit will have a new lease on life this year, reopening as an innovation hub in the fall after several years of delays.

Invest Detroit, which purchased the building in 2018, will anchor the space with 9,400 square feet.

The organization is rebranding the 115,000 square-foot building, at 950 Selden near the John C. Lodge Freeway, as the Jefferson Hub, or J Hub. It’s designed to be a place of innovation for early-stage companies and small businesses. In addition to offering spaces to businesses for lease, it features multiple co-working spaces and shared amenities to “bring people out of their offices,” Marcia Ventura, senior vice president of lending for Invest Detroit, told Crain’s. The former Detroit Public Schools building was built in 1922 and closed during the construction of the Lodge Freeway in the 1950s. In 2008, the building was rehabilitated and operated as a public charter school, Experiencia Preparatory Academy, which closed in 2016.

The project is led by Invest Detroit Foundation in partnership with Midtown Detroit Inc. It’s currently leasing space for nonprofits, startups and mission-driven companies.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/invest-detroit-open-new-48m-innovation-hub

[DetroitMan]

Bedrock picks a building to reuse National Theatre façade

Bedrock is now planning to use the Albert Kahn-designed façade as an entryway into a proposed market hall building Bedrock is calling the Cadillac Exchange, which would be built next to Cosm. “Plans for Bedrock’s Development at Cadillac Square include Cadillac Exchange, a market hall with a vibrant mix of music, entertainment and food offerings,” said Kofi Bonner, Bedrock CEO, in a statement to Crain's Tuesday. “Centrally located, the venue will be a great complement to Cosm Detroit, with its revolutionary immersive entertainment platform, drawing thousands to downtown. The thoughtful incorporation of the National Theatre façade into the performance space should add character and heritage to this dynamic experience and we will continue to consider a number of design iterations as plans are finalized."

Documents presented to the Historic District Commission earlier this month show the façade as the front of Bedrock's planned building.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estat...s-building-reuse-national-theatre-facade

2 vacant buildings transformed into 88 affordable apartments in Detroit

Renovations are complete on two formerly vacant apartment buildings in Detroit’s Piety Hills neighborhood, bringing another 88 units of affordable housing to the area.

The Kingsley Arms and Lee Arden apartment buildings at 646 Hazelwood St. and 660 Hazelwood St. join a third affordable housing development, completed in the spring of 2023, as part of what the city describes as a transformation of nearly an entire city block.

Residents have already begun moving into the newly renovated buildings, according to a spokesperson for the project. Kingsley Arms is 60% leased and Lee Arden is 20% leased, the spokesperson said. The development is a result of a collaboration between the city of Detroit, the Local Initiatives Support Corp.’s Detroit office and developer Hazelwood Partners LLC.Hazelwood Partners is comprised of Devon Caldwell and Ryan Zampardo of Inkwell Partners, David Conca of Vera Development and Todd Rodgers of Essential Property Management.

The two buildings had been vacant for more than a decade before undergoing full renovations, including new electric, plumbing and HVAC systems, window and roof replacements, and common area upgrades.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/rehab-lee-arden-kingsley-arms-affordable-units-complete

[DetroitMan]

Detroit city airport terminal project gets underway

Fixed-base operator Avflight broke ground Monday on a new hangar and terminal at Coleman A. Young International Airport on Detroit's east side.

The project, which is expected to be completed in December, is part of the first major rejuvenation effort at the 97-year-old airport in half a century, according to the city.

“We're not just breaking ground on a new Avflight hangar and terminal, but we are firmly planting the seeds for a new era of opportunity, connectivity and progress in our beloved city,” Detroit City Councilmember Scott Benson said at the groundbreaking ceremony. Avflight agreed to build the terminal and hangar as part of a 30-year lease it signed with the city in 2024, Crain’s previously reported. The company has operated out of the airport on short-term leases since 2011.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/transportation/avflight-begins-coleman-young-airport-terminal-hangar

[airforceguy]

Detroit lands WNBA team in bid backed by Pistons owner

The Gores-led bid includes a comprehensive facilities plan that would utilize new and current facilities for the team, its players and the community. The plan includes building a dedicated WNBA practice facility and team headquarters, highlighted as a priority by the league. That facility would include state-of-the-art courts, a locker room, workout facilities, and office and lounge space.

The development would also include a public sports center that would house a youth development academy that would promote youth sports and address a lack of access and equity of youth facilities in Detroit. The facility would have youth basketball and volleyball courts and fields for soccer, football and lacrosse along with spectator seating.

Crain’s and other media earlier this year reported that the Gores-led group would look at a redevelopment of the former Uniroyal site in Detroit to serve as a headquarters for the team. Tellem confirmed that is the preferred site, but the group continues to look at its options.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has committed to partnering with the ownership group to develop the new campus in a central location for Detroit residents, according to a news release.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/sports-recreation/wnba-team-coming-detroit-after-tom-gores-bid

[airforceguy]

$160M renovation planned for 400-plus senior units near Detroit River

As part of a broader “reform” effort, officials at the Detroit Housing Commission are seeking partners for the planned redevelopment of more than 400 affordable senior housing units near the Detroit River.

The Detroit-based organization that owns and manages around 4,000 affordable housing units around the region, as well as providing Section 8 vouchers for those with the lowest incomes, plans a large-scale redevelopment of its 40-year-old Sheridan Place facility, a pair of mid-rise towers located across East Jefferson Avenue from Gabriel Richard Park and near the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle. “The proximity to some of the city’s best open spaces, and how close it is to (the) Islandview (neighborhood) and the Villages means it's an important asset in the network of assets we manage,” DHC Executive Director Arthur Jemison said.

As part of the planned redevelopment — likely a project in excess of $80 million for each tower, according to Jemison — the DHC on Tuesday launched a request for qualifications, or RFQ, seeking a development partner or partners to help with financing, managing complex logistics tied to temporarily relocating residents and other facets of the planned redevelopment.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estat...mission-renovate-400-unit-sheridan-place