DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[DetroitMan]

UM plans larger residential tower for downtown Detroit campus

The University of Michigan board is expected to consider a measure related to a new residential tower to be built next to its under-construction Detroit satellite campus, the University of Michigan Center for Innovation.

The Board of Regents meets virtually at 9 a.m. Thursday to consider a 40-year lease for the building that would house UMCI students and faculty. The residential building to be constructed at 2205 Cass Ave. at West Columbia Street is expected to have 313 units with a budget of $186 million, both of which are increases from previously released project details, according to a board briefing memo. Previously, the tower had been described as having 261 units and costing $147 million.

Crain’s has emailed spokespeople for the Ilitch family’s Olympia Development of Michigan real estate company as well as Related Cos., the New York City-based development company founded by Stephen Ross, which is also working on the District Detroit effort. Questions about the project were also sent to spokespeople for the university. The regents document says construction is expected to be complete in the fall of 2028, a year after UMCI — a graduate school-type campus focused on things like AI, robotics, cybersecurity and tech, among other things — opens in the fall of 2027.

Previously, a Related executive had said the UMCI and the residential tower would open at about the same time.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/um-plans-larger-residential-tower-near-umci

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by 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


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

Originally Posted by 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



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

Originally Posted by DetroitMan

Detroit soccer club seeks $15M to complete $50M equity raise for new stadium


https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/detroit-city-fc-looks-raise-15m-more-new-stadium

It's nice that Detroit is finally getting into the soccer game, and Detroit FC isn't a MSL team, but a USL team (which may be considered as some sort of a minor league in comparison to it's bigger and more lucrative MSL), but when it comes to building a stadium, I'd rather see that energy in placing a soccer stadium just south of Ford Field, along the parking lot at the SW corner of Gratiot and St. Antoine. That would be a perfect site for such a stadium, and when I did my own measurements of that site, Gratiot and St. Antoine would fit a 20K capacity soccer stadium perfectly.

I also believe that Detroit should get very serious about attracting a MSL team to Detroit. Currently, MSL has 30 teams, and with 16 teams each in it's Eastern and Western Conferences, it would make sense for MSL to even out the teams to 32. One of those teams in the Western Conference would be in either Calgary or SF, but I believe that Calgary would be a much stronger candidate since, for one, it would even out the number of Canadian MSL teams from 3 to 4, and also Calgary currently has, believe it or not, 4 or 5 major sports teams (if you want to consider the NLL and the CEBL as major sports leagues), and adding a MSL team in Calgary would be the feather in Calgary's cowboy hat.

As for Detroit, adding an MSL team in Detroit would do wonders for that city. It would somehow unite that city and give Detroit a more international flair as opposed to just hosting the Big 4 American sports. Other issues are attracting more international carriers (hello KLM and LOT, MI has the largest Dutch American population in the US, and one of the largest Polish American populations in the US), as well as connections to South America (Copa Airlines is perfect since it connects to many points in South America via Panama), and Asia (if JAL cannot come to Detroit, then Delta should offer flights to Tokyo, if it currently does, but JAL would be very interesting since there are Japanese firms in Metro Detroit, especially around Novi). Maybe Bahamasair and Caribbean Airlines could make a sojourn at DTW to give Detroiters maybe a cheaper option rather than relying on Delta Air Lines for all their air travel needs, as well as provide migration options for black Detroiters and Caribbeans looking to going to a Midwest location as opposed to just traveling to New York, Miami and Atlanta. Finally, the Middle East is very important to Detroit, since Detroit has the largest Arab diaspora in not only the US, but North America. Attracting such carriers such as Middle East Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Saudia, Qatar, Egyptair, Air Algerie, and Royal Air Maroc would help boost that population to the point where the Arab population is bigger than the Latino population in Detroit and MI.

I don't believe that Detroit will attract the Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Iberia, Swiss International, Cayman Islands, or South Africa Airways carriers, since for the past 60+ years, Detroit has been on a downslide, and most of those types of airlines usually go to ORD since Chicago has had the healthiest economy since Detroit unfortunate 1967 riots, but it could have up to 15 international carriers, not a lot like ORD, but just enough to give Detroiters options, as well as helping those carriers have some presence in Detroit, as opposed to going to ORD all the time for the entire Midwest, as well as NW OH, NE IN, and even SW ON gaining coverage with options to use DTW as a much closer option for international travel as opposed to using ORD and YYZ.

Here's hoping that Detroit has an MLS team in the near future, as well as expanding it's air carrier options, and even a comeback with at least a million people living within Detroit's 138 sq. mi. of land!!!

[jonwylie]

Originally Posted by wanderer34

It's nice that Detroit is finally getting into the soccer game, and Detroit FC isn't a MSL team, but a USL team (which may be considered as some sort of a minor league in comparison to it's bigger and more lucrative MSL), but when it comes to building a stadium, I'd rather see that energy in placing a soccer stadium just south of Ford Field, along the parking lot at the SW corner of Gratiot and St. Antoine. That would be a perfect site for such a stadium, and when I did my own measurements of that site, Gratiot and St. Antoine would fit a 20K capacity soccer stadium perfectly.

I also believe that Detroit should get very serious about attracting a MSL team to Detroit. Currently, MSL has 30 teams, and with 16 teams each in it's Eastern and Western Conferences, it would make sense for MSL to even out the teams to 32. One of those teams in the Western Conference would be in either Calgary or SF, but I believe that Calgary would be a much stronger candidate since, for one, it would even out the number of Canadian MSL teams from 3 to 4, and also Calgary currently has, believe it or not, 4 or 5 major sports teams (if you want to consider the NLL and the CEBL as major sports leagues), and adding a MSL team in Calgary would be the feather in Calgary's cowboy hat.

As for Detroit, adding an MSL team in Detroit would do wonders for that city. It would somehow unite that city and give Detroit a more international flair as opposed to just hosting the Big 4 American sports. Other issues are attracting more international carriers (hello KLM and LOT, MI has the largest Dutch American population in the US, and one of the largest Polish American populations in the US), as well as connections to South America (Copa Airlines is perfect since it connects to many points in South America via Panama), and Asia (if JAL cannot come to Detroit, then Delta should offer flights to Tokyo, if it currently does, but JAL would be very interesting since there are Japanese firms in Metro Detroit, especially around Novi). Maybe Bahamasair and Caribbean Airlines could make a sojourn at DTW to give Detroiters maybe a cheaper option rather than relying on Delta Air Lines for all their air travel needs, as well as provide migration options for black Detroiters and Caribbeans looking to going to a Midwest location as opposed to just traveling to New York, Miami and Atlanta. Finally, the Middle East is very important to Detroit, since Detroit has the largest Arab diaspora in not only the US, but North America. Attracting such carriers such as Middle East Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Saudia, Qatar, Egyptair, Air Algerie, and Royal Air Maroc would help boost that population to the point where the Arab population is bigger than the Latino population in Detroit and MI.

I don't believe that Detroit will attract the Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Iberia, Swiss International, Cayman Islands, or South Africa Airways carriers, since for the past 60+ years, Detroit has been on a downslide, and most of those types of airlines usually go to ORD since Chicago has had the healthiest economy since Detroit unfortunate 1967 riots, but it could have up to 15 international carriers, not a lot like ORD, but just enough to give Detroiters options, as well as helping those carriers have some presence in Detroit, as opposed to going to ORD all the time for the entire Midwest, as well as NW OH, NE IN, and even SW ON gaining coverage with options to use DTW as a much closer option for international travel as opposed to using ORD and YYZ.

Here's hoping that Detroit has an MLS team in the near future, as well as expanding it's air carrier options, and even a comeback with at least a million people living within Detroit's 138 sq. mi. of land!!!

The issue with MLS is they've essentially expressed that they want cities to pony up money for a new stadium, which is why Detroit got passed up when they pitched Ford Field as a site.

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by jonwylie

The issue with MLS is they've essentially expressed that they want cities to pony up money for a new stadium, which is why Detroit got passed up when they pitched Ford Field as a site.

So are you saying that Ford Field can't be used as an MLS stadium? I recall Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta hosting the Atlanta United MLS franchise, and MBS has a retractable roof, while Ford Field doesn't, which would've made it ineligible to be an MLS stadium, unless Detroit, Wayne County and MI band together to help make a bid on a new stadium.

I still believe that the MCS area isn't the best site. If Tigers Stadium was still standing, I would've let it pass for a soccer stadium, but Tigers Stadium is no more, and most of the sporting venues are either within Downtown, and in the case of Little Caesars Arena, close to downtown, and to complete Detroit's evolving sports complex, an MLS stadium would be the final piece of such a complex.

Finally, despite Detroit's image as a declining, violent city, it has made some headway, and all that started with Detroit hosting Super Bowl XL, and gradually commercial and residential projects started to follow, then the Q Line (not a fan of the trolley), the NFL Draft, and finally Detroit gaining population for the first time in over 60 years. I still hope MLS can consider Detroit, especially now that there may be another expansion of two teams, and Detroit might not get picked if it doesn't act soon!

[The North One]

^ did you come in here just to troll or something?

[airforceguy]

Family-oriented affordable housing breaks ground in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood

Construction is underway for new family-oriented affordable townhomes in Detroit’s Islandview neighborhood.

The Preston Townhomes, expected to open to renters in September 2026, will offer 31 units of two- and three-bedroom housing to families making 30%-60% of the area median income. Developers and city partners held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project Wednesday.

The project, a collaboration between Cinnaire Solutions, a nonprofit real estate development company, and GenesisHOPE community development organization, will be built on the former Detroit Eastern High School site now owned by Genesis Lutheran Church. GenesisHOPE operates out of the church offices, which will remain on the property after the housing construction.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/preston-townhomes-add-31-affordable-units-islandview

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by The North One

^ did you come in here just to troll or something?

Where's the trolling at??? I don't see anything that constitutes trolling, especially if it's assuring that Detroit can be a better city than what it is today. If Detroit doesn't need help or suggestions from outsiders like myself, let me know. Last time I checked, Detroit is trying to attract people from the US and around the globe.

[airforceguy]

Downtown Apple store to open this fall as a metro Detroit location closes

The opening of the downtown Detroit Apple Store will coincide with the closing of another metro Detroit Apple retail store.

The California-based tech giant’s downtown Detroit store will open this fall, according to Apple spokesperson Pia Fontes. The store will run out of what is essentially three storefront spaces at 1430 Woodward Ave. near the Shinola Hotel.

The opening won’t signal an increase in the number of Apple Store locations in the state.

The Apple Store inside The Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township will close this year, Fontes told Crain’s in an email. The Partridge Creek store opened in 2007. “At Apple, we're committed to delivering an exceptional experience for all customers, and we’re excited to open our new retail location in Downtown Detroit later this year,” Fontes said. “As we prepare to open, we will not continue our lease at Apple Partridge Creek.”

Fontes did not immediately respond to Crain’s request for more information. It is unknown exactly when the Detroit store will open or when the Partridge Creek store will close. It is also unknown how many employees will be affected by the closure. Fontes told Crain’s all the employees at the Partridge Creek store will have the opportunity to continue on with Apple at other stores.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/apple-store-partridge-creek-mall-close

[airforceguy]

The residential tower will now be 13 stories instead of 18.

UM regents sign off on 40-year lease for new apartment tower in Detroit

The residential building is being developed by Related Cos. and Olympia Development of Michigan at 2205 Cass Ave. at West Columbia St. The property is owned by ODM Parking LLC, according to city records, with is an entity affiliated with Olympia Development.
The new building is expected to have 313 units with a budget of $186 million, both of which are increases from previously released project details, according to a board briefing memo from Tuesday afternoon. Previously, the tower had been described as having 261 units and costing $147 million. A release from the university says the building will be 13 stories, down from 18 stories originally planned.
"The residential component added by this tower is a critical aspect of the center, as it will give our students and faculty the opportunity to immerse themselves in an innovative community, dedicated to opportunity and economic development," said University of Michigan Center for Innovation Director Scott Shireman in a statement. "Programming will take a mixed-model approach that includes both master's degrees and workforce development programs focused on technology and innovation."

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estat...year-lease-new-residential-tower-detroit

[airforceguy]

Detroit aims to transform aging public housing, add residences near Eastern Market

On Thursday, the city's Housing and Revitalization Department and the Detroit Housing Commission released a Request for Qualifications seeking a "qualified developer" to lead an effort redeveloping the 200-unit Forest Park Apartments and Diggs Homes near Canfield and Russell streets, as well as build new housing on a lot at 1923 E. Division St., just east of Eastern Market.

The goal is to secure a $40 million federal Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “This RFQ marks a critical step in the DHC's effort to transform Diggs and Forest Park; two public housing communities deeply rooted in Detroit," Arthur Jemison, executive director of the Detroit Housing Commission, said in a statement. “The developer ultimately selected will help shape our Choice Neighborhoods proposal to HUD and guide a redevelopment that delivers lasting impact. Just as important, we’ll work closely with residents and the community to ensure the project reflects their priorities and vision.”

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/developers-sought-eastern-market-area-properties

[seabee1526]

Originally Posted by airforceguy

The residential tower will now be 13 stories instead of 18.

UM regents sign off on 40-year lease for new apartment tower in Detroit

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estat...year-lease-new-residential-tower-detroit

Didn’t they just say it was getting larger?

[DetroitSky]

Originally Posted by seabee1526

Didn’t they just say it was getting larger?

They announced it would have more units so I'm assuming it'll just have a larger footprint. Not a bad thing.

[DetroitMan]

Parade Co. seeks extension to raise another $24M for Detroit riverfront project

What comes next in The Parade Co.’s bid to convert the historic Brodhead Armory on Detroit’s east riverfront into a new home remains to be seen, following a City Council committee meeting Thursday.

The Parade Co.’s President and CEO Tony Michaels appeared before the Detroit City Council Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee to ask for more time to raise funding for the $45 million project.

Council President Pro Tem James Tate, who chairs the committee, said a fourth extension of time to raise funding needed to purchase the armory was not on the table, as the prior agreement expired June 30 and there was no extension resolution before the committee. That action would have to come from the city’s planning department. The city is waiting to see how the current conversation plays out before making any determination about potential next steps, John Roach, director of media relations, said in a message to Crain’s.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/nonprofits...eks-more-time-raise-funds-new-hq-project

[Velvet_Highground]

On the face of it seeing how things play out with the current expansion feels like a fair move. Without more context it’s hard to say more, getting the Broadhead Armory redeveloped is the endgame everyone here wants to see happen. That said I have a soft spot for the Parade Co they’ve been a a real cornerstone institution of the community. Conversely true enough the longer the fundraising takes the more deterioration will take place. Though with a desirable riverfront property you always need to keep your senses peeled for maneuvering behind the scenes.

[Innsertnamehere]

yes, but by the sounds of it the building will be shorter but fatter.

[animatedmartian]

Some pics I took of progress going on at the Henry Ford hospital campus:



Henry Ford's research building visible in the background of the skeleton.

[DetroitMan]

Great photos! The Henry Ford campus expansion will have a huge impact on New Center and Virginia Park when its complete.

A bit of development news, Detroit is getting a Museum of Illusions.

A chain of private museums is prepping a location in Detroit

The Museum of Illusions, an immersive, experience-based series of exhibits, will be opening in a location in Detroit.

The street-level windows of the Himelhoch's Building on Woodward Avenue and on Washington Boulevard feature advertisements for the museum that say, “Soon you’ll step into the unexpected.” The company’s website says a Detroit location is “opening soon.” Neither the building’s owner, American Community Developers, nor the Museum of Illusions responded to a request for comment Wednesday. [There are more than 50 Museum of Illusions in major cities across the globe, including New York, Denver, Seattle and Las Vegas; as well as Midwestern locations including Chicago, Cleveland and the Mall of America. It’s one of the biggest chains of private museums in the world and offers a franchise model. The concept was launched in Croatia in 2015 by Roko Živković and Tomislav Pamuković, who remain as shareholders with the company.

The museum mixes education and entertainment, with attractions like an Infinity Room with a seemingly endless display of mirrors. Optical illusions feature holograms and other effects that distort perception for visitors.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estate/museum-illusions-open-detroit-location

[DetroitMan]

Joe Louis Arena site development to update People Mover station, plans pedestrian-friendly corridor

Detroit leaders touted the ongoing development of the former Joe Louis Arena site Wednesday as they unveiled a new name for the People Mover station along the west riverfront and plans to build a new pedestrian-friendly corridor.

The stop, originally called Joe Louis Arena Station before switching to West Riverfront, is being renamed Water Square Station to reflect developer Sterling Group's newly completed luxury apartment tower and under-construction JW Marriott hotel that the 2.9-mile transit loop now serves.

It could very well serve even more riverfront development soon. The Sterling Group late last year acquired 3 acres of property just west of the new apartment tower. Danny Samson, chief development officer of the company, told Crain’s that there is no estimated timing for a new development, but he indicated that the parcel, purchased for about $5.5 million, won’t remain a parking lot for long. “I think the bottom line is everybody’s got a big vision for the riverfront and development opportunities, so from The Residences at Water Square to the JW Marriott at Water Square, there’s lots of room to do more projects that could be meaningful mixed use projects that can be conducive to all the development activity going on to serve the residents of the city," Samson said. “This (apartment) building went up very quickly, and the hotel is moving very quickly as well, so when the project comes to life, it comes quickly.”

As part of the People Mover station name change, its exterior will undergo a $1 million overhaul, funded in part by $500,000 from the Sterling Group, as outlined by a community benefits ordinance deal, and a $500,000 match from the Detroit Transportation Corporation, which oversees the People Mover.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estat...people-mover-station-pedestrian-corridor

[airforceguy]

$125M Huntington Place expansion to start after board approval

A $125 million expansion of Detroit’s marquee convention center that will connect it to a new hotel is set to begin within the next month, marking the final phase of the riverfront project.

Construction on Huntington Place will add about 20,000 square feet to the southwest corner of the facility and a pedestrian bridge connecting it to a JW Marriott hotel expected to be completed by early 2027, said Claude Molinari, president and CEO of Visit Detroit, which oversees Huntington Place. The Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority board approved on Monday the final drawings and start of construction on the expansion and skybridge, said Molinari, who also serves as board chair for the authority. Molinari said work will begin in the next 30 days.

“We want to have that bridge connection in place by the end of 2026 so that it’s waiting for the hotel to open,” Molinari told Crain’s after a media event highlighting development by the Sterling Group and a new name for the nearby People Mover station.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/hospitalit...ace-expansion-start-after-board-approval

[DetroitMan]

Sweetgreen is open a location in Downtown Detroit
L.A.-based salad chain coming to downtown Detroit

Three years after Sweetgreen arrived in Michigan, the national salad chain has plans to open its first location in the city of Detroit.
The Los Angeles-based fast-casual restaurant chain serves salads, bowls, protein plates and more made in-house with fresh ingredients and prioritizes local and organic food sourcing. Its new location will be in downtown Detroit at 1020 Woodward Ave. in the One Campus Martius building. An opening date was not announced. The Detroit location will join Sweetgreen’s five Michigan locations in Birmingham, Troy, Rochester Hills and Ann Arbor, which has two locations. Sweetgreen also has plans for a restaurant on Hall Road in Macomb County, according to its website.

Bringing Sweetgreen to downtown Detroit is an “exciting next step,” co-founder and CEO Jonathan Neman said in a media alert sent by Bedrock.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/restaurants/sweetgreen-open-first-detroit-location