DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[newdaydet]

I couldn't agree more. Palmer Woods has some beautiful homes but the retail is dismal. Hopefully, this will spur on more renovations of all kinds and re-create a nice neighborhood on both sides of 8 Mile.

[LivingIn622]

I think this should be built farther down. and I really don't think suburbanites are going to a mall near the state fair grounds. Probably the most dangerous section of Detroit.

[hudkina]

Palmer Woods is the most dangerous secton of Detroit? LOL. As far as putting it further south, I don't see what the difference is. Detroit has three malls right outside the city boundaries that city residents frequent. It'll be good to have at least one where they can stay within the city.

[LivingIn622]

no palmer woods is nice. beautiful mansions and well kept landscapes. but alot of murders have been sprouting right around there.

[hudkina]

Is that anecdotal, or do you actually have a source?

[the pope]

Originally Posted by hudkina

Is that anecdotal, or do you actually have a source?

I blame ferndale.

[skyfan]

Very good news for the city's office market which usually been the weakest in the region.

Detroit tops in 3Q office rentals
Troy, Southfield see higher vacancy rates

By Daniel Duggan

In the third quarter, Detroit filled more office space than all other areas in the region, according to data released by real estate services company CB Richard Ellis.

The growth came at the expense of suburban office markets which have lost tenants and are seeing higher vacancy rates. Southfield, for example, is now 30.5 percent vacant for all office classes.

“What's exciting is to see the city outperform the suburbs,” said Mike Gerard, managing director in the Southfield CB Richard Ellis office. “It doesn't seem to be an anomaly either. It appears to be the result of expansion, relocation and growth.”

The city showed positive net absorption of 240,000 square feet in the quarter, while Southfield had negative absorption of 110,000 square feet and Troy had negative 259,000 square feet, according to CB Richard Ellis figures.

Absorption is the difference between space leased and space vacated.

Much of the Detroit activity revolved around leasing in One Kennedy Square, where 97,000 square feet was leased between Marketing Associates moving from Bloomfield Hills and Health Plan of Michigan moving from Southfield. Univision Detroit also moved from Troy to 6,000 square feet in the Penobscot Building.

In office sales transactions, the region had a down quarter, according to third-quarter figures compiled by the real estate firm Grubb & Ellis.

Total office sales were $19.1 million, down from $65.2 million in the second quarter and $58.2 million in the third quarter of 2006.

In the overall commercial real estate market, the third quarter showed $180.8 million in sales, down significantly from the first quarter with $452.2 million, but higher than the $154.5 million in third quarter 2006.

Fallout in the commercial real estate market stemming from the subprime lending issues in residential real estate is largely to blame for the lower numbers, but that has been a national problem, said Robert Leonard, senior director with Farmington Hills-based iCap Realty Advisors, which arranges lending for commercial transactions.

He said lending has been more expensive than earlier this year, but some of the commercial real estate deals that were put on hold are being negotiated again as investors have accepted the higher rates.

“Looking at the pipeline, we're seeing an uptick,” he said. “Deals are starting to get done again; people are realizing that construction, acquisitions still need to be financed.”

Daniel Duggan: (313) 446-0414, dduggan@crain.com
This space for rent


Metro Detroit Class A office vacancy rates in 3Q:

Ann Arbor: 14.2%

Auburn Hills: 26.1%

Birmingham/Bloomfield Hills: 13.9%

Dearborn: 10.5%

Detroit: 16.3%

Farmington Hills/West Bloomfield Township: 15.7%

I-275 Corridor: 14.2%

Macomb County: 29.4%

Rochester: 26.7%

Southfield: 25%

Troy: 21.8%

Overall: 24.8%

Source: CB Richard Ellis

[LivingIn622]

that's good for Detroit. if only instead of the suburbs suffering jobs, Detroit gets them from ohio. the region needs to be strong to grow not just the city.

[subterranean]

Hamilton Anderson Associates, who co-designed the MGM Grand Detroit is renovating a bit of the First National Building for a move. MGM has contracted them to do a huge project in Las Vegas as well, prompting them to open an office in Las Vegas. Good to see this once small firm growing, yet so committed to Detroit. I would have posted the article, but it's on Crain's, so here's the link:

http://crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.d...pin-at-offices

[the pope]

Originally Posted by LivingIn622

that's good for Detroit. if only instead of the suburbs suffering jobs, Detroit gets them from ohio. the region needs to be strong to grow not just the city.

Nothing like growing at the expense of others.

Organic growth=good
cannibalism=bad (whether intra or interstate)

[skyfan]

Brandy Baker / The Detroit News

A barricade blocks access to this marble grand staircase. The new hotel is slated to open in December 2008.

Restoring the glory: Renovation of hotel unearths previous beauty

Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News




Now that the decades of debris and tattered walls are gone, the massive steel frame of the iconic Fort Shelby building is on full display on the second floor just outside the former Crystal Ballroom.

For the crew behind the $82 million renovation of the downtown Detroit building, the steel structure provokes as much awe as some of the ornate decor that managed to survive years of neglect.

The black steel frame looks as solid as the day it was built around 1927, when famed architect Albert Kahn designed an addition to the hotel. The frame, about 30 feet long and running from floor to ceiling, features sensuous curves that once housed elegant doors and windows.

"It's just amazing," said Mike Prochaska, spokesman for the group converting the building into the Fort Shelby Doubletree Guest Suites Detroit. He ran his hand over the symmetrical rows of rivets in the beams, adding, "It's a big reason why we can save this building -- and why it's worth saving."

The solid beauty of the Fort Shelby is much more clear -- and so are the answers to questions about the scope of the restoration -- after months of removing tons of junk and asbestos. Should the old telephone switchboard be put on display in the WiFi-enabled main lobby? Yes. Can the enormous marble shoe shine stand be saved? Maybe. And can the ornate ceiling tiles of the Crystal Ballroom be restored? No, but they will be replicated.

"It's surprising how much we will be able to save," Prochaska said. The black steel frame is so impressive the owners are considering leaving it exposed to create a juxtaposition of industrial design next to the ornate ballroom.

The Fort Shelby Doubletree Guest Suites Detroit is slated to open in December 2008 with 204 rooms. The building will also include 63 upscale apartments that may become condominiums; a martini lounge; retail space that will include a national "upscale restaurant" to be announced; and 38,000 square feet of conference space. The residences are slated to open May 2009.

The cleanup phase should be completed next month, but for now, the Fort Shelby is stripped to its core. Prochaska and others said they enjoy the moments when its original elegance is revealed, such as when the top of the building, full of ornate limestone design, was scrubbed clean.

"Now it sparkles," Prochaska said.

That's something no one has said about the Fort Shelby in a long time.

You can reach Louis Aguilar at (313) 222-2760 or laguilar@detnews.com.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...it-Renaissance

[LivingIn622]

Here is a picture of the Fort shelby from the outside. Photo from Detroit news.



This building has potential to look really nice.

[Michi]

Next up for Brush Park is "The Avenue" by Crosswinds.

Though decent, I think Cw needs to diversify their designs. Everything is starting to look the same. And Brush Park could use a variation in heights. I think of the Buildings on John R. and that taller one on Adelaide and how nicely they fit into the neighborhood vibe and urbanity.

I DO like the stairs right up to the sidewalk, though.

coming soon

[skyfan]

Where are these going to be built?

[hudkina]

I actually like that design. It is nicer than the suburban-style townhouses they started out with. This is more a "Detroit-urban"-style townhouse. I just hope that they really do use brick on at least three sides (assuming that these are detached "duplexes".) Also, I hope that if they are detached, that they are spaced no more than five or six feet apart.

[LMich]

The Avenue looks like a fairly decent design, safe, but as Hud said, definitely more in line with Detroit's style than previous housing attempts.

[LivingIn622]

I agree. That style building looks alot like Detroit than previous housing developments. By the way does anyone know when the Book-Cadillac is going to open?

[Michi]

Wait. The Book Cadillac is reopening?





















When?

No, that design is incredibly bad. All Crosswinds did was treat the Garden Lofts and New Center Lofts as if they were a big old cake. They sliced it up, and scattered all the wedges throughout Brush Park. The design is plain, its prefab, uninspiring, unoriginal, and...

I think what's deceving you guys is the landscaping. Go back to the picture and take away the landscaping...which you know won't be there in reality, except for a few new already-dead trees a-la Garden Lofts.

[hudkina]

I agree that they won't look nearly as great as what was built in the early 1900's, but I think they blend better than what sits along Woodward. At least you won't find this style of architecture being built in the suburbs.

While I think this is what they were inspired by:


I think this is what they'll end up with:


But in the end, I think that however it turns out, it'll look better than this:


Ultimately, I would like to see them graduate to this:


(Those are probably my favorite residential buildings in the city.)

[skyfan]

Was anyone downtown yesterday to see or get more pics of this?




Gary Malerba / Special to The Detroit News

Helicopters deliver equipment onto Book Cadillac building's roof

Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News


DETROIT -- Everything about the iconic Book Cadillac building in downtown Detroit is epic -- its history, its sad decline and its $180 million revival.

Little surprise, then, the mere delivery of elevator equipment and pieces of the ventilation system was another dramatic event in the restoration of the architectural gem. The equipment was airlifted onto the Book's roof by helicopter, an effort that closed ten city blocks for several hours, attracted a small crowd of spectators and inspired awe even among the workers involved.

A Sikorsky S-61 helicopter -- the same type of helicopter used by the U.S. Presidents- airlifted about 8 tons of equipment from an empty parking lot in front of the former Detroit Free Press building to the 33-story roof, landing the heavy machinery just between two million-dollar penthouses.

It took ten separate airlifts to move the machinery and with each lift, it appeared that everyone with a camera phone recorded the moment, including several of the Detroit police officers who were blocking the streets for safety. Some of the construction crew brought along their children and several young boys ran along the street following the two block path of the lift and pointed to the air-bound helicopter as they ran.

It took the helicopter less than an hour to delivery machinery to building. It would have taken a crane about a week. And frankly, it probably wouldn't have been as cool as the helicopter and the Book Cadillac is all about cool, urban moments.

First opened in 1924, the Book-Cadillac was the city's pre-eminent hotel for six decades. Presidents, movie stars and high-rolling gangsters stayed there. It closed in 1984 and became a 33-story symbol of Detroit's decline. At one point, city officials couldn't even raise enough money to tear it down.

In June 2006, the Ferchill Group finally sealed a complex deal involving 22 different sources of financing to revive the building, ending a year long effort by city officials to save the Book.

The restoration will convert the Louis Kamper-designed building into a 455-room Westin Hotel and 67 upscale condominiums. The interior will include the return of Italian Renaissance-style ballrooms, three nationally known restaurants, a spa and sports bar.

The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit is slated to open in late 2008

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...it-Renaissance

A helicopter lands in a parking lot prior to be used to lift heavy equipment onto the roof of the Book Cadillac


Plumber foreman Edward Fritz, 40, of Chesterfield Township secures a cable connected to a crane to equipment to be lowered onto the surface of the parking lot, prior to being airlifted via helicopter onto the roof of the Book Cadillac building


A Sikorsky S-61 -- the same type of helicopter used by the U.S. Presidents -- airlifted about eight tons of equipment from an empty parking lot in front of the former Detroit Free Press building to the 33-story roof, landing the heavy machinery just between two million-dollar penthouses