DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[the pope]

this debate comes up ad nausea on urbanohio, you have to ask yourself, would you rather have one 1,000ft skyscraper or four 20 story buildings creating a block and neighborhood? (think of the other tall skyscrapers in detroit, how many have a a good street presence?).

I guess we'll have to wait and see what goes on in the next year....

[EuphoricOctopus]

Originally Posted by LivingIn622

Maybe by making a statement he is saying by bringing business to Detroit which hasn't seen much of lately. I don't know if he would go that big and replace the Ren Cen, although I would love to see it. Only 4,000 workers that isn't enough to occupy that large of a building. Plus with the loan problems he might try to go conservative and just make a little 2.0.

I know that's what hes saying, I was just using it to apply for his HQ. Honestly, I doubt it will replace the RenCen, but since Dan Gilbert being pretty audacious, I think we are in for a treat. Compuware has 3,000 employees and they have a 1 million sq. ft., which if wikipedia is right, Comerica has 1.4 million sq. ft. What happens if they boom in growth again? He knows that his company is fine, otherwise they might as well of stayed in Livonia. You don't make statements like "Detroit 2.0" "we are going to change Detroit", etc., if you don't plan to go all the way and above.

[hudkina]

I would like to see at least one tower over 500 ft. If he builds something in the 50-60 story range he can easily surpass the Ren Cen if he uses an Atlanta-style decorative spire. If you assume a 50 story tower has an average of 12-14 feet between floors and you add a 100 ft spire on top, you have yourself a new "tallest" for Detroit.

[testdrive]

Finally! Something to get excited about..this is half the fun ....speculating what type of building will take shape. Regardless, this could possibily signal the beginning of a change in the whole economic dependence on one industry. With the downsizing of the big three a new contract that has starting wages significantly below what they were lessens the economic impact the auto industry will have and possibly opens the door to diversification in the economic base, which has to be good news. This is what happened out here in Seattle in the 70's with Boeing and opened the door for other industries like Microsoft, Amazon and others. Even with all the negatives Detroit looks like it is ripe for something very good to happen ........finally!

[Michi]

Well, everyone's got to remember that Quicken is already a Detroit company. Although the impact of moving downtown is huge for Detroit and Michigan, it's not like they aren't here in the local economy already.

[testdrive]

True, I am just thinking in terms as the move more as a psychological breakthrough that shows a sense of confidence which may serve as a catalyst for others outside the auto industry. It's one of those things that are hard to gauge but is still part of an economic mindset outside of number crunching. Guess only time will tell but it sure is a postive.

[Michi]

Absolutely! Lead by example, right? We need more Dan Gilbert leaders...I'll take a bunch of followers too.

[hudkina]

Michi, while we know that Livonia is just as "Detroit" as anything in the city, a lot of people from other regions only know about the 139 sq. mi. Detroit. So while we basically moved our eggs from one basket to another, the other basket is far more prominent than the first.

[testdrive]

Just for the record I grew up at Plymouth Rd and Southfield and am a graduate from Cody High and Wayne State.

[Michi]

td, that's the Rosedale Park/Grandmont area isn't it? One of my favorite parts of the city. Especially along Grand River through there. Lots of good old fashioned community pride.

[LivingIn622]

will the Livonia quicken still opertate? And I don't think Quicken is going that big. He will probably go around 40 storys. If the business grows then he'll go 45-50 storys. If the business isn't doing so good, then he'll settle for a small building on both sites, 15 storys.

[testdrive]

Michi, my neighborhood is a bit south of there it was known as Grandale back then. From Grand River on Southfield you head south and there was Fenkell ( 5 mi), Schoolcraft then Plymouth Rd. The neighborhood now is a real pit although I did an Earth Google and my house is still there Yay! When I was in HS my 1st job was at a small strip mall in the Rosedale area at a Sibley's Shoe store. I sure hope that one of those neighborhood re-development plans goes in that area

[LivingIn622]

Book-Cadillac condos: Hot, hot, hot
Joel J. Smith / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- The Book-Cadillac is becoming a coveted address.

Despite southeastern Michigan's sickly housing market, condominium sales have been brisk at the 1924 building, being revived as a hotel, restaurant and residential complex. Already, 61 of 67 condominiums in the Louis Kamper structure are spoken for.

Even John Ferchill, who put together the $180 million project, is stunned at how quickly condos have been snapped up. They range in price from $375,000 to $1.5 million.

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"I wasn't surprised. It was more like pure unadulterated shock," Ferchill said. "We thought it would take three years to sell what we sold in three months."

The Westin Book-Cadillac reflects a bright spot in Michigan's moribund real estate market. Ferchill said the company sold 40 units the first day they were put on the market over a year ago. And sales have been steady since then, he said.

"It's because people want to be part of the Book-Cadillac and want to live downtown," said Ferchill, who addressed the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties at a luncheon Thursday in Birmingham. The association is a trade group for developers, owners, investors and others.

"The Book-Cadillac in the eyes of Detroiters is a very special place," he said. "It's pretty obvious to us that it is way more special than we thought."

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.

The 33-story, 455-room hotel is on target to debut Sept. 27. The top six floors will house condos, including six penthouses with price tags ranging from $900,000 to $1.5 million.

When completed, the grand property on Washington Boulevard will cater to business travelers with several restaurants, ballrooms, convention space and meeting rooms.

'A good sign for Detroit'
Don Grimes, a senior research associate at the University of Michigan's Institute for Labor & Industrial Relations, said he wasn't surprised at the success of condo sales at the Book-Cadillac. He said the property seems to have attracted buyers who aren't affected by the woes of the housing market.

"These people make their decision on things other than interest rates or a flat housing market," Grimes said. "For a variety of reasons, they find it convenient and attractive to live in downtown Detroit. It's a good sign for Detroit."

Ferchill agreed.

When he sold the 40 units that first day, he thought that maybe the buyers were speculators looking to turn a quick profit. But a check of purchase agreements showed that -- in every case -- the buyers planned to move into the condominiums. And most were planning to pay cash for their new digs.

The future residents include the CEO of a downtown Detroit company who purchased a penthouse, and a Philadelphia business executive who frequently travels to Detroit for business; he bought a condo.

A city that's safe, clean
While the 61 individuals have signed papers committing themselves to a purchase, Ferchill said a few likely will ask to be released from their agreements. In some cases, a prospective buyer cannot sell an existing property or personal problems crop up. In any case, Ferchill said he will likely let anyone out of an agreement for a good reason.

Ferchill, who has similar projects in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, said he thinks Detroit will become an entertainment destination for the Midwest.

He said the three casinos, two stadiums and the Fox Theatre have been very good for downtown. However, he said there's still a need for more jazz and comedy clubs, and other entertainment venues.

"At first, it's inconceivable that all these rich, nice, suburban housewives would come downtown to hang out," he said. "But they will do it if we can keep it safe and clean. We're working on that."

Ferchill said main hotel construction should be completed by April, and interior work will continue until the September launch. While a few unanticipated glitches have arisen, he said, they were balanced out by some expected problems that weren't as bad as predicted.

National City Bank is financing the project.

[Sperman 508]

anybody have pics of the motorcity casino in its final stages? or the mgm grand complete?

[Michi]

Go here:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...102019&page=27

[Sperman 508]

thanks...

[Michi]

Yer welcome.

I've been doing periodic "Detroit project updates" and posting them here, so you can keep an eye out for the next one. Maybe around the end/first of the year I'll get around to another one...especially since a lot of the projects take a while to notice physical progress.

Welcome to the forum, by the way!

[skyfan]

Land deal clears way to extend RiverWalk

Conservancy to unveil Monday how it will use former printing plant site.
David Josar / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy on Monday is expected to announce plans for the 22-acre piece of land that had been owned by Detroit Media Partnership and was acquired by the conservancy Nov. 19.

Carly Strachan, a spokeswoman for the conservancy group, said the property is important because it will clear the way for the first substantial piece of the RiverWalk to extend from Cobo Center south toward the Ambassador Bridge. The site has about 2,000 feet of frontage along the Detroit River.

Strachan said she did not know the sale price for the property, which includes a 300,000-square-foot building. The Detroit Media Partnership, which runs the business operations of The Detroit News and Free Press, had asked for $20 million. The newspaper printing plant on the site closed in 2005, when printing operations for The News and Free Press shifted to an expanded plant with news presses in Sterling Heights.

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The property sales agreement was tentatively reached at the beginning of the year, but finalized Nov. 19, Strachan said.

U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, who was instrumental in obtaining money for the project, will speak Monday at a press conference that also will be attended by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano; Detroit Media Partnership chief operating officer David Hunke; Matt Cullen and Derrick Miller, co-chairs of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy; and conservancy president and CEO Faye Alexander Nelson.

The RiverWalk, a vehicle-free pathway, will run along the river, eventually stretching from from Belle Isle to the Ambassador Bridge. It will include parks, interpretive displays and other green spaces. The first half of the RiverWalk was opened this spring.

The construction and property acquisition is being done with government and private dollars and will be operated and maintained by the conservancy, a nonprofit organization.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=LOCAL

[illbred]

Detroit plans for cultural area on roll
Work may start in spring on $10M Paradise Valley cultural, entertainment district.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...RO01/712030392

[cgrski]

Looks like Motor City is starting to put outer skin on. Don't understand why they are working on all corners instead of finishing one side frist though. Should blend nice with the hotel when done, if it ever gets there. Pics????