DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[Docta_Love]

Almost as exciting as the Book being renovated is the fact that work's starting on the Metropolitan Building.

Work Beginning on Metropolitan Building
Thursday, November 5, 2015
by Rebecca Golden





The Metropolitan Building, long slated for redevelopment into market rate apartments under a plan approved by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), is beginning to show signs of new life. A tipster sent us photographs showing work crews beginning fresh projects at the long-vacant triangle-shaped building downtown.

The development plan calls for the construction of 71 apartment units, along with retail spaces on the first two floors. To date, developers have spent $300K stabilizing the building's facade. Our tipster, Steven Halmaghi, noticed scaffolding on the iconic Detroit building and noted that all the boards had been removed from the windows on the structure's third floor, too.






http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...n-building.php

[DetroitSky]

Some updates from today 11/6

Capitol Park Building work continues


As noted above, the Farwell Building renovation has begun


This building on Capitol Park seems completed


And next door to the south it appears this building has begun renovations


Valpey Building renovations continue with a new coat of paint. I'm not sure how i feel about it being painted, however the details in the facade really stand out now


Rear of the Valpey Building


Woodward Building work continues


A new floor and rooftop terrace was recently completed at the Detroit Athletic Club


Wurlitzer Building renovation continues



Dilla's Delights, a new donut shop, is opening in The Ashley



Lear Corp. is expected to renovate this structure to become a satellite headquarters for the corporation


Work continues on the new GSTV headquarters and the building to the north, barely in this shot

[The North One]

Very exciting stuff here.

I actually wouldn't mind the new paint, but it's such a bright white, I think a more cream color white would look better.

[DetroitSky]

Some more updates, from 11/7

Also noticed but not photographed, painting appears complete at the Valpey Building.

New Red Wings arena/The District Detroit construction



Has work begun on the Eddystone Hotel? It appears all the broken windows are out on this side. Note this is also within Red Wings arena grounds


in North Corktown, this shipping container house on Trumbull appears complete. It is supposed to be the first of a few container structures in greater downtown


Construction has started on The Griswold apartments atop the Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel's parking garage


Work continues at Briggs House



Hoping to see work start soon at Philip House on Bagley

[99spartan]

Being that many of the buildings are near full occupancy, when do you think we'll see guys think Detroit will see its next skyscraper?

[dc_denizen]

I will have to get to Detroit to see all these buildings when they are done. Awesome!

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by 99spartan

Being that many of the buildings are near full occupancy, when do you think we'll see guys think Detroit will see its next skyscraper?

That depends, do you mean something over 12 floors or something that will break the skyline? It's very likely within the next year something between 10 and 15 floors gets proposed/built. On the other hand, I think Detroit is still a few years away from anything skyline changing, for example, anything taller than 300 feet and visible from outside the CBD (unless it's built outside of the CBD).

There's still a lot of space to fill both in yet renovated buildings and vacant lots and I'm not yet convinced that the local economy is at the point of supporting new (non-speculative) skyscrapers. Of course though, I'm hoping it gets there sooner rather than later.

[mhays]

I'd expect a lot of woodframe at first due to low land prices, high land availability, and low rents. Hopefully it's allowed up to five floors (the top 5) and 85' as it is in some regions. Woodframe isn't beloved on SSP, but it's a lot cheaper. You can get a decent amount of density, like 200+ units per acre.

Quite an impressive array of jobs underway now!

[The Lurker]

Originally Posted by 99spartan

Being that many of the buildings are near full occupancy, when do you think we'll see guys think Detroit will see its next skyscraper?

Construction on the Griswald just started. Thats an apartment project that adds five floors to an existing 10 story parking structure to become the first "highrise" construction in Detroit since the Casino hotels back in 08? Scroll to the top of the page 2nd post for more information

[skyfan]

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

That depends, do you mean something over 12 floors or something that will break the skyline? It's very likely within the next year something between 10 and 15 floors gets proposed/built. On the other hand, I think Detroit is still a few years away from anything skyline changing, for example, anything taller than 300 feet and visible from outside the CBD (unless it's built outside of the CBD).

There's still a lot of space to fill both in yet renovated buildings and vacant lots and I'm not yet convinced that the local economy is at the point of supporting new (non-speculative) skyscrapers. Of course though, I'm hoping it gets there sooner rather than later.

There is already one, early this year Bedrock proposed this at Griswold and Grand River. There's not many empty buildings left downtown and just about all of them are spoken for with plans. If you're a developer who wants to be downtown your only option is increasingly you have to build new. And the market it hot Merchant's Row has a six month waiting and the same true for other apartment buildings. I think we'll see more than few in the 10-15 range proposals maybe one in the 20 story range in the next year.

[skyfan]

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

That depends, do you mean something over 12 floors or something that will break the skyline? It's very likely within the next year something between 10 and 15 floors gets proposed/built. On the other hand, I think Detroit is still a few years away from anything skyline changing, for example, anything taller than 300 feet and visible from outside the CBD (unless it's built outside of the CBD).

There's still a lot of space to fill both in yet renovated buildings and vacant lots and I'm not yet convinced that the local economy is at the point of supporting new (non-speculative) skyscrapers. Of course though, I'm hoping it gets there sooner rather than later.

There is already one, early this year Bedrock proposed this at Griswold and Grand River. There's not many empty buildings left downtown and just about all of them are spoken for with plans. If you're a developer who wants to be downtown your only option is increasingly having to build new. And the market it hot Merchant's Row has a six month waiting and the same true for other apartment buildings. I think we'll see more than few in the 10-15 range proposals maybe one in the 20 story range in the next year.

[Docta_Love]

If i were a betting man id say that the next skyscraper will be built after Joe Louis Arena is demolished in 2017, there's a deal with one of Detroit's holdout creditors that in exchange for taking pennies on the dollar for their bonds that they get to redevelop the site. The deal is that a hotel with potential office - residential and recreation the development is limited to 30 stories and have a minimum of 300 rooms. It seems like this is pretty much a done deal due to the location and the fact that there is a develop by 2020 clause built into the deal not to mention this is how they are getting a return on Detroit after accepting a big bond loss.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...date/17319079/

[99spartan]

That hotel at the Joe Louis Arena site sounds promising. I can't wait to see something as tall, or taller than the Renaissance Center, however far in the future that may be.

[skyfan]

Originally Posted by DetroitSky

Valpey Building renovations continue with a new coat of paint. I'm not sure how i feel about it being painted, however the details in the facade really stand out now

They didn't have much choice KDG posted this update on the 5th:

"The exterior of our 1413 Woodward project is getting a serious facelift.

"Originally, we thought the building’s façade was terra cotta, but once the masonry cleaning commenced, we were surprised to find out that it is actually a type of brownstone, with staining that non-abrasive cleaning techniques simply could not remove. Therefore, we decided that coating the building would be the best option available, so that the outside will look just as clean and new as the inside.

We reached out to historic Detroit entities (NPS, SHPO, and HDC), and received their support before beginning. Now, coating is currently underway – with the GFRP cornice and faux balcony becoming a grayer shade of white, while the GFRP, cast-iron elements and the window and storefront frames are becoming dark bronze."

I can't wait to see the finished product. I not sure how many of you remember what it looked like prior to the Super Bowl. When they ripped out the Woodward 70's era streetscape, the DDA also funded some facade improvements to this and other buildings.

[The North One]

Meh, I'm not concerned with building taller right now.

What Detroit really needs is a more consistent and dense urban fabric like it did before.

[Docta_Love]

Conservancy, City Seek Proposals for Riverfront Development
by Rebecca Golden
November 9, 2015
Curbed Detroit





The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy and the City of Detroit Planning Department have put out a call for development plans for East Riverfront. The East Riverfront, a district bounded by St. Antoine Street to the west, East Grand Boulevard to the east, Larned Street to the north and the Detroit River to the south, used to be heavily blighted. Over the last decade, the RiverFront Conservancy's projects in the area have included moving cement factories away from the river, redeveloping the Renaissance Center, and to building the RiverWalk, a public park set along 3.5 miles of trail.

According to a study commissioned by the Conservancy, the riverfront has taken in over $1 billion in public and privately funded investment since redevelopment began in 2003. Firms interested in helping to develop the 400 acres under consideration have until 5 pm on Dec 4 to submit RFQ responses. According to the city's request for qualifications report, new developments need to address several major goals for the riverfront.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...evelopment.php

Meh, I'm not concerned with building taller right now.

What Detroit really needs is a more consistent and dense urban fabric like it did before.

Yeah i agree i want to see downtown build-out and better connect with the surrounding neighborhoods, were starting to see some good signs the Lower East Side and in neighborhoods like Corktown, Woodbridge and the Northend see reinvestment but there's still a way to go. Honestly if there's anything we should have learned as a city over the last 40 years that reinvesting in building vibrant neighborhoods has greater impact on the cities over all vitality than big flashy developments like the Ren Cen.

[99spartan]

Has anyone heard scheduled completion dates for the Restoration Hardware in the GSTV building?

[skyfan]

Whole Foods Developer to Add 230 Units in New Center

Peter Cummings, the Detroit developer who brought Whole Foods to midtown and shepherded the deal for the Fisher Building, told Curbed that he plans to build a 230-unit midrise apartment building in New Center. This summer, rumors about Cummings' plans to buy the parking lot at 3rd and Grand (pictured above) from Henry Ford Health System were met with a firm "no comment" from Cummings. Now, he says that there's an agreement to purchase, and that architects have been selected for the project.

"The sale hasn't happened yet," Cummings explained, "But I do have a firm agreement with Henry Ford Health system. I want to build 230 units," Cummings added. Cummings has already tapped Chapel Hill, NC, Cline Design for the new development which will combine retail with residential units just steps away from the Fisher Building. "They did a great job for me on a similar scale project, housing over parking and retail in Chapel Hill," Cummings said.

Cummings says there's a timeline in place and that the sale should be finalized soon. "We would like to launch the project in summer 2016," Cummings said. Cline Design built 140 West Franklin for Cummings' former Florida venture, Ram Real Estate. The eight-story, $55 million, mixed-use building in Chapel Hill opened in 2013 after nearly a decade of work.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...-and-grand.php


Hopefully this thing doesn't take ten years.

[Docta_Love]

It's good to see the speed that this project progressed although small that whole area of New Center is about to take off just like Midtown did just look at the new announcement about potential midrise. with the M-1 Rail Line to be completed by early 2017 and its northern terminus is in the area the dam has broken young man. I'm really excited to see what happens with The North End-Boston Edison-Arden Park area I could see it becoming more like Woodbridge or Corktown in the since of being an hip up and coming area bordering a rejuvenated new center.

Regis Houze Set to Offer 58 New Apartments in New Center
11-11-15
Rebecca Golden
Curbed Detroit




Regis Houze is bringing 58 new apartments to New Center. Developers held a ribbon cutting for the property Tuesday, and the newly constructed annex to the Hotel St. Regis will rent the units starting in December, according to Barbat Holdings, LLC, the project's developer. Many of the apartments have market rate prices, and the developers at Tuesday's tour of the new property suggested that Regis Houze's tiny studios—just 365 square feet—would be great as second homes for people who live in the suburbs but work in New Center, including employees at Henry Ford Hospital.

....

Regis Houze represents a partnership between Barbat Holdings, owned by West Bloomfield's Wireless Toyz founder Joe Barbat and the Woodward Corridor Investment Fund. With the upcoming opening of the M-1 Rail, developers and the city are betting on New Center as Detroit's next neighborhood success story.

....


According to a release, the Woodward Corridor Investment Fund is responsible for $30 million of the loans that have allowed for the renovations, and Crain's reports that the project created 144 temporary jobs and 17 permanent jobs in New Center. Regis Houze is all out of tiny studios—they're all rented—but 1- and 2-bedrooms are available. Regis Houze's website already banks on the M-1 to sell apartments. Copy on the site brags that the building is "just steps away from the M-1 Rail line on Woodward Avenue, giving you quick access to all that downtown has to offer." True…in eighteen months or so.

http://m.detroit.curbed.com/archives...tment-fund.php

[Docta_Love]

Speaking of New Center starting to take off here's a shocker not only is Lee Plaza to be renovated but it is to be the center piece of a $200 million dollar redevelopment. Personally i had thought that it was only a matter of time before the heavily stripped Lee Plaza would face the wrecking ball.

Lee Plaza hotel poised to get $200M redevelopment
November 19, 2015
Holly Fournier
The Detroit News





Detroit — The abandoned 17-story Lee Plaza Residential Hotel will be renovated into a zero-energy building boasting around 200 units of luxury, market-rate apartments slated to open in fall 2017, according to buyer and Detroit native Craig Sasser.

The $200 million project will include redevelopments to two adjacent lots as well as the addition of moderate, low and very low-income housing, said Sasser, 63-year-old managing member and CEO of Moneta Energy, LLC.

....

The Lee Plaza closed in 1993 and has fallen into disrepair since, Sasser said.

“This is a symbol of the shame and decline of what we as citizens have allowed to happen to our city,” Sasser said. “We can’t blame others. We are the solution.”

The hotel has been stripped to the studs but remains standing on a solid foundation of concrete and steel, he said.

“We don’t have to build from the ground up,” Sasser said. “It’s totally sound.”

It also is located in a developer’s dream spot.

“In real estate, it’s location, location, location,” Sasser said. “This is right next to the booming areas of Detroit. Downtown and Midtown are minutes away.”

....

The building renovation itself will cost around $34 million, with another $50 earmarked for adjacent lots. In total, approximately $200 million is expected to be spent redeveloping the hotel and surrounding area, Sasser said.

“One large energy investor” has committed to the entire bill, Sasser said.

Sasser also said he is committed to hiring local workers for the project, including ex-Navy SEAL veterans for security during construction as well as students from nearby Northwestern High School.

....

Work on the project will begin in January with cleaning crews sweeping through the building, he said. Completed apartments are expected to retail for $1.75 to $2 per square foot, and will feature state-of-the-art technology including electronic artwork and music geared toward the individual resident.

“I’m aiming at people that are into all the toys,” he said. “This is going to be a ‘smart’ building.”

Detroit-based architect firm Hamilton Anderson Associates is working on renderings of the renovated Lee Plaza as well as an adjacent parking structure to feature a rooftop pool during the summer and skating rink in the winter, Sasser said. Meanwhile, Rossetti has been tapped to design an outdoor public gathering space near the old hotel.

....

“This project has been adopted by the National Trust for Historic Preservations,” Sasser said. “This is going to be their model for how we can make these old buildings energy efficient.”

Sasser said the renovation coincides with Detroit’s motto.

“It will rise from the ashes,” Sasser said. “I believe that. I believe it is the time.”


http://www.detroitnews.com/story/bus...oped/76038068/