DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[Docta_Love]

Not a suprise considering its location but it looks like work may start in 90 days on the old fire station converting it into a 100 room boutique hotel.


Foundation Hotel: $29M Firehouse Remod Arrives Soon
Monday, Apr 6, 2015, by Paul Beshouri



With plans for 100 rooms and a decor theme that celebrates Detroit history, the Foundation could begin construction within 90 days, reports the Free Press. A job listing for a hotel manager pegs the ETA at spring 2016.

http://m.detroit.curbed.com/archives...otel-rehab.php

[Docta_Love]

Detroit Bucharest Grill a personal favorite of mine is to open its third location in Milwaukee Junction by summer, according to Bridge Magazine.

Bucharest Grill to Open Third Shawarma Shack by Summer
by Brenna Houck Apr 6, 2015
Eater Detroit

The Bucharest Grill's third location in Milwaukee Junction will open by summer, according to Bridge Magazine. Eater first confirmed that workers were renovating the site for a new Bucharest in December. The magazine heralds Milwaukee Junction as "Detroit's next hot neighborhood." Writer Bill McGraw adds that developers are beginning to buy up land in the area with ideas for "condos, apartments, a bar, restaurant, art gallery, and spaces for work and events." Bucharest Grill currently operates two locations, one on Park Avenue and another off Michigan Avenue in Corktown.

http://detroit.eater.com/2015/4/6/83...aukee-junction


Crumbly Castle & Abandoned Bank Pitch Rehab Plans
Wednesday, April 8, 2015, by Paul Beshouri
Curbed Detroit

We seldom miss the monthly thrill-ride know as the Detroit Historic District Commission, and tonight's agenda could be a doozy. Three major rehabs are being proposed for buildings in TechTown, Midtown, and West Village. A couple are familiar, including a warehouse on 2nd Avenue developers wish to convert into lofts. Roughly 138 years after it was originally constructed, the ruined Scott Mansion is also looking for rehab approval. The newcomer is the abandoned Detroit Savings Bank in West Village, where a rehab and a new addition are both on the table.

Here's the proposed conversion on second.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...2ea139dd00981c

[pacifist112]

did some driving this morning, noticed Gilbert is moving supplies to the planned garage space on monroe, looks like he is getting ready to start construction. also the medical building next to the professional plaza is now laying some cement for foundation work

[JonathanGRR]

It's just a small bit of news, but I still thought that it would be worth mentioning:

Photo by DETROIT ATHLETIC CLUB

Detroit Athletic Club reaches 100, marks it with sculptures
April 12, 2015 | Dustin Walsh

The Detroit Athletic Club will celebrate its centennial on April 24 with strong membership and a new sculpture park.

The Albert Kahn-designed club is also completing rooftop renovations to create a restaurant, lounge and meeting rooms, which are expected to open in July.

The nonprofit club has spent nearly $60 million in restoration and construction projects over the past 17 years, said Executive Manager Ted Gillary.

It hasn't always been easy. Private clubs have been under stress across the country. Some have closed locally, including the Renaissance Club and Detroit Club.

But despite some ups and downs over the years, the DAC remains the city's most prominent locale for current leaders to caucus.

Cindy Vizza, publisher and senior director of knowledge for the Washington D.C.-based National Club Association, said the recession shook out many clubs.

"A lot of closures occurred for the lower- and middle-tiered clubs," Vizza said. "Clubs like the DAC, with rich history and membership, survived intact and are now taking on new growth."

The $2.3 million sculpture project, which will be placed on the island bisecting Madison Avenue in front of the club, represents the club's original mission of supporting amateur athletics.

Nine-foot statues of a second baseman throwing a runner out at first, two runners and a football running back donning the number 20 were commissioned by the club's foundation and sculpted by A. Thomas Schomberg. His most famous work is the Rocky statue in Philadelphia.

A fourth sculpture — a female swimmer — will be installed in the circular drive entryway of the club. The DAC trained female Olympic hopefuls decades ago.

But it's the brass of DAC membership that has cemented its legacy in Detroit history.
...

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ith-sculptures

[skyfan]

I was walking past this building a few weeks ago and wondered whatever happened to the Merchants Row expansion.

Vacant Valpey Building Braces For 42-Loft Restoration




There's reason to believe the Valpey Building is about to join the conga line of historic rehabs happening along Woodward Avenue. Over the weekend, the Lofts at Merchants Row warned its tenants that work would soon begin on a 42 loft expansion. It sounds like the $10M rehab plan announced in 2013 will finally get rolling, and it should be a pretty good show. The building originally opened in 1896 as L.N. Valpey & Co Reliable Footwear, designed by Donaldson and Meier. Last we heard, the rehab plan involved restoring at least one of Valpey's long-lost balustrades (they look like balconies in the historic photo), but it's unclear if that's still the plan.

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

[animatedmartian]

Restaurant, built on historic basketball court floor, highlight of Brewster Wheeler Rec Center plans
By KIRK PINHO. April 14, 2015.



Two development teams — one of which includes a Crain Communications Inc. executive — have been selected to redevelop the Brewster Wheeler Recreation Center site at 2900 St. Antoine St. in a planned mixed-use project.

Several real estate and restaurant investors — including KC Crain, restaurateur Curt Catallo, Livonia-based Schostak Bros. & Co. and John Rhea, managing partner at RHEAL Capital Management LLC — plan a nearly $50 million redevelopment of the 6.2-acre Brewster Wheeler site off I-75 south of Wilkins into a mixed-use development that includes a new restaurant and meeting space, 100 to 150 multifamily residential units, as well as 1 acre of green space.

The project, which will be announced at 12:30 p.m. today, is expected to create over 300 permanent jobs, 120 of which are expected to be full-time, and at least 20 percent of the residential units will be classified as affordable housing.

Crain, executive vice president/director of corporate operations for Crain Communications, parent company of Crain’s Detroit Business, is co-owner of the Vinsetta Garage restaurant in Berkley with Catallo, who also owns the Clarkston Union and Union Woodshop restaurants in downtown Clarkston.

....

The project will celebrate the Brewster Wheeler heritage by naming aspects of the building after Wheeler and memorializing Louis at the building, which early last year had been slated for demolition until Duggan opted to seek development options for the site.

The developer selection was originally expected Oct. 15 following a request for proposal process that began in August.

Once the development plan is approved by the Detroit City Council, the developers have 12 months to begin construction.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...r-highlight-of

Also, according the the city, Brewster Street will be reconnected to St. Antoine and here's a rendering for the new housing across from the rec center between Alfred and Brewster.


https://www.facebook.com/45474090460...2075866540918/

[DetroitSky]

Capitol Park Building renovation progress, April 12, 2015.

Capitol Park Building Renovation by detcypher urbex, on Flickr

[Docta_Love]

Chea boy! I've always thought that was one of the cooliest views in the city, it's starting to look real sexy with all those new windows! N speaking of lookin good with new windows here's an update on the former Strathmore Hotel.


Strathmore Shows Off Hundreds of New Windows
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2015, by Paul Beshouri
Curbed Detroit



http://m.detroit.curbed.com/archives...ew-windows.php

[animatedmartian]

Detroit shipping container project finally under way
By John Gallagher, Detroit Free Press.





First proposed in 2008, an innovative project to use empty shipping containers to build new housing in Detroit is finally getting underway.

Construction began this week on a three-story model unit on Trumbull in the Corktown neighborhood. Built by a firm called Three Squared, the project is designed as the first of several larger shipping-container projects to come in the district, now that the effects of the Great Recession and other challenges have finally been overcome.

...

http://www.freep.com/story/money/bus...town/25888803/

[Docta_Love]

Big news at the Packard plant today the display group has already begun renovations at building #22 of the Packard plant installing a new roof, sandblasting and installing a security system. Display Group will move their corporate hq and manufacturing into the historic building 22 which was built in 1939 to produce the Rolls Royce Merlin Engine which was used in such aircraft as the P-51 Mustang fighter of ww2.

For those of us who didn't pay attention in history class the P-51 played a decisive roll in winning the war because of its super efficient Rolls Royce Merlin engine that allowed the allies for the first time to provide fighter escorts for the slow vulnerable heavy bombers all the way to targets deep in Nazi Germany and later Japan.

Here's a link

http://www.wxyz.com/news/renovations...-packard-plant

[skyfan]

El Moore Lodge: Midtown Hostel Aims for Summer Reveal



El Moore's eco-friendly apartments and rooftop "urban cabins" could soon be ready for human habitation. El Moore Lodge (the hostel portion of the building) is scheduled for a mid-summer debut, while the apartments will come online in the "near future." El Moore was built in 1898, and was abandoned before rehab began a few years ago.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...nts-hostel.php

[animatedmartian]

Detroit mayor agrees to land swap in deal with Morouns for bridge, train station renovation
By Khalil AlHajal. April 29, 2015

Mayor Mike Duggan has reached a deal with the Detroit International Bridge Company in which the city would give up a piece of park land that's key to building a new bridge to Canada, in exchange for a larger portion of riverfront property, money for recreation; and promises to renovate the long-blighted Michigan Central Train Depot.

Duggan announced the agreement Wednesday alongside Matt Moroun, the son of trucking magnate Manuel Moroun, whose bridge company has for years been trying to acquire rights to build a second span of the Ambassador Bridge over Riverside Park against the objections of Southwest Detroit residents.

....

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in...to_land_s.html

[JonathanGRR]

I love the parkland proposal, but Duggan's support for the twin span kind of threw me off. People have already complained about one new bridge being needed...now he is supporting two? And what happens when the Morouns still don't get approval for their new span?

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by jonathan.jam

I love the parkland proposal, but Duggan's support for the twin span kind of through me off. People have already complained about one new bridge being needed...now he is supporting two? And what happens when the Morouns still don't get approval for their new span?

He said he supports their efforts, but it's not like he's endorsing the project as if he's putting his name on it. It makes no difference if the bridge doesn't get built or not. The city gets a renovated and expanded park either way.

[Docta_Love]

Curbed Detroit loves its glib article names i'm surprised they didn't name this one trust but verify hah. I'm very glad though to hear that the city has a written assurance that the improvements to Michigan Central will be completed and by a specific time. It also seems to me like Bridge Inc. is doing a bit of rebranding Matty and Dan Stamper aren't in the picture while young Matt is the public face for what is a pretty big moment for their company, finally getting the land they desperately want for their new bridge.

I personally don't like the idea of a modern span right next to the Ambassador it just doesn't look right to me. But hey if they can get all the approval and want to drop a billion or two on a huge construction project that will help solidify along with the new International crossing Detroit's place as the main trade route between the worlds two biggest trading partners, i say go for it. Plus the amount of trade that flows across the Ambassador Bridge is alone equal to all the trade between the US and Japan which is kind of mind blowing actually and that doesn't include the cross border traffic from the ~7 million people who live in SE MI, SW Ont and NW OH area.

[JonathanGRR]

^
What I think would be a nice set-up (and one Windsor may agree to) if both bridges would move forward is to have trucks and other heavy loads use the NITC bridge the directly links to highways on both sides and the Morouns' new bridge for 'local' (non-commercial) vehicle traffic. Then the Ambassador Bridge could be repurposed for pedestrian use plus light-rail between Detroit and Windsor once we finally get an open border (too much? haha). I agree with your sentiment about putting a modern bridge next to the Ambassador though. I think possibly the only design that would work next to it is a nearly identical twin.

[JonathanGRR]

Well this is an interesting little tid-bit:

Could Wayne County move HQ to New Center?
Kirk Pinho | April 30, 2015

From a humble building at Griswold and Congress streets to the ornate, Beaux-Arts Old Wayne County Building at 600 Randolph St. and the towering Guardian Building at 500 Griswold St., all of Wayne County's headquarters buildings have been downtown.

Every. Single. One.

What if that changed?

Consider this (perhaps) wild idea: The county packing its bags and relocating from the CBD to the New Center Area.

That’s one scenario the folks at Bloomfield Hills-based turnaround firm O’Keefe LLC raised in their pro-bono evaluation of the county’s real estate situation that was performed given its dire financial circumstances.

“Although history is on the side of remaining in downtown Detroit, it may be time to create a self-contained county campus away from the Central Business District if money can be found to do such a consolidation,” the report summary says.

“Continuing to have a presence in the CBD of Detroit is not necessarily in the county’s long term financial or operational impact. Parking is at its highest rates and highest occupancy rates in over 25 years. The reality is that Downtown Detroit is not the center of the county nor is it convenient for most of its residents and employees.”

It continues:

“The county needs to look at a more strategic location where there is still good freeway access and adequate parking as well as vacant land for future expansion. The New Center Area is ripe for such a move. It is still located in the county’s historic home of Detroit. It is easily accessible from all of the major freeways, It is much less congested than the Central Business District. And it adds to the growing government center currently anchored by the State of Michigan in the Cadillac Tower.”

Last month, Evans announced plans to consolidate employees into the Guardian Building, which the county says is 25 percent vacant. County employees occupy 177,000 square feet there, according to the county.

Could such a move be feasible, given the amount of space the county would need? Sure, but not likely in a single New Center building.
...

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...-to-new-center

I could see more consolidation into the Guardian Building, but I personally don't see a move to New Center happening particularly soon.

[pacifist112]

so there is a big hole in the ground behind the park avenue building next to the new briggs house. any ideas what thats about?

[Docta_Love]

What I think would be a nice set-up (and one Windsor may agree to) if both bridges would move forward is to have trucks and other heavy loads use the NITC bridge the directly links to highways on both sides and the Morouns' new bridge for 'local' (non-commercial) vehicle traffic. Then the Ambassador Bridge could be repurposed for pedestrian use plus light-rail between Detroit and Windsor once we finally get an open border (too much? haha). I agree with your sentiment about putting a modern bridge next to the Ambassador though. I think possibly the only design that would work next to it is a nearly identical twin.

Yeah most definitely, not only does a new private bridge need approval from the city and state but Windsor and the province of Ontario have to sign off on it too. So I don't see any other way they would approve a new bridge that empties into a residential area other than if they have some kind of arrangement that would divert heavy truck traffic to the public bridge. Although the new bridge being hooked up to freeways on both sides of the border most truck traffic would take that way anyways. The real news is that Bridge Co. argeed to the swap and the improvements to Michigan Central without any gaurentees that they will even get their new bridge.

[Docta_Love]

so there is a big hole in the ground behind the park avenue building next to the new briggs house. any ideas what thats about?

Btw is this the trench you are talking about? In an update I believe it says the historic commission meeting where Olympia development is to make their case for demolishing the Park Avenue Hotel, although it seems to me that they are assuming they will get the demo permit and the trench is preliminary site work.

http://m.detroit.curbed.com/archives...tel-trench.php