DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[Docta_Love]

This is one of the so called "Gilbert Bills" which he has been pushing because he says it would unlock billions of dollars in development in Detroit. Gilbert has said that the Monroe Block proposal would likely move forward as planned if this bill passes and it would seem that the ambitious potential 60+ story Hudson Block redevelopment also has been biding its time waiting on this bill will pass before making a final decision on what the final form of the project will look like. However it is not a done deal if it passes the senate the house still needs to pass it and it was kept locked up in committee during the lame duck session and kicked over to the new session despite the fact that it looked likely to pass if brought before the full house for a vote. The governor was also a wild card although recently after certain changes were made he was quoted as saying that he as been warming up to the idea so perhaps just perhaps we will have a Hudson's project by April after all even though this is the most optimistic of assessments, at the very least the signs are looking good that we will be potentially seeing some big news coming in the not too distant future.

Michigan Senate poised to pass brownfield legislation

By Chris Ehrmann - Associated Press
February 20, 2017
Crain's Detroit Business

LANSING — The Michigan Senate is poised to pass legislation that would ease some of the financial burden of cleaning up brownfield sites for redevelopment.

Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, introduced the package of bills that he said would help redevelop sites that have sat dormant for many years into mixed-use projects. Brownfield sites cannot be used until environmental contamination is removed, which can be cost-prohibitive for many projects.

The legislation would let developers keep part of the taxes generated from businesses and residents moving in after a large-scale project is finished. No money would be given to a developer upfront. They would be required to have all the money needed to clean up and build on the site. Supporters say the approach puts the risk on the private sector and the debt would not fall on taxpayers if the project fails.

"We think that we're giving every community in Michigan a fair shot in the way that we've structured this bill," Horn said. "Bottom line on this one here, this isn't about picking winners and losers and this isn't about tax policy. This is about fixing things."

Before building, the project would have to be approved by the city that has the brownfield site. Then the state would analyze that there is a financial gap needed to clean up the land and would only give as much money as is needed. For the largest projects, an independent third party would conduct the analyses and the state treasurer would have to sign off on it.

There would also be a $40 million cap that developers could be reimbursed annually. Developers would be able to receive up to 50 percent of taxes generated from the site for up to a maximum of 20 years.

MIThrive — a coalition of economic development organizations, cities and chambers of commerce from places such as Detroit, Marquette, Pontiac, Flint, Sault Ste. Marie, Lansing and Muskegon — supports the legislation. Last year, Dan Gilbert, chairman of Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc., was a vocal supporter of it because it could help him with projects in Detroit.

Carlin Smith, president of the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce, said the legislation could help his city with a project known as the Petoskey "hole." He said that in the early 2000s, a developer wanted to build on a city block, but it stalled and eventually the developer ran out of funding during the financial crisis. It has sat vacant ever since.

"It was literally a big hole in the ground, so now it's still a hole with some grass around it," Smith said.

Pontiac Mayor Deidre Waterman also supports the legislation because the city could help redevelop the abandoned Pontiac Silverdome, or as Waterman called it, the "world's largest bird bath."

Another project that could benefit is the Hayes Hotel in Jackson.

Shannon Morgan, senior vice president of Farmington-based real estate development company HRS Communities and member of the coalition, said the hotel has been dormant for years and qualifies as a brownfield site because of the need to remove lead and asbestos. Morgan said the hotel also is a historic, which makes the project more expensive because of plans to restore the building to its original look.

She said other states like Colorado and North Carolina have been successful with legislation similar to Horn's.
....

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ld-legislation

[rlw777]

The Hudson’s site plan is on the agenda for the Detroit Downtown Development board meeting on Wednesday according to Curbed

[scs100]

The tower would be 734 feet tall and would become the tallest building in Detroit.

[rlw777]

^ Awesome! Perfect location for a new tallest building. Though it looks like a bit of a mess architecturally speaking. There's just too much going on.

[The North One]

It's Christmas in February for Detroiters!

Let's hope the legislation passes the house.

The tower portion is exactly the simple design I was hoping for. Shop delivered.

[subterranean]

Quick, someone mock something up so we can see what this thing would look like from Windsor lol

[rlw777]

http://www.hudsonssitedetroit.com/

[James Bond Agent 007]

They need to make a rendering with it superimposed on the Detroit skyline.

[subterranean]

Video preview:

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanaAfana...712321/video/1

[Chris Stritzel]

Although I have never been to Detroit, I plan on it. Detroit has really made a comeback over the past few years. This new Tower will really boost new visitors perception on a American city coming back. I want more things like this built in Detroit, in particular, along the Riverfront.

[The North One]

Originally Posted by subterranean

Video preview:

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanaAfana...712321/video/1

The atrium looks gimmicky and highly idealized, I don't expect the final product to look anything like that.

It's interesting that they're giving up part of the underground parking for a grocery store, is the current amount of parking unnecessary?

I also enjoy the details, it looks like stainless steel on the base and I like the textured design of the tower's facade, seems like verticle lines on one side and a sort of brick pattern on the other. I can't decide if I like this or the Monroe block concept better, they're both pretty amazing designs especially for the pedestrian.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Some of those interior shots remind me of Logan's Run.

[JonathanGRR]

Quite the week for Detroit...

Pistons announce plans for practice facility in Detroit's New Center
John Gallagher | February 24, 2017

The Detroit Pistons and Henry Ford Health System announced this afternoon plans for a training, rehab and sports medicine facility in Detroit's New Center district.

The multi-use facility will serve as team headquarters, practice facility, and comprehensive sports medicine facility managed by the health system. It will be called the Henry Ford-Detroit Pistons Performance Center.

As part of the joint development, Henry Ford will become the official health provider for the Pistons beginning with the next season.
...
Choosing the New Center district for the headquarters and practice facility also signals that the recent redevelopments downtown and in Midtown are spreading north. The spin-off benefits could prove significant for the district particularly with the expected opening of service of the Qline streetcar line this spring as the line terminates in the New Center area.
...

http://www.freep.com/story/money/bus...itch/98352010/
http://detroit.curbed.com/2017/2/24/...ity-new-center

[JonathanGRR]

The park was redesigned less than a decade ago. Has the space become that dated or unworkable that it needs another fresh look?

Ground Will Break In Fall 2017 On Capitol Park Renovation, Landscape Architecture Firm Selected
Daily Detroit | February 24, 2017

The nonprofit group that helps coordinate downtown public space development, the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) in collaboration with the City of Detroit, today announced its selection of Toronto-based urban design and landscape architecture firm, PUBLIC WORK, as the lead designer for the upcoming Capitol Park district renovation.

Designs for public comment and input will be created and made available this spring, with construction complete in time for spring of 2018.

The goal is that the park would become “a more engaging space for residents and visitors, provide park amenities for a growing base and help support new and existing businesses in the area,” according to a release.
...

http://www.dailydetroit.com/2017/02/...firm-selected/

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by jonathan.jam

The park was redesigned less than a decade ago. Has the space become that dated or unworkable that it needs another fresh look?

Kind of. It's pretty generic as far as urban parks go. The park itself isn't an attraction so much as the location around it. A redesign will likely make it more like Campus Martius which has become the de facto goal for downtown public space.

[FrankLloydWrong]

Originally Posted by jonathan.jam

Quite the week for Detroit...


http://www.freep.com/story/money/bus...itch/98352010/
http://detroit.curbed.com/2017/2/24/...ity-new-center

This is crazy. I used to live in the Amsterdam Lofts across the street and park my car in that lot. I always wondered what would be built there, but I figured it was decades away from being developed. This is great news. That whole area is going to change a lot.

[99spartan]

There has been a slight change in the design of the tower. This new one appears shorter than the previous one, and it has a crown at the top, so maybe the Renaissance Center will still have the tallest floor-height

[skyfan]

Originally Posted by 99spartan

There has been a slight change in the design of the tower. This new one appears shorter than the previous one, and it has a crown at the top, so maybe the Renaissance Center will still have the tallest floor-height

The stated height didn't change just the look of building

[animatedmartian]

Took some pics today.

Orleans Landings looks close to finished. Saw some bathtubs in the staging area.















Last I read, the city was looking for proposals for redevelopment of this building but that was back in 2015. The sign says "coming soon" though can't really tell 'how soon' that is.



I just imagine some high-rise apartments going up on this lot soon. I think Orleans Landing Phase II might have already claimed these lots.



DuCharme's looks close to finished as well.

[animatedmartian]

New east riverfront plan calls for 2 new 'Dequindre Cut'-style pathways to Detroit River
By KIRK PINHO. March 01, 2017. Crain's Detroit.



A plan by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy calls for the creation of two new pathways to the river on the east side akin to the Dequindre Cut, the popular pedestrian and bike trail between Eastern Market and the riverfront.

The projects would expand a decade-long transformation of the riverfront district from industrial to public recreational use, which has also spurred new development in the district.

The framework plan for the east riverfront, which has been in the making for about a year and was unveiled tonight, also envisions added preservation of about 8 acres of land for public use, particularly from Atwater Street south to the river, and Stroh River Place and Rivard Plaza; an eastward expansion of the Detroit RiverWalk; safety improvements along East Jefferson Avenue; and a mixed-use development of a historic Detroit building.

The Joseph Campau Greenway would run from East Vernor Highway south to the river, while the Beltline Greenway, between Belleview and Beaufait streets, would run from Kercheval Street to the river.

Mark Wallace, president and CEO of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, said construction on the nearly 2-mile Joseph Campau Greenway is expected to begin next year, while the 1.5-mile Beltline Greenway should begin construction toward the end of this year or early next year.

The city has a right-of-way needed for the Joseph Campau Greenway and only a small piece of land would be acquired to create it, according to Wallace. Land needed for the Beltline Greenway would be purchased in conjunction with the city, he said.

....

In addition to new pathways and a RiverWalk eastern expansion, things like improved crosswalks and new bike lanes are expected as part of the plan to increase safety on East Jefferson Avenue between Rivard Street and East Grand Boulevard, where the conservancy says there have been 1,350 car crashes and 39 pedestrian/vehicle incidents that resulted in nine deaths. Those improvements are expected to begin this year.

The overall improvement program is expected to be jointly funded by the conservancy, the city and the Economic Development Corp., Wallace said. A total cost was not available.

....

The plan does not include many specifics on large real estate projects because, Wallace said, the conservancy merely wants to "set the table" for future development.

"We have no shortage of plans sitting on shelves that mention future buildings on property owned by other people," he said. "What we focused on here are moves we know we can make, moves we know will be valuable for the community. The planning department today is full of talent, and the big parcels along the riverfront will be developed in partnership with planning and development's leadership."

"We could have laid out a vision of millions of square feet and 50 years out, but ultimately what we want to do is build people's capacity to believe in long-term planning by demonstrating short-term and midterm results," said Maurice Cox, the city's planning director. "We are trying to lay out the public sector investment and use that to drive the private sector and philanthropic investment."

However, one project is specifically included.

A mixed-use redevelopment of the Stone Soap Building at 1450-1490 Franklin St. is planned; the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., which oversees the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority that owns the building, is expected to release a request for proposals tomorrow.

It's not the first time the Stone Soap Building has been put out for redevelopment, the most recent of which came in 2015. That RFP was withdrawn.

Wallace said construction for all the projects is expected to begin in the next three years and be complete in the next five years.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ndre-cut-style

More renderings and plans via Daily Detroit.







http://www.dailydetroit.com/2017/03/...et-bike-lanes/