DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[animatedmartian]

Featuring Rooftop 'Urban Cabins,' Midtown's First Hostel Should Open Next Spring
May 30, 2014, by Paul Beshouri.

Once abandoned and forgotten, the El Moore apartment building is being restored to its former glory---and then some. When the dust settles next spring, only half the building will contain conventional apartments. The other half will be El Moore Lodge, a hostel offering some of the most unique accommodations imaginable: Rooftop "urban cabins" overlooking Detroit.

The renovation is a project of Green Garage, an eco-friendly business incubator headquartered in Midtown. According to spokesman Jason Peet, the 1898 building will be outfitted with a long list of green technologies including high-efficiency insulation and geothermal wells.

Including four rooftop cabins, El Moore Lodge will offer ten hostel rooms, each with a private bathroom. As for conventional apartments, expect thirteen units ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. Bringing it all together: a large common room for residents and visitors to mingle. According to Peet, the hostel allows guests to be "embedded in the neighborhood."

If all goes smoothly, expect the El Moore Lodge to finish up work by spring 2015. Look for metal siding to appear on the rooftop cabins in the near future.

Fun Fact: Remember when Green Garage salvaged the Dalgleish dealership's old water tower? Its support beams were reused to support El Moore's rear stairways. A use for the main tank is still being decided.

[LMich]

This is a very interesting reuse. I really like the creative mixing of tenancies with this one. It's certainly not every renter's preference, I'm sure, but then you have to imagine what kind of renters this would attract to see how interesting a place to live this could turn out. I hope this is kind of a pattern as Detroit's inner-city regroups, instead of how segmented the city had become as it peaked.

[animatedmartian]

GM making its move on riverfront properties next door to the Ren Cen.

GM subsidiary buys 4 Detroit riverfront properties
By Kirk Pinho. June 03, 2014.

Three vacant buildings totaling almost 31,000 square feet and a 0.8-acre surface parking lot near the Detroit riverfront east of the Renaissance Center sold last month to General Motors Co. subsidiary Riverfront Holdings Inc.

Todd Pardon, director of asset services for the Detroit office of CBRE Inc., which represented Riverfront Holdings in the purchase, wrote in an email to Crain’s that the properties were purchased “for future improvement, details of which are still being developed.”

Whether the buildings will be demolished has not been decided, he said.

....

673 Franklin


672 Woodbridge


260 Schweizers Place


689 Franklin - Parking lot



All of these properties are adjacent to each other and directly adjacent to two huge parking lots that GM owns (as well as the parking lot directly adjacent to the Riverwalk). It's sort of known that GM has big plans for this area as they were presented back in 2007 just before the crash and almost had a high rise ready to start construction.

RenShoresCondos
Lighthouse Condos.

The fact the GM is buying property again seems like very good news, although given the difference in the current economy compared to the pre-crash economy, it still might be awhile before anything major is announced, but I'm sure something is on it's way in the near future.

[LMich]

My desire would be for them to work-around the existing properties and infill if possible. Either way, it sounds like things are cooking for RiverEast, again.

[animatedmartian]

Dan Gilbert confirmed for new garage with possible residential high rise at 126 Monroe (site of former Bates parking garage). Plus strip of buildings on Broadway.



The three buildings on Broadway are the liquor store and the two buildings to the right of it.



Via John Gallagher on Twitter.

[LMich]

I wonder what he's going to do with the Broadway buildings? It should not be a surprised that I'd like to see the streetwall maintained. If he needed additional space, I'd not mind him building something modern on top of them if that wouldn't be too cost prohibitive for the kind of things he likes to do.

126 Monroe sounds very exciting. The possibilities really are endless for that site. You could really go significantly high at this site if you wanted to. I do hope he's going for a legit high-rise above the garage as opposed to what they are doing over at the Griswold.

BTW, there was news of a large, up-scale outlet mall to go up in Romulus, yesterday. I'd usually not be interested in that kind of thing, but it kind of came out of left-field considering Romulus has been kind of stagnant in the last decade or two as far as developments outside the airport are concerned. It was kind of skipped over in favor of building up Canton. This really kinds of shows that the middle-ring might be coming back. I know I was surprised to hear they'd chosen Romulus.

[animatedmartian]

He's probably going to add more restaurants and retail and open up the office spaces above them for his incubator businesses.

Edit: or lofts. (I'm tired this morning) Here's something interesting:

The DDA on Wednesday approved an agreement that says Gilbert's team approached the DDA about the Broadway buildings to “redevelop them in a manner” similar to lofts proposed by Signature Lofts Development LLC, the owner of 1322 Broadway; the DDA owns 1326 and 1332 Broadway.

Gilbert's team is required to begin construction on those within nine months of closing on the buildings and have the projected completed within two years of closing, according to DDA documents.

The Signature Lofts development project failed because it couldn't secure financing, according to the DDA.

The closing date has not yet been set, but according to DDA documents, development of the Bates Garage site is required within 18 months of the closing. A final development agreement is required by Dec. 31.

[LMich]

This is so cool. It's little thing like this that make a big difference at the neighborhood level.

Jarrad Henderson | Detroit Free Press

Get ready to splash, play in Detroit RiverWalk's newest park

By John Gallagher | Detroit Free Press

June 5, 2014

Get ready for surprise and delight on the riverfront.

The transformed Mt. Elliott Park on the Detroit RiverWalk opens to the public Friday, and the space once used mainly by a few fishermen has been transformed into a kid-friendly whirl of splash fountains, interactive music features and a life-size replica of a Great Lakes schooner shipwreck that spouts water from multiple jets.

The remade park is the latest installment of the RiverWalk, which in the past 10 years has largely remade the east riverfront from its industrial past to an award-winning recreational promenade. At Mt. Elliott, there’s a private ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. Friday for officials and the media, with the park opening to the public after that.

The interactive music elements at Mt. Elliott include drums and pipe organ-type activities that visitors can play.

Mt. Elliott Park is the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s third plaza and pavilion to be built along the east riverfront since work on the RiverWalk began more than 10 years ago. The RiverWalk now features more than three miles of completed pathways, parks and green space.

...

The star attraction is the life-sized shipwreck-themed water feature, built to resemble a Great Lakes schooner, with jets that pump out water at multiple points.

...

The Conservancy’s first phase of development along the west riverfront opens later this year. It’s a 20-acre green space on the site of the former Detroit Free Press printing plant on West Jefferson. The site will feature an extra-wide RiverWalk, three pathways from Jefferson Avenue to the RiverWalk, and amenities such as benches and bike racks.


Jarrad Henderson | Detroit Free Press


Jarrad Henderson | Detroit Free Press


Jarrad Henderson | Detroit Free Press

[Breebloh]

Originally Posted by LMich

This is so cool. It's little thing like this that make a big difference at the neighborhood level.

That'll be fun to go too! I am going to Detroit anyway.

[animatedmartian]

Financing secured; former United Way building to be offices, lofts by 2015
By Kirk Pinho. June 08, 2014.



The redevelopment of the former United Way building in Capitol Park is expected to be completed by the end of the year now that the developer secured $38.5 million in federal, state and private financing.

The 126,000-square-foot building at 1212 Griswold St. will be turned into new office space for 185 Archdiocese of Detroit employees and 56 loft-style apartment units.

Financing for the project came from federal New Markets and historic tax credits; state historic and brownfield tax credits; Beechwood, Ohio-based Liberty Bank NA; Chase Bank; J.P. Morgan Chase; the Chicago-based Urban Partnership Bank; the Chicago-based National Community Investment Fund; Invest Detroit; and Lansing-based Develop Michigan Inc., said Richard Karp, principal of Lansing-based Karp and Associates LLC, one of the developers of the project.

Karp said units will range from 500 to 1,300 square feet. Rental rates won’t be known until the fall, but he expects them to rent for about $1.95 per square foot.

Most of the units will have one bedroom, but there will also be two- and three-bedroom units, he said. The development group for the project, Capitol Park Partnership, includes Karp; Kevin Prater, owner of Lansing-based Prater Development Ltd.; and Richard Hosey III, a former senior vice president for Bank of America who is now the owner of Detroit-based Hosey Development LLC. Lansing-based Buildtech Ltd., owned by Karp, is the general contractor on the project.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership’s Live Downtown Program will provide financial incentives to employees of several companies to move into the former United Way building, according to the release.

...

Capitol Park Partnership owns the former United Way building, Karp said. The DDA still owns the Capitol Park Building, but Capitol Park Partnership has development agreements on that building and the 110,000-square-foot Farwell Building at 1249 Griswold, which was purchased by the Michigan Land Bank in 2009 for $3.3 million.

...

Demolition and abatement began this month at the Capitol Park Building to turn it into retail/office space and 63 loft-style apartments. The Farwell Building will be redeveloped to feature first-floor retail space and 83 loft-style apartments, Karp said.

He said he expects to close on financing for the Capitol Park Building in the next four months, and the Farwell Building in the next six.

....

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...fices-lofts-by

[LMich]

You can never know what to think when Matty has his name tied to something, but it appears his family has hired a reputable local construction company and architect to do some work inside MCS:

Permits pulled for $676,000 in work on Michigan Central Station

By David Muller | MLive.com

June 10, 2014

DETROIT, MI - Permits have been pulled for $676,000 of work on Michigan Central Station, according to HistoricDetorit.org, a website run by Detroit Free Press assistant editor and local author Dan Austin.

The website says sources at City Hall have confirmed that the family of Manuel "Matty" Moroun, who owns the building, have gotten permits for a 9,000-pound capacity freight elevator, as well as for safety improvements in the hulking and empty building in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. The website says JC Beal Construction Inc. is the reported contractor and Quinn Evans Architects has been named architectural firm for the work.

...

One of these days before the century is out we'll see this thing brought up to the point of where it can finally go on the market. lol

[LMich]

It's good to hear about stuff happening outside the greater downtown area. It seems West Village is really filling in kind of under the radar:

David Kirby says of opening Parker Street Market in Detroit: 'We got super-creative, and now we don't owe anybody anything.' (Max Ortiz / The Detroit News)

Detroit corner grocer keeps tradition fresh

By Michael Martinez | The Detroit News

June 13, 2014

Detroit— David Kirby and Caitlin James are out to prove there’s still a place for the traditional corner grocer.

Walk through the door of their Parker Street Market in Detroit’s West Village and you’re almost transported back in time. A wooden crate of organic apples — 85 cents each — sits on a windowsill next to a similar crate of $1.25 sweet potatoes.Standing across the 800-square-foot space, a hand-made shelf holds a plate of fresh peppers, oranges and eggplants, arranged like a painter’s still life.

Everything in the store, from cookies to carrots, is from local producers.

“We really truly want to be a convenience store for people in the neighborhood,” Kirby said. “We live a block away, and all we really wanted was a place to get good choices of produce and some other products. All we’re doing is giving something we’d like to see in our neighborhood.”

...

The duo purposely made the space inviting. They removed the iron bars so common on stores in Detroit, and let the light shine unobstructed into their store through big windows. The results have paid off: With no prior advertising, a steady stream of customers has forced Kirby to restock numerous times and add offerings such as coffee, bread and flowers.

Brian Hurttienne, executive director of the Villages Community Development Corp., said the market is another sign of the area’s growth. The villages added new retailers and diners recently, including Detroit Vegan Soul, Craft Work and a yet-to-open coffee shop.

...

[animatedmartian]

New York group buys CPA Building in Corktown for $900,000
By Kirk Pinho. June 13, 2014.



The vacant 11,000-square-foot CPA Building at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 14th Street in Detroit’s Corktown has sold to an undisclosed New York investment group for $900,000.

Farmington Hills-based Howard Schwartz Commercial Real Estate LLC represented Ray Kouza, the owner of the building, which is across the street from Slows Bar BQ and the abandoned Michigan Central Depot building.

It was marketed as being first-floor retail with the remaining five floors being used for office or residential space.

Ben Rosenzweig, real estate broker for Howard Schwartz, said the investment group plans to “redevelop the property and get things cooking there again.” He would not give any details on plans for the building.

The sale closed in late May. It had been on the market for more than 11 years, according to Washington, D.C.-based real estate information service CoStar Group Inc.

Rosenzweig said the investment group has purchased Detroit area buildings before, but would not disclose which it owns.

....

According to curbed, the sale included the whole block.


http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...d-for-900k.php

[LMich]

I'm glad it was the entire block, because just renovating the CPA would be a drop in the water. That whole block needs to be redeveloped for the project to work. Here's hoping for a solid streetwall at that location.

[user062789]

I wish they would extend the street wall, at least around the Michigan Ave side to cover up the parking lot.

[hudkina]

I'm thinking, the rest of the block will be turned into parking, to be honest. In fact, the other building on the site, might not make it out of this.

[subterranean]

Whoever is mowing that lawn so graciously is probably going to be out of a job.

[animatedmartian]

New York developer buys Corktown property, wants community input on what's next
By Kirk Pinho. June 16, 2014.



New York City-based Sequoia Property Partners has been identified as the purchaser of the 11,000-square-foot CPA building and the entire block surrounding it in Corktown.

Sequoia, which also owns the Fowler building at 1225 Woodward Ave., purchased the CPA building at the corner of Michigan Avenue and 14th Street in late May for $900,000.

“We feel privileged to be part of this renaissance [in Detroit] and want to hear ideas from the community on the best use for this property,” the company, owned by Vivek Garipalli and Robert Zalkin, said in a statement to Crain's.

“We view the opportunity as a blank slate. Having visited Detroit dozens of times over the last few years, we are struck by Corktown's potential and its increasing vibrance. We are in this project for the long haul and are very excited about what the future holds for Detroit and Corktown.”

...

Newman said Sequoia continues to look for other properties in Midtown, Corktown and downtown.

Sequoia owns and develops commercial and residential real estate and has property in New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Detroit. It “searches for opportunities that materially benefit from a 10-year or longer hold,” according to a news release.

What do you think? Affordable housing? Market rate? Brownstones? Midrise? Something new and modern or with traditional architecture? Lotta possibilities here.

[LMich]

I guess the only thing I have left to add with them asking for ideas is that I think we may have seen this rodeo before. You know, where a well-meaning group of out-of-town investors come into Detroit with absolutely no plan. That they are asking he community for ideas strikes me less as folks with a plan but wanting to engage the community, and more as folks coming in without a plan and just up and bought a building because they read some puff piece on Corktown in Bloomberg or something.

Color me skeptical on this one. I hope I'm wrong. I guess I'd be more optimistic had they come in and announced they'd indentified a need in the market in that area for a particular kind of usage. If they have to ask, they probably haven't done as much research as any of us would like even if they claim to have other properties in the city. I get nervous when I hear investors describe Detroit as a "blank slate" as it usually ends up being that they are buying on emotion.

[animatedmartian]

My skepticism was that it was illegitimate company trying to scam people for money.... though I have no grounding for that reason.

I suspect it's more legitimate that it's just a small developer looking to make big gains in Detroit. I actually think they could be a good catalyst for Corktown if they're willing to build a speculative project.