DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[JonathanGRR]

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

Yea, that was a 2006 proposal based on the residential units being aimed at a luxury market. The newer rendering reflects an aim at a rental market.

Yeah, I think the newer rendering is more like what the final product will look like. However, since there has been three separate possible designs so far, I'd say there is still some room for change.


No one is proposing creating a reconstruction of the Statler. It was old and automatically evokes that 'historic-character,' but yes, it wasn't too extraordinary. Regardless, I think something of a similar height would still be appropriate.

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by jonathan.jam

No one is proposing creating a reconstruction of the Statler. It was old and automatically evokes that 'historic-character,' but yes, it wasn't too extraordinary. Regardless, I think something of a similar height would still be appropriate.

Fair enough. And actually, after connecting the dots a little bit, I'm starting to think this project was purposely height limited.

Here's the view from Comerica Park. Specifically, the view from Comerica Park towards Statler.



Or rather, more importantly, a view from a height equivelent to Statler towards Comerica Park. (Trolley Plaza)



Illitch's area for the proposed entertainment district includes Stalter's parcel as well as the parcel directly south of Comerica (which will no doubt be low-rise).



I don't know, but is it a little far-fetched to maybe think that Illitch (or the MLB in general) had a hand in suggesting keeping a new development on Statler's site a bit low? Had this site not been apart of the entertainment district, wouldn't it have been likely that a tower would have been going here?

After all, residents of other GCP towers like Broderick and Whitney get freebie views into Comerica during games. A new residential tower equivalent in height to Stalter would certainly have views into Comerica Park and might even be a selling point for the tower. I mean, it isn't unheard of that downtown stadiums try to do what they can the block freebie views of games. Anyway, I'm just speculating and don't have anything to confirm that this would be the reason for the building's height, but to me, it seem like a few things weren't adding up.

[Innsertnamehere]

or, you know, they just didn't think there was a market for a 20+ floor apartment block.

I would rather a fast propagation of midrises through the downtown.. there will always be space for the odd large building but in general midrises will be key for building a solid streetwall in large sections of the downtown.

[animatedmartian]

Well, damn. I was kind of hoping it was short for a stupid reason rather than a logical calculated one.

[mousquet]

Frustration is understandable since something taller would apparently have better fit the Statler lot, given what this shows:

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

That's still better than building nothing, huh. They just have to build what's possibly marketable today to draw more folks tomorrow, that's it.

The Book tower and building are still vacant, and they'd be cool to somehow refresh that post-war highrise that sits before it as seen on the street view above. So that too short building is still appreciable cause it's about bringing people that eventually will do the refreshment job over that whole street.

[animatedmartian]

Here's some larger versions of the Statler City Apartments renderings.






http://www.hellyeahdetroit.com/2014/...e-development/

[animatedmartian]

Higher resolution renderings of the Griswold. Simple and clean, but just a total mismatch with the parking garage below.






http://www.hellyeahdetroit.com/2014/...-hotel-garage/

[subterranean]

What a weird place that would be to call home.

[JonathanGRR]

A few too many floor-to-ceiling windows in one apartment for my taste...

[LMich]

It's not just a mismatch with the garage below, but with the entire neighborhood, just about, and not in a good way. But, hey, this is the kind of thing you get when you need to get some units on the market quick in a downtown not used to quality architecture in new construction.

I guess residents and city government, alike, will start demanding better projects the further alone we get in the areas revitalization. But, until then, we can expect more bland and/or awkwardly proportioned architecture from developers. Gilbert's really the only active private developer shooting big (see: SHoP for the Hudson's block) with design, and that's because he can given all the money he's playing with.

[deja vu]

Strange yes, yet there's something alluring about it. Like a bulky alien ship that has landed.

[hudkina]

I think the view from Capitol Park will be interesting.

[LMich]

A pretty substantial business is moving into the Z Lot on Broadway:

Gilbert announces Punch Bowl Social coming to downtown Detroit

By Louis Aguilar | The Detroit News

April 2, 2014

Detroit — A 24,000-square-foot retail concept combining the trends of craft cocktails, upscale comfort food and retro games is expected to open this fall on the ground floor of the new Z building/parking garage downtown.

It’s the first in a string of new stores that have agreed to set up in a downtown property controlled by Bedrock Real Estate Services, an entity affiliated with Quicken Loan’s Inc. founder Dan Gilbert.

“In the next few weeks, we are going to be rolling out a lot of announcements,” of new retail downtown, Gilbert said. Entities affiliated to Gilbert control more than 40 downtown properties, amounting to more than 8 million square feet of space. Gilbert and other officials didn’t give a number of how many new retailers will be announced over the next two months.

...

Sal Rodriguez

[Illithid Dude]

Personally, I love the dichotomy between the very modern Griswold and the faux-historic parking garage, and it's across the street from those two coney dog places too!

[JonathanGRR]

I'm starting to warm up to it a little bit more as well...The only thing that still makes me squirm is the complete wall of windows. Even if one or every-other-one was covered in a different material, it would be better, IMO.

[animatedmartian]

$7M Rehab Spree Planned for Olde Building, Two Others
April 7, 2014, by Paul Beshouri







Olde Building - 715 Griswold

Designed by Albert Kahn and built in 1924, the Olde Building's impending restoration is long overdue. Last year, the building's broker told us all new mechanical systems were needed, which isn't surprising for a building celebrating its 17th year of vacancy. The keys cost Basmajian $800K, who will spend $4M renovating it into restaurant space downstairs and office space upstairs. The basement is said to contain some old bank vaults.





Sterling Building - 220 Congress

Built in 1920, the Sterling spent its early life as a glove factory, much like the John King Used Books. In 1970, the building's original facade was replaced with a steel skin, hence being such an ugly duckling today. The Sterling spent years on the market asking $925K, but Basmajian paid just $570K when he bought it last October. A $3M renovation is on the way.





Shelby Congress Building - 607 Shelby

The largest of the three properties is the Shelby/Congress building, historically known as the U.S. Mortgage Bond Building. With a beautiful facade of Indiana Limestone, the Shelby Congress contains 50K square feet and sold for $1.31M. Unlike the Sterling or the Olde buildings, this one is actually occupied. According to Crain's, there's no immediate renovation budget in place for the Shelby Congress, though "common areas, bathrooms, elevators and the building's upper floors are being updated."

[animatedmartian]

Three construction companies would become team that builds new Red Wings arena
By Bill Shea. April 07, 2014.



The new $450 million arena for the Detroit Red Wings will be built by a consortium of three construction companies that was submitted for approval today by the city’s Downtown Development Authority.

Newly formed Barton Malow-Hunt-White, organized as the project’s general contractor, was submitted today to the DDA by arena developer Olympia Development of Michigan, which issued a statement today.

The authority is scheduled to vote on the submission when it meets at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The three companies are Southfield-based Barton Malow Co., Detroit-based White Construction and Indianapolis-based Hunt Construction Group.

Details about the consortium’s structure and information about financing were not disclosed.

Barton Malow and White were involved in construction of Comerica Park and Ford Field. White recently was hired as a subcontractor for the $137 million private-public M-1 Rail streetcar project along Woodward Avenue.

Hunt Construction has worked on major sports venues such as the Amway Center for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association, Barclays Center for the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and New York Islanders of the National Hockey League and Consol Energy Center for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL.

....

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...builds-new-red

[LMich]

SO happy to hear the Olde Building being saved. I seem to remember years ago rumors that it was close to being demolished, though, with all of the buildings in downtown Detroit which have been subjected to such rumors, I may be remembering incorrectly. Anyway, it's a gem. It's really too bad that they couldn't save the old railroad building next door. It wasn't as ornate, but it was worthy of reuse.

Anyway, glad to see all of these smaller buildings getting attention. Not every move downtown is going to be a Compuware or Quicken, so it's good the market is preparing for smaller start-ups and such. The Financial District is really taking off.

[Rizzo]

Lots of great news here. So many historic properties getting rehabbed and put to good use. Detroit has now assembled a great collection of operational vintage building stock that is safe from the demolition machine. About a decade ago, it seemed like no property was safe from replacement except for modern offices and a dozen landmark historic properties.

Detroit is very close to the point where it's only new construction from here on out which will have a positive effect on the downtown landscape and maybe even the skyline.

[animatedmartian]

Developer hopes to break ground on $60M riverfront complex before Labor Day
LOUIS AGUILAR. THE DETROIT NEWS. APRIL 8, 2014.



The developer who aims to build a $60 million residential and retail complex on the downtown riverfront said Tuesday construction could begin before Labor Day.

The planned five-block, $60 million new development called Orleans Landing is still going through the approval process. On Tuesday, St. Louis-based McCormack Baron Salazar released renderings of the project during a meeting at the city’s Economic Development Corp., a unit of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp.

The complex would be built around Atwater Street near the former Globe Trade Building, which is being transformed into a Michigan Department of Natural Resources adventure and discovery center.

If things go as planned, Orleans Landing would contain 270 rental apartments and 10,000 square feet of retail space. Units could be available by summer 2015, officials said Tuesday.

St. Louis-based developer Richard Baron said his firm intends to secure all of the financing soon. The city’s economic development agency agreed Tuesday to work on a formal development agreement with the firm.