DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[animatedmartian]

Meh, there's still no confirmation that the current plan will be the one that's built and I have no problem with the building's lack of height.

If anything, I would prefer the elements of the presented design to be incorporated into a high-rise form.

Or better yet, just keep the facade as it is but reconfigure the interior to be the podium for a high-rise building.

[animatedmartian]

58 town homes proposed for East Ferry Street in $10 million development
By KIRK PINHO. March 09, 2015.



The developer behind a 58-unit town home development plans for construction to begin on the $10 million project this spring.

Julio Bateau, developer and managing partner of Detroit-based Nailah LLC, expects the Nailah Commons development on East Ferry Street west of Chrysler Drive to start accepting residents by the end of the year.

"This is going to fill the large vacant parcels in the Midtown area," he said. "It is the gateway to Midtown and the Cultural Center specifically from the east."

Bateau said the project is being financed with funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Invest Detroit and Capital Impact Partners.

Twenty percent of the 46 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units will be for affordable housing, he said.

Units will range from 708 square feet to 941 square feet for rent.

The development, which would sit on 1.2 acres, is expected to consist of eight three-story brownstone buildings.

Nailah Commons had been proposed prior to the recession as a 35-unit development with for-sale town homes between $125,000 and $200,000, but the project had to be abandoned due to the economic climate, Bateau said.

The site plan on the website, assuming it's unchanged, is in line with similar infill in this corner of Midtown, most of which is by the same developer.


http://www.nailahllc.com/commons.html

[animatedmartian]

Major revival being studied for Historic Fort Wayne
Louis Aguilar, The Detroit News. March 10, 2015.



A New York City firm specializing in finding ways to create massive urban projects has begun analyzing how to revive Historic Fort Wayne, a long underused 96-acre site on the banks of the Detroit River.

HR&A Advisors Inc. was hired in late January for $235,000 by the state's Michigan Economic Development Corp., according to state officials. Its goal is to come up with a realistic plan to keep the fort's historic nature while finding some other new use: housing, office or industrial.

"We hope a vision plan will be delivered by the end of the year, hopefully, well before the end of the year," said Andrew Doctoroff, a special projects adviser to Gov. Rick Snyder. "HR&A are not developers but land use experts. They visualize what is possible," Doctoroff said.

The feasibility study shows the state of Michigan is taking a more active role in shaping the future of the city-owned Fort Wayne. Because the site is on the federal National Register of Historic Places, the state has some jurisdiction because the state plays a role in preserving Michigan landmarks.

The military fort in southwest Detroit on West Jefferson Avenue was built between 1842 and 1851. The grounds also contain a Native American burial site dating back more than 1,000 years. Members of the New York firm visited Fort Wayne for the first time last week.

Another reason for finding a development plan is that Fort Wayne will be next to the planned International Trade Crossing, a new $2.1 billion bridge across the Detroit River. Recently, Canada said it will pay to build a $250 million to $300 million U.S. customs plaza for the new bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor. That new customs plaza is across the street from Fort Wayne. The bridge has a scheduled completion date of 2020.

...

The HR&A contract is the result of a request for proposals for the site issued by the state late last year. That request for proposal said any bid must "contemplate maintaining the historic integrity of Fort Wayne," according to the state document. It also states any possible redevelopment of the site could include traditional commercial real estate such as housing or retail, as well as "cultural development" or "logistics-related development." That last description refers to warehouse and other transportation-oriented businesses that would benefit from Fort Wayne's close proximity to the U.S.-Canada border.

A 2003 study of Fort Wayne estimated that it would cost at least $58 million to restore the site.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/bus...ayne/24743635/

[animatedmartian]

Progress on LTU's Detroit Center via Facebook.

[animatedmartian]

Sharp looking store in a sharp looking building. The ground floor is almost back to its original design.

John Varvatos store opens today in Detroit








http://digitalcollections.detroitpub...ndora%3A150436

[animatedmartian]

Nice architecturally, addresses concerns from the original plan, but huge strip mall is still kinda meh.

Here's the New State Fairgrounds Redevelopment Plan

[Docta_Love]

Wow man, you really can't turn your back on the city for more than a few days without missing out on something new and things are just starting to heat up with M1 rail and the new Arena/District.

Interestingly though the Moroun politburo which has been talking up promised improvements to Michigan Central Depot ever since they first tried to kill the new Canadian funded bridge put out some solid seeming details about their plans for the train station.

"window watch"
"Michigan Central Station: 1,000+ Windows Are Coming"
by Paul Beshouri
Curbed Detroit
Monday, February 23, 2015,

After years of sporadic activity, it sounds like Michigan Central Station is ready to close its windows for good. Reports indicate that Chamberlain Glass and Metal—a glass company from St. Clair—has a contract to retrofit Michigan Central Station's 1000+ window openings with glass using a new "glazing system." No word on what the new windows look like, but the statement claims their design is "sensitive to the historic value of the building" and "meets the high standards of a modern office tower."

Work is expected to continue over "the next few months" as the interior elevator we've been hearing about since last summer comes online. Stay tuned for more details as they emerge.
UPDATE (7:27 p.m.): The Morouns confirm the plan to replace the windows but won't comment on a timeline or estimated cost, reports the Free Press.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...are-coming.php


Here's a accompanying Free Press article which includes more info about the company what other projects they've done a rough time table, potential costs and other info on what the Moroun's have to say about their possible plans for the Depot. This is the first i've felt a glitter of hope for the building, but then again this is Matty were talking about so until i see an elevator installed and window's being put in place WE'LL SEE.

For train station window team, a very good year
By John Gallagher
Detroit Free Press
February 25, 2015

Prior to the train station work, perhaps their most visible job locally was to install the glass at the Rosa Parks Transit Center in downtown Detroit.

The Chamberlain's installed a few mock-up windows at the train station about a year ago to let the Moroun family that owns the station see the possibilities. Neither Chamberlain nor a spokesman for the Morouns would say what the total window replacement will cost, but Chamberlain gave a rough timetable for the work.

Once a service elevator is installed at the station, probably in the next few weeks, work can begin on final preparation for the new windows. Installation will start probably in the spring and, if all goes well, just over 1,000 new windows should be installed by the end of this year.

http://www.freep.com/story/money/bus...lain/23934179/

[Docta_Love]

Now that the ground is pretty well thawed for the most part spring construction season is a-go, there's a lot of work planned to start this spring the next month or so will give us a good idea on where some of these projects stand which are shovel ready.


Spring Brings Eleven New Townhouses to Art Center

Curbed Detroit
Thursday, March 19, 2015
by Paul Beshouri

A large construction site has cropped up in Art Center, where eleven new townhouses should be ready for residents by August. A few more beige townhouses in Art Center isn't going to elevate anyone's pulse, but the project does tidy-up an awkward-looking corner left unfinished by the Great Recession.

The new units will match the existing buildings from the outside, but developer David Steuer tweaked the design so that it might appeal to WSU students renting with roommates. That means close to a 1:1 bedroom-to-bathroom ratio, laundry machines, plenty of parking space (including a two car garage), and a rear balcony.

http://m.detroit.curbed.com/archives...art-center.php
A pretty small and bland project but it's always good to see a stalled project back on track n not to mention this is a very desirable area that has already seen a lot of infill in the past 15 years or so, this project helps to fill one of the only vacant blocks left in the area.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

Sharp looking store in a sharp looking building. The ground floor is almost back to its original design.

John Varvatos store opens today in Detroit

Holy hell, that is gorgeous. This is renovation done right.

[animatedmartian]

Drove around town today, no pictures sadly. A few things I noticed:

1) Water's Edge in Harbortown has 3 floors complete with the 4th floor yet to have a ceiling.

2) 7815 E Jefferson Ave seems to be under renovation. It's next door to where a proposed high rise apartment is and I hadn't heard anything about a this potential project. A quick google search seems to indicate that this building will become senior apartments: http://continentalmgt.rentlinx.com/7...troit-MI-48214

3) Briggs House currently has a gutted first floor. Drove by too quickly to notice what was going on on any of the upper floors. But good progress nonetheless.

[animatedmartian]

Two 200-unit apartments on track for construction.

Statler City Apartments site plan gets Detroit City Council's green light
By KIRK PINHO. March 25, 2015.



The Detroit City Council has given site plan approval for construction of the first new multifamily building downtown in 25 years.

Construction on the 235-unit Statler City Apartments by Farmington Hills-based Village Green Cos. is expected to begin in the second quarter next year and be completed in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Leasing is expected to begin in the fourth quarter next year.

A year ago, the Downtown Development Authority authorized the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. to negotiate a development agreement for Statler City, which is planned for Washington Boulevard and Park Avenue on the site of the former Statler Hilton Hotel at Grand Circus Park.

The development is expected to cost $35 million to $40 million. Exact numbers of studio, one- and two-bedroom and penthouse units have not yet been determined.

“This is a milestone for the city of Detroit,” Village Green CEO Jonathan Holtzman said in a statement. “It’s just the beginning of a wave of new rental housing development downtown, and having the overwhelming support of the City Council indicates this is exactly the type they want.”

As part of the project, Village Green will dedicate $50,000 to improvements in the neighborhood immediately surrounding the development.

Statler City is expected to include a market and/or restaurant, concierge services, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, business center, conference room, zen garden and courtyard park, and a club room with a bar, televisions, fireplace and a gourmet kitchen, according to a news release.
....

Erskine Lofts Development Wants to be "The Scott" Now
March 25, 2015, by Paul Beshouri.

The Erskine Lofts project is finally coming out of its shell a little bit, sending over a fact sheet and some updated renderings. The biggest news concerns the name itself. "Erskine Lofts" was apparently a working title, and has been dropped in favor of The Scott at Brush Park. Here are some of the updated factoids:

. 200 apartments; 300 parking spots
· Retail space adds up to 15,000 square feet
· Estimated rent: $900 for a studio; $2,900 for a 3BR
· A "small percentage" of units will meet "affordability benchmarks."
· Groundbreaking is now aiming for "early summer," leaving the Scott's final ETA at late 2016.

[animatedmartian]

Residential boom!

321 new apartments coming to heart of downtown

By John Gallagher, Detroit Free Press. March 25, 2015.





Two major projects will bring another 321 new residential apartments to the heart of downtown Detroit.

First, new details emerged Wednesday about businessman Dan Gilbert's plans for the Hudson's Building site downtown, including that his project there will include 250 residential units.

In the second, developers of the historic but derelict Metropolitan Building at 33 John R got the go-ahead for their $23.2-million renovation, which will create 71 market rate apartments and about 2,500 square feet of retail and commercial space on the first two floors.

Detroit's Downtown Development Authority voted Wednesday afternoon to approve the latest versions of the development plans for both of the projects.

Together, the two projects will add to the growing roster of new residential sites in the greater downtown in response to the influx of young professionals working in the district. Rents have been rising rapidly due to the rising demand; developers of the Metropolitan project said their rents would approach $2 per square foot for a 700 square foot unit, or about $1,400 a month.

Among the new details revealed at the DDA meeting about Gilbert's plans for the Hudson's site: Besides the 250 residential units, the project will include 225,000 square feet of mixed-use space, either commercial or retail and including "programmed civic space," plus 900 parking spaces.

By Dec. 31, Gilbert's Rosko Development Co., an affiliate of his Bedrock Real Estate Services, will submit to the DDA a final development and financing plan for the site. Construction should begin by April 1, 2016, and see "substantial completion" by April 1, 2018.

....

Tony Sabo and Eric Means, partners in the development group, said the remaining renovation work at the Metropolitan should take about a year.

[subterranean]

Damn. Hudson's could be taller than I ever anticipated.

[JonathanGRR]

As if we needed more to be excited about:

Here's the Wurlitzer Building Revived as a Boutique Hotel
March 26, 2015, | Paul Beshouri

After months of silence, there's reason to believe the Wurlitzer Building is still on track to revival as a boutique hotel. This rendering just appeared with a notice from the DEGC Brownfield Redevelopment Authority advertising an upcoming hearing. In short, a developer has applied to get the Wurlitzer designated as a brownfield, thereby making it eligible for certain tax credits and incentives.
...

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...ique-hotel.php

[Rizzo]

The pieces of the puzzle are really coming together nicely. It was only 10 years ago that downtown Detroit had a large collection of abandoned buildings with uncertain futures, but that number has now substantially diminished. The few that really need attention in the CBD and near surrounding areas are the Harbor Light, United Artists and Detroit Building which are coincidentally owned by you know who. Seems like all the other vacant buildings are ready for renovation. Still a shame we lost the Lafayette and Statler, but moving forward beyond the renovations into new construction, the downtown share of historic structures is still substantial and nearly comparable to that of older American downtowns.

It's great to think the day is close where I won't have to read another article of a major historic downtown structure getting demolished. At least I believe here on out, the trajectory of development should be positive and the architectural gains will start to out-pace the losses.

[Innsertnamehere]

^Now if general population loss in the entire city can be stopped.. Its great to see the downtown really be revived and back to growth standards, but the rest of the city is still falling apart around it. Detroit still has a far way to go, but this is a great first step.

[subterranean]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

^Now if general population loss in the entire city can be stopped.. Its great to see the downtown really be revived and back to growth standards, but the rest of the city is still falling apart around it. Detroit still has a far way to go, but this is a great first step.

I do not think this is an accurate assessment at all. Although there are still plenty of neighborhoods with major population loss that are falling apart and in need of blight elimination, Downtown is not the only area experience a resurgence.

Corktown, Midtown, the riverfront/Jefferson east, New Center, Eastern market and the Villages are all experiencing healthy growth or anticipated growth. And just about any area within a half mile of Woodward has seen property values increasing due to the prospect of the streetcar being finished next year. Furthermore, this doesn't include the neighborhoods that are still very much viable, such as Grandmont Rosedale, Mexicantown, Palmer Woods/former State Fairgrounds area, much of Boston Edison, Woodbridge, Lafayette Park, to name a few.

From 2000 to 2010 Detroit experienced a staggering 25% population decline. If the last ACS estimates are close to accurate, Detroit lost 3.5% from 2010-2003. Even if that trend continued at about the same pace for the rest of the decade, we're looking at less than half the loss of the previous decade. Not good by any means, but certainly a sea change.

[animatedmartian]

There's many neighborhoods of Detroit that would have seen population loss even if the city was completely healthy just due to the nature of a changing economy and demographics. Not unlike many other cities.

The important thing is that the population loss won't be anything on the range of what occurred from 2000-2010 because of how bad the economy got. At this point, I'd expect that most neighborhoods have stabilized and it's just a matter of blight and crime control.


Btw, if anyone's curious here's some data on which neighborhoods the city has focused blight control on.

http://bridgemi.com/2015/03/detroit-demo-trial/

[deja vu]

Those Erskine Loft / The Scott at Brush Park renders need more people in them.

[NYC2ATX]

On the topic of population loss, it's worth noting that, as of the newly released census borough estimates, the larger Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area actually is now listed as having posted a very slight gain in residents. Like +0.01% ...but it's still no longer any more losses, and while this may not have a huge effect on the city itself, it demonstrates that far from everyone in metro Detroit and the state of Michigan have given up hope and fled.

I have a feeling that if gradual rebuilding continues and new jobs and industries can be introduced (and barring another economic crash *knock on wood*), we might see Detroit rev back up to real growth by the 2020s.