[DetroitSky]

Owners spend $20M+ to take David Whitney Building in Detroit to next level

A historic building in downtown Detroit that a decade ago helped to launch a boom for new upmarket boutique hotels in the city has undergone a significant renovation and room expansion, as well as a quality upgrade.

The elegant 19-story David Whitney Building, 1 Park Ave. near Grand Circus Park, dates to 1915 and had been empty for nearly 15 years before it underwent an extensive rehab and reopened in 2014 as a mixed-used residential tower with a Marriott Aloft hotel.

Now the building's owner, Detroit-based The Roxbury Group, has poured an additional $20 million-plus of renovations into the landmark building to take the property to the next level.

The hotel officially rebranded this month as the Hotel David Whitney, becoming one of Marriott's Autograph Collection hotels, which is considered a step up.

A look at the lobby area with lots of marble and seating at the Hotel David Whitney, Autograph Collection on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. This area is one of many new changes to The David Whitney Building at Grand Circus Park that used to be an Aloft Detroit, a Marriott property.

The project involved more than just a cosmetic freshening up, but rather full renovations to all rooms and amenity areas, including the building's stunning four-story atrium and mahogany-paneled bar and check-in lobby.