DETROIT | Ren Cen | potential redevelopment

[Zapatan]

That would really suck if that happened. The Detroit skyline would lose so much, and just as the new tallest tops off.

I hope there's a chance either nothing gets demolished or maybe one or two of the smaller ones at worst.

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

The hotel tower seems very viable, so that part definitely feels like they are playing chicken with the state and city governments. Unless there's some structural reason that it can't stand without the towers. However, it seems very likely that they will demo the office towers if they can't find a reputable buyer. I believe Dan Gilbert still has an option to buy the Ren Cen but there's probably not any other interested entity in Metro Detroit they would even consider selling to.

no gilbert -- i need his spare pocket change to build out that cleveland riverfront like he promised.

[Steely Dan]

The Freep published a very cool gallery of the Ren Cen through the years.

Check it out: https://www.freep.com/picture-gallery/mo...center-historical-photos-gm/76761467007/



Here are some of my faves from when it was U/C back in the '70s.

[iheartthed]

I like the old Ren Cen images from the vantage point of the defunct SEMTA station:



from Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Detroit/comments/rvhosq/in_the_1970s_80s_you_could_take_a_train_from_the/

[Zapatan]

^ Nice pics!

I was so excited for Detroit to get a new skyscraper like Hudson, can't believe it may now be losing five of its tallest.

Absolute garbage, skyscrapers are totally landmarks.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

I like the old Ren Cen images from the vantage point of the defunct SEMTA station:



from Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Detroit/comments/rvhosq/in_the_1970s_80s_you_could_take_a_train_from_the/

Yeah, that's a spectacular shot!

Such a shame the old SEMTA commuter rail line out to Pontiac couldn't survive the urban dark ages. What an asset it'd be to build off of now in the resurgence era of Detroit.

[MolsonExport]

shocking. It is absolutely shocking that this complex could be demolished. If they can convert some of the towers to housing stock, why not convert the ones that are slated for probable demolition?

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

shocking. It is absolutely shocking that this complex could be demolished. If they can convert some of the towers to housing stock, why not convert the ones that are slated for probable demolition?

That would make what's called sense and unfortunately this country is governed by too many people with none of it.

The USA loves sabotaging itself sometimes.

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

shocking. It is absolutely shocking that this complex could be demolished. If they can convert some of the towers to housing stock, why not convert the ones that are slated for probable demolition?

It doesn't even need to be demolished at all. The owners (and the city to a certain extent) just don't want it to be vacant and would rather use public money to do something with it.

[iheartthed]

Neal Rubin of the Detroit Free Press writes about his recent adventure exploring the mostly empty Ren Cen: https://www.freep.com/story/news/columni...rtures-and-demolition-looms/78212010007/

[TouchTheSky13]

Originally Posted by Southwest City Boy

It would be a shame to lose any of the RenCen towers now that Hudson's Detroit truly gives the skyline a modern look. The more I think about it, I believe at least two of the RenCen office towers should be converted to apartment/condo units. We have a very nice '60s glass office tower that was converted and it is really something to behold. It's The National 1401 Elm Street, Dallas.

That would not be easy, given how deep the floorplate is. The International Residential Code, the basis for the City's building codes, requires fresh air and daylighting requirements that this building would not be able to meet without significantly carving up the building. That cost, along with entirely new plumbing and HVAC, would be nearly the cost of demolishing the whole thing and building something new and it would take just as long. The rents and/or sale prices would be need to be astronomical. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I am saying I don't blame Bedrock for not wanting to go through the hassle.

[Steely Dan]

Group fights to save Detroit’s Ren-Cen from demolition, citing historic importance
Brandon Carr, Digital Content Producer
Published: February 25, 2025 at 6:31 AM

There’s a group trying to save some of Detroit’s Ren-Cen from being demolished.

The plan is to demolish two towers along the riverfront to create more space. However, Preservation Detroit thinks this would be a massive mistake for the city.

Preservation Detroit believes the building is a key part of Detroit’s civic and architectural history and should be protected.

They’re trying to get the Ren-Cen on the National Register of Historic Places to stop the demolition.

Source: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/loca...m-demolition-citing-historic-importance/

[subterranean]

Disappointing. Here's what James Howard Kunstler had to say about it in The Geography of Nowhere:

The Renaissance Center was meant to revitalize downtown Detroit but instead became a “financial catastrophe” and “an exercise in civic design, an epic flop.” It functioned like a fortress, cut off from the rest of the city, prioritizing cars (6,000 parking spaces) over pedestrian access. Its interior was chaotically designed, with circular layouts that disoriented visitors so badly that information desks had to be installed on two levels to help lost people. It was built with a “total security” mentality, which ironically clashed with its intended role as a lively urban center. Kunstler suggests it epitomizes bad urban planning, reinforcing Detroit’s decline rather than helping to fix it.

Some other quotes:

“From a design point of view, the RenCen was asinine.”

“In short, it was a gigantic fortress. It had no physical connection to its surroundings. It was a big, scary presence looming balefully in the sky.”

“A pedestrian outside the complex, gazing up at the five towers cloaked in dark glass, felt like a bug about to be squashed by a gang of prison guards.”

“The whole attitude of the place was summed up in a little sign beside one entrance: ‘Private property. Under 17 must be escorted by guardian.’”

[The North One]

Yeah whatever. Not really interested in arm chair analysis about the complex from Kunstler. He's known for being a whiny hyperbolic dick. If it was such a flop it wouldn't have been fully occupied and running for the last half century. Most of the fortress-like qualities that separated it from the rest of the city have been long removed in previous renovations. I see no reason why the lobby area cant be reworked if it's somehow such an issue. I've found where I needed to go in the Ren Cen before, it's not rocket science unless you're some kind of toddler. Most office space at the time was built with similar dated ideas.

[iheartthed]

They have done what they could to fix some of the design mistakes, but the RenCen is far from perfectly integrated into downtown. The entrance to the Ren Cen is 500 feet from the entrance to its closest neighbor. That's nearly the length of a Manhattan avenue block.

I don't think demolishing the two towers near the river is the worst idea, but the real focus should be developing the very underutilized spaces east of the Ren Cen with housing and commercial spaces. And they should do that while resisting the urge to force parking spaces into everything.

If you walk east of the Ren Cen along Atwater Street there is literally nothing but parking lots and parking structures for the better part of a mile. It's not really rocket science why the area is an activity dead zone.

[seabee1526]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

They have done what they could to fix some of the design mistakes, but the RenCen is far from perfectly integrated into downtown. The entrance to the Ren Cen is 500 feet from the entrance to its closest neighbor. That's nearly the length of a Manhattan avenue block.

I don't think demolishing the two towers near the river is the worst idea, but the real focus should be developing the very underutilized spaces east of the Ren Cen with housing and commercial spaces. And they should do that while resisting the urge to force parking spaces into everything.

If you walk east of the Ren Cen along Atwater Street there is literally nothing but parking lots and parking structures for the better part of a mile. It's not really rocket science why the area is an activity dead zone.

Relocate the Monroe Midway, put in a drive in theatre along with a couple food and supporting shops. The city could use its own version of fisherman’s wharf / navy pier. If you can’t bring the rencen to the city, bring the city to the rencen.

[Steely Dan]

Detroit City Council shoots down RenCen historic review, paving way for GM, Bedrock plan
Dana Afana
Detroit Free Press
Published 4:19 p.m. ET March 4, 20225

The Detroit City Council on Tuesday rejected a request to make the Renaissance Center a historic district amid talks of redevelopment plans.

Since reports about transforming the RenCen have surfaced — including proposals that include demolishing portion of the tower campus — residents, preservationists and public officials have begun to act to preserve the structures. That included a letter from preservationists urging the city to consider adapting the existing buildings, and several residents stunned by the potential of losing a portion of their iconic skyline, and asking the city council to consider a historic designation study, which would allow the Historic District Commission to review permit applications for any work within a proposed historic district for one year. On the other side are stakeholders and supportive residents who view any future plans for the RenCen — even demolishing portions or all of it — as a viable path to create jobs and opportunities, and a flourishing riverfront.

During Tuesday’s council session, members overwhelmingly voted 8-1 to deny the historic review, with Councilwoman Angela Whitfield-Calloway being the lone vote supporting it, making room for Dan Gilbert’s Bedrock team to proceed with its proposal to conceptualize a different future for one of Detroit’s most iconic buildings. Calloway said she is not against development, but prefers to see more public input on the project, suggesting a town hall at Huntington Place.

Full article: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/m...ncil-denies-historic-review/81372650007/

[The North One]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

They have done what they could to fix some of the design mistakes, but the RenCen is far from perfectly integrated into downtown. The entrance to the Ren Cen is 500 feet from the entrance to its closest neighbor. That's nearly the length of a Manhattan avenue block.

What are you talking about? The entrance to the Ren Cen from the closest neighbor is a walk across Jefferson. That is not 500 feet. Nothing proposed in their plan moves the complex closer to downtown or connects it better so this is a moot point.

[ArchGuy1]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Full article: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/m...ncil-denies-historic-review/81372650007/

Here is an article about the latest plans for the Renaissance Center. Since this article is hidden by a paywall, of you could copy and paste this article with credit it would be greatly appreciated.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-estat...-adds-observation-deck-cuts-public-costs

[Steely Dan]

ObSeRvAtIoN DeCk!!!!!!!




(DRINK)