DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[Blocky858]

Gilbert, Ross ditch plan for U-M innovation center on failed jail site in Detroit

Billionaires Dan Gilbert and Stephen Ross have canceled their joint, high-profile plan to build a "Detroit Center for Innovation" for the University of Michigan in downtown Detroit at the location of the aborted Wayne County jail project, although the center could be built later somewhere else in the city.

Hmm.....

[seabee1526]

Originally Posted by Blocky858

Gilbert, Ross ditch plan for U-M innovation center on failed jail site in Detroit



Hmm.....

Probably wise to wrap up all the renovations and complete Hudson first, then they can reevaluate what to do with Innovation Ctr, Monroe, etc

[DetroitSportsFan]

Bedrock isn’t a part of it anymore from what I’ve read. They were only involved originally because they own the gratiot site, so now it’s just Ross looking for a new site/sites to build it on. Apparently he’s been in talks with Chris Ilitch for a while now.



https://www.freep.com/story/news/edu...ct/7971987002/

[The North One]

I wonder if they had a disagreement about the Gratiot site?

[DetroitSky]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Bedrock isn’t a part of it anymore from what I’ve read. They were only involved originally because they own the gratiot site, so now it’s just Ross looking for a new site/sites to build it on. Apparently he’s been in talks with Chris Ilitch for a while now.



https://www.freep.com/story/news/edu...ct/7971987002/

This would be even better than the fail jail site if it actually happens. How cool would it be to have that embarrassingly desolate section of downtown become filled with U of M buildings and students.

[DetroitSky]

This is behind a paywall but looks like a decent little development:

New shipping container development to create home for pop-ups in Detroit's Russell Woods neighborhood



Some other recent news:

Detroit Ice Cream Truck Milk & Froth Goes Brick and Mortar Downtown

Milk & Froth, a popular ice cream truck, is set to open a brick-and-mortar storefront in downtown Detroit on Monday, July 5. The shop will be open daily at Bedrock’s historic Buhl Building.

Alexis Matteson and Deion Cao say they launched their business a few summers ago after living downtown and not finding the quality of ice cream there that they saw in their favorite shops in other major cities. They say their vegan and classic ice cream is made from scratch without pre-manufactured mixes, chemical stabilizers, or artificial colors and flavors

“The number one question our customers have been asking is how they can get our ice cream year-round, so we are very happy to finally meet that need with our new storefront,” Matteson says.

Motor City Brewing Works opens second location on Detroit's Avenue of Fashion

Motor City Brewing Works, known for its popular Ghettoblaster Ale, opened a second Detroit location on Tuesday on the Avenue of Fashion on Livernois.

John Linardos, founder and CEO/president , said the new taproom at 19350 Livernois has been in the works since 2018. Once a second retail operation was decided upon, Linardos began looking at other communities "thin on microbreweries" outside of Detroit, including Downriver.

"But our hearts are here," Linardos said. "I live here. Some of our employees live here.... So we started focusing back on Detroit."

Detroit community, Mayor Mike Duggan celebrate Zussman Park's major makeover

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and local residents gathered Wednesday at Zussman Park on the city's west side to celebrate its reopening after an $850,000 upgrade.

A new playground, walking loop, outdoor fitness zone, basketball court, drinking fountain and picnic area have been installed in the park, located in the Russell Woods neighborhood, according to a news release. Outdoor grills and a new mural featuring Diana Ross and Dinah Washington have also been added for the community to enjoy.

"The makeover is part of Mayor Mike Duggan’s Strategic Neighborhood Fund initiative, which is bringing retail, other park upgrades, a new streetscape for Dexter and neighborhood stabilization measures to Russell Woods-Nardin Park in District 7," stated the release. A ribbon-cutting took place Wednesday at the park.

Flowers for Dreams Opens New Studio in Eastern Market Friday

Flowers for Dreams, a Midwest floral company, is opening a new floral design studio and walk-up flower shop in Detroit’s Eastern Market on Friday.

The new location at 1490 Gratiot Ave. will serve as its local headquarters for flower and plant delivery, weddings, and events, as well as complement its storefront in Shinola Hotel’s Parker’s Alley. The space features a planted green courtyard for community events and local artist collaborations.

Founded by Steven Dyme and Joseph Dickstein in 2012 in Chicago, Flowers for Dreams has created a following of more than 100,000 followers on social media with their promise to fund local charities with every bouquet sold. Through this mission, they’ve been able to contribute $794,000 to more than 100 small nonprofits across Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit, including local charities Alternative for Girls and The Detroit Justice Center.

Paralee Boyd Salon in Detroit to Start Nationwide Franchising this Fall

Detroit-based Paralee Boyd Salon owner Dana White, believed to be the first African-American woman to franchise a salon business, will begin to expand in the fall. White plans to have 20 locations in two years, and 100 locations within five years.

The salon, named after White’s grandmother, Paralee Boyd, opened in 2012. Today, the company has locations in Southfield and Midtown Detroit.

The Paralee Boyd concept is based on teachings from White’s grandmother coupled with White’s process of lean manufacturing inspired by the auto industry. As a result, Paralee Boyd is able to operate as a walk-in only salon.

Crème Brûlèe Opens in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction

Crème Brûlèe, the first luxury salon to welcome multicultural clients in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, has opened.

Backed by the Detroit Economic Growth Corp.’s Motor City Match program, Crème Brûlèe is a 2,000-square-foot, salon that offers hair, nail, and skin services as well as beauty products, celebrity and VIP rooms, bookings for bridal parties and other events, and premium. The establishment plans to have a total of 18 diverse employees and is still seeking a stylist, nail technician, and barber.

Crème Brûlèe is located at 6406 Woodward Ave. in The Platform’s Baltimore Station development. It is owned and operated by Detroiter Katrina Wilson, who has worked as an independent celebrity stylist offering services for award shows, photoshoots, and other high-profile client appearances. She’s also planning to open a beauty school that trains stylists to service all types of clients.

Detroit's Vault of Midnight eyes more space, announces move to Milwaukee Junction

Popular Detroit comic and game shop Vault of Midnight is moving from its downtown location to some much larger digs in the Milwaukee Junction area later this year.

In addition to being more spacious as to better accommodate new experiences for comic and game lovers, the new spot, located at 2857 E. Grand Blvd., will also feature a 100-foot by 20-foot mural on the shop's exterior. The mural will be tag-teamed by acclaimed graffiti and street artist Sintex and Detroit visual artist Nic Notion.
The relocation and expansion of Vault of Midnight's Detroit shop comes at a time when the company is also celebrating a major milestone: its 25th anniversary. Childhood best friends Curtis Sullivan and Steve Fodale opened the flagship Ann Arbor location in 1996 (though it has moved four times, eventually resting at a spot on South Main Street in 2006) before expanding to Grand Rapids in 2013 and Detroit's Library Street location, which opened in 2016. (Its name is an amalgamation of a 1930's radio/comic book character Captain Midnight and the Vault of Horror comic from 1950.)

“The new location is twice as big as our current shop,” Sullivan shared in a press release. “With double the events, double the games, and double the comics, we’re excited to unveil a truly world-class comic book emporium.”

[deja vu]

Architecture studios have evolved a lot in a century.

Exhibit A: SmithGroup drafting room, 1919 -


Source: SmithGroup

Exhibit B: SmithGroup's remodeled Detroit office in the Guardian Building, 2021 -


















Source: LinkedIn | Sachse Cosntruction

[deja vu]

Demolition work has started for the INDUSTRY Detroit project, which will remodel the former Jefferson Intermediate School at 950 Selden St. into new collaborative work space. The redevelopment is a partnership between Denver based INDUSTRY, Midtown Detroit Inc., and Invest Detroit. Hamilton Anderson Associates is serving as Executive Architect for Drumbeat, a Denver, CO-based architecture, interiors, and branding company. The school is an art deco structure built in 1925.










Source: LinkedIn | Hamilton Anderson Associates

[DetroitSky]

Downtown Synagogue Plans $4.5 Million Renovation

With more than $4 million raised so far toward its $4.5 million capital campaign to completely renovate its building on Griswold Street, the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue (IADS) marks its first century in serving Detroit’s Jewish community as it looks ahead to its next.

From its humble beginnings in 1921 in a house on Rosedale Court in Detroit’s North End to the 1962 purchase of its current Downtown building, the site of the former Fintex clothing store, the shul has remained Detroit’s longest continual Jewish congregation.

Construction is scheduled to begin in October after the holidays and be ready for a grand reopening just in time for Chanukah 2022. The capital campaign, which continues through this fall, is possible thanks in part to major gifts from the William Davidson Foundation, The Jewish Fund, the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, the Gilbert Family Foundation and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Foundation.

First floor


Second floor sanctuary and event space


Third floor co-working space


Rooftop event space

Deadline Detroit's photo of the day shows renovation work at the Belle Isle Athletic Shelter:

[DetroitSky]

Detroit touts low-income tax credits toward $150M in affordable housing projects

Detroit — The city on Monday celebrated investments of more than $150 million to add hundreds of affordable housing units across the city with the aid of low-income housing tax credits.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan gathered with state and city housing officials to discuss $74.5 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit grants awarded by the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority. Detroit on Thursday received seven of the 25 grants MSHDA awarded statewide toward the construction of 517 affordable units in seven developments in the city.

The Lewis College facility, once the state's only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), will be called Meyers Senior. The two buildings will have 32 units, and a four-story senior building, with 73 units will be built behind them.

The campus has sat vacant since the college closed in 2013. Work there is slated to begin next summer and finish in 2023.

The $20 million project will be co-developed by Wallick Communities of New Albany, Ohio, and Southfield-based Presbyterian Villages of Michigan. Rents will be determined by income and range from $335 to $765 per month, officials said.

Another project will convert 1920s-era buildings in the Cass-Henry Historic District into 170 residential units, 84 of which will be affordable housing. The $30.4 million project is being overseen by Olympia Development of Michigan and nonprofit Cinnaire Solutions.

All current residents will have the opportunity to live in a redeveloped unit at rents similar to what they pay now, officials said Monday.

The other five sites will be called the AFG Miller Grove Center in Old Redford, a $14.5 million, 45-unit development by Full Circle Communities; Preserve on Ash in North Corktown developed by The Community Builders, the second phase of a Greater Corktown development plan which will include a $47 million project with affordable and market-rate housing; Woodward Avenue Apartments in Arden Park, a $17 million, 53-unit project developed by MHT Housing & Mooney Real Estate; Brush Park in Brush Park developed by MHT Housing, a 53-unit, $13 million project; and MLK on 2nd in Midtown developed by MHT Housing & Nassar Companies, an $8 million development that will create 33 affordable units.

Motown Museum now closed until summer 2022

Motown fans hoping to tour the Motown Museum this summer or fall will have to wait awhile.

The beloved museum on West Grand Boulevard where Berry Gordy Jr. launched his music empire is closed until the summer of 2022 after museum officials moved up their timeline to shut down tours for the second phase of expansion plans.

Originally scheduled to close in September, museum officials said they decided to move up the closure date after heavy rain from last month's storms flooded the museum's basement and short-circuited the elevator.

Joe Louis Greenway acquires nearly $4 million in federal funding

In Hamtramck last week, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence announced that the Joe Louis Greenway will receive $3.92 million from the Invest in America Act. The 27.5-mile greenway will eventually connect Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, and a small part of Dearborn. Areas like the Dequindre Cut and Riverwalk are included in the greenway. Phase One--a three-mile section on the west side of Detroit--was officially started this spring. A small connecting section--the Southwest Greenway, which will connect Corktown to the Riverfront--should start construction this summer. In total, the greenway is expected to take 10 years to build at a cost of $200 million.

Popular Nigerian Food Truck Plans Restaurant In Detroit's Midtown

A popular Nigerian food truck, Fork in Nigeria, featured last September at our Detroit Digest, is opening a restaurant on Woodward and Willis in Detroit 's Midtown.

Owner and chef Prej Iroegbu is importing furniture from Nigeria and hopes to open in the fall.

"People will sit on the floor and eat with their fingers to get the remote Nigerian experience," the African chef tells The Detroit News. Iroegbu will offer cocktails and expanded vegan offerings.

[deja vu]

The downtown synagogue project looks good. Something's up with that rooftop rendering, though - the tables look taller than than the perimeter parapet wall. I don't think those planter boxes would meet code for guardrail requirements either, at least, not if they're spaced that far apart

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Bedrock isn’t a part of it anymore from what I’ve read. They were only involved originally because they own the gratiot site, so now it’s just Ross looking for a new site/sites to build it on. Apparently he’s been in talks with Chris Ilitch for a while now.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/edu...ct/7971987002/

This wasn't posted yet, was it? Similar gist to the Free Press article - it really could help serve as a catalyst for the constipated development efforts at District Detroit -

Stephen Ross' interest offers hope for District Detroit jumpstart
Annalise Frank, Chad Livengood, Kirk Pinho | Crain's Detroit Business
July 18, 2021

Source: Crain's Detroit Business

[DetroitSky]

Albert Kahn Building reopens with 206 apartments

A $70 million renovation has wrapped up in the Albert Kahn Building in New Center, across from the Fisher Building. Adam M. Lutz of Lutz Real Estate Investments and Matthew Sosin of Northern Equities Group announced this week that the conversion of the 11-story building is now complete with 206 new apartments.

Lutz Real Estate Investments and Northern Equities Group purchased the Albert Kahn Building in 2018 from The Platform. Offices that filled floors 2-11 are now apartments ranging from studio to three bedroom, 530 to 1,317 square feet. Rents for available units range from $1,420 up to $4,500 a month.

Amenities include two lounges - The Drafting Room is a workplace area with a library and bar, and the 1931 Room, which has TVs and games for residents. The Kahn also has a 3,000-square-foot fitness center, a spa area for pets, and a rooftop lounged with grilling stations. Parking is available for residents in the Fisher Building Garage.

The Murray reopens in Southwest Detroit after fresh renovation

Another residential building has completed renovations, this time in Southwest Detroit. The Murray, which had been abandoned for decades, is now open and leasing after a $4.6 million renovation. Real Estate Interests LLC, along with Southwest Solutions, led the development.

The Murray has 12 townhome-style apartments, with three designated as affordable at 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Interior details were restored when possible, and landscaping will be added outside.

“This is not only a project of tremendous importance to the community, but also to me personally,” says W. Emery Matthews, co-founder and managing principal of REI. “I was born and raised in Detroit, and I understand the corrosive impact of vacant buildings. They exact an emotional toll and have a profound negative impact on our communities. For me, this is far more than just another real estate investment. It’s a way for the community to showcase its spirit and resilience.”

$3.3 million were also announced just down the street from the Murray at Clark Park. Improvements include a new splash pad, a new playground with accessible features, entry improvements along Vernor Highway, walkway upgrades, and a new fitness area. Work is expected to start in August, and finish next summer.

Wayne County grants $850K to renovate Negro League ballpark in Hamtramck

Hamtramck — One of the last remaining Negro League ballparks received a boost in its renovation efforts Thursday when Wayne County awarded Hamtramck Stadium an $850,000 grant.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans proposed the grant, and the Wayne County Commission approved it.

The grant will contribute toward the stadium's $2.6 million renovation, which will breathe life into a facility out of use since the 1990s. There was talk in the 2000s that the stadium would be torn down.

Detroit's Grand Trunk Pub reopens with ticketed preview after more than a year of renovations

If you've spent the better part of the last year craving a Reuben sandwich from a specific Detroit restaurant, then you're not alone, and thankfully, the wait is almost over.

Detroit's historic Grand Trunk Pub, located at 612 Woodward Ave., will reopen this weekend for a ticketed preview where guests can dine on fan favorites and explore a new all-day brunch menu before it opens to the public on July 31.

Grand Trunk was originally home to Detroit jewelers and creators of the popular Orange Blossom engagement ring, the Traub Brothers, who moved into the building in 1879. They sold it to the Grand Trunk Railway in 1905, who used it as a ticketing station before it became the beloved community pub owned by Timothy Tharp, who purchased it in 2007.

[deja vu]

I've got mixed thoughts about this -

Pistons unveil plans for courtside club at Little Caesars Arena
Alex Harring | The Detroit News
July 18, 2021

Source: The Detroit News | The Detroit Pistons

Also, happy belated 320th birthday, Detroit!


Source: LinkedIn | WSU

[deja vu]

If built, this project across the street from Little Caesars Arena would rehab seven 1920's-era buildings to create 170 residences, 84 of which would be reserved as affordable housing -

Ilitch organization, others win affordable housing credits in Detroit
JC Reindl | Detroit Free Press
July 19, 2021

Construction progress on the Ruth Ellis Clairmont Center, from about a week ago -










Source: LinkedIn | Landon Bone Baker Architects

[seabee1526]

Do you think we’ll be seeing more developments like Riverfront Towers, right down on the river? Where would this be most likely?

[DetroitSky]

Detroit neighborhood gets $8 million affordable housing development

The city of Detroit announced Monday the opening of a new $8 million affordable housing development in the city’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood.

The Milwaukee Junction Apartments at 258 E. Milwaukee St. is a 22,845-square-foot, four-story building with 25 units. The developers, the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance and Bingham Farms-based MHT Housing, have set aside 20 of the units as affordable, with monthly rental rates ranging from $454 to $945 with water included.

Gallery: Döner Kebab Comes To Detroit's Corktown At Berlin-Inspired Supergeil

Two James Spirits has a nearby "cousin."

A co-owner of the craft distiller in Corktown opened Supergeil across Michigan Avenue on Thursday in a 1900s brick building.

Melody Baetens describes the newcomer at The Detroit News:

The restaurant specializes in Berlin-style döner kebab sandwiches, tinned seafood (think sardines, but also tuna, mackerel and mussels, all served with bread and other accoutrements) and, naturally, a focus on cocktails.

... Supergeil's décor is sleek and contemporary, with a lot of exposed brick and wicker light fixtures.

This is how the building looked before renovations. The vacant lot on the right is where SteelHaus is currently being built.


Source

Detroit greenway named in honor of former Mayor Dennis Archer

A 1.2-mile recreational biking and walking path connecting some eastside Detroit neighborhoods to the city's riverfront has been named in honor of former Mayor Dennis Archer.

Work on the Mayor Dennis W. Archer Greenway is expected to be completed later this year, the city said.

It will connect the popular Detroit Riverwalk north to Vernor Highway.

I noticed the other day that Halal Guys is opening a location at 1043 Woodward in the 1001 Woodward Garage. The space used to be Slices, a pizza place that didn't survive the pandemic. There's a small mention of the Woodward location here.

[hybrydy]

Originally Posted by seabee1526

Do you think we’ll be seeing more developments like Riverfront Towers, right down on the river? Where would this be most likely?

If ever, it would be former Jo Louis Arena site, the surface lots directly east of the Ren Cen, the vacant Harbortown plot and potentially the Uniroyal site.

[skysoar]

Originally Posted by hybrydy

If ever, it would be former Jo Louis Arena site, the surface lots directly east of the Ren Cen, the vacant Harbortown plot and potentially the Uniroyal site.

Nice to see all the new construction and refurbished projects happening in the Motor City. Detroit still one of Americas great Legacy cities making much progress.

[DetroitSky]

Originally Posted by hybrydy

If ever, it would be former Jo Louis Arena site, the surface lots directly east of the Ren Cen, the vacant Harbortown plot and potentially the Uniroyal site.

The vacant Harbortown site was approved for basically a duplicate of the 5 story Waters Edge building a few years ago, amid a lot of resident NIMBYism.

If we’re going to see any residential towers on the riverfront anytime soon I’d expect it to be on the Joe Louis site, personally.

[hammersklavier]

Can we talk about the Murray? The building was all but a ruin and was all but rebuilt from scratch. It might be lowkey one of the best projects, period, in the country right now, proving that the expertise to build traditionally is here and can be had at a reasonable price too.