Boutique Hotel/Residential Highrise Proposed For Statler Site

[Jason]

The rendering and the rest of the stuff mentioned in the article reinforces that this is not for real.

A real developer, or at least one competent to make a project happen, would not let a "rendering" like that come out. If they wanted a conceptual illustration they'd pay the few thousand dollars to get a real one done, which isn't a lot to spend when the overall project is going to cost many millions, and when your press needs to inspire confidence in the project.


Without thinking too much about it, a very reasonable arrangement would be to have all the hotel and residential in one tower at the tip of the site, and with ground floor retail and parking filling out a low plinth on the rest of the site with communal amenities on top. Basically the same as trolley plaza but obviously with more consideration towards the street.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

The rendering and the rest of the stuff mentioned in the article reinforces that this is not for real.

A real developer, or at least one competent to make a project happen, would not let a "rendering" like that come out. If they wanted a conceptual illustration they'd pay the few thousand dollars to get a real one done, which isn't a lot to spend when the overall project is going to cost many millions, and when your press needs to inspire confidence in the project.


Without thinking too much about it, a very reasonable arrangement would be to have all the hotel and residential in one tower at the tip of the site, and with ground floor retail and parking filling out a low plinth on the rest of the site with communal amenities on top. Basically the same as trolley plaza but obviously with more consideration towards the street.

Who would put down a $100,000 deposit on a project that is not serious?

[DetroitPlanner]

Those are not renderings. They are newspaper art department fantasies.

[Khorasaurus]

Those are not renderings. They are newspaper art department fantasies.

Well, they were drawn on SketchUp in a few minutes, probably by someone affiliated with the developers, not Crain's. But I agree that the rendering itself means basically nothing about how the building will look or how serious and competent the developers are. Apparently they've attracted a group of investors, a hotel chain, and four retail tenants without a rendering, so they probably are waiting to spend the money until they need to.

[rb336]

Well, they were drawn on SketchUp in a few minutes, probably by someone affiliated with the developers, not Crain's. But I agree that the rendering itself means basically nothing about how the building will look or how serious and competent the developers are. Apparently they've attracted a group of investors, a hotel chain, and four retail tenants without a rendering, so they probably are waiting to spend the money until they need to.

I'm guessing they have shown more detailed renderings to the hotel company, but are not ready to make them public

[Knocturnal]

Just as some have suspected...

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...nd-Circus-Park

[Khorasaurus]

Just as some have suspected...

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...nd-Circus-Park

Well that's bizarre. They don't have enough of a business plan for this site, but they are encouraged to look at other sites? There's a mystery "other development" that the DEGC can't talk about right now?

Very weird. Will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.

[Gistok]

Very interesting!! Perhaps the Tuller block next door is an option? Even though it has the United Artists complex in one corner, the Tuller block is actually larger [[in total) than the Statler block.

It would be nice to have both blocks developed [[along with a U/A renovations).

[CrashDummy]

Sounds like this other development must be pretty solid [[hopefully). Makes you wonder how many other deals are already in the works for this "entertainment district".

[Jason]

The bit about encouraging them to look at other sites is just a polite "good luck."

The way I see it is the DEGC has entertained the developers behind the scenes for a few years. And now within 48 hours of the developers going public with a press release the DEGC makes their own press release saying "no way in hell".

[animatedmartian]

Very interesting!! Perhaps the Tuller block next door is an option? Even though it has the United Artists complex in one corner, the Tuller block is actually larger [[in total) than the Statler block.

It would be nice to have both blocks developed [[along with a U/A renovations).

That land is already owned by Olympia if this map is correct. And in fact so is the UA building.


http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2.../BIZ/301160045

[KJ5]

There WAS a highrise on the site. They should have left that up.

[middetres]

I have a question:

What's with all these new names for developments?

Fitzgerald Square
Alexandrine Square
Almost anything by Shelborne Development Square

They're all just buildings...where are the implied squares?

[hybridy]

It's not a rendering and quit calling it that. It's a massing diagram.

[Novine]

Another take on the DEGC rejection from Crains.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ircus-park-not

[Gistok]

Another take on the DEGC rejection from Crains.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ircus-park-not

Thanks Novine! Because non-Crain subscribers can't see much of this, if you do a Google search on "DEGC Grand Circus Park"... and click on the Crain's link... you CAN see it all.

[AuburnSpeedster]

They probably plan to sell it to Illitch to become a parking lot. =/

[downtownguy]

The agency cited a lack of “cohesive business plan."

I'm not sure taking the DEGC at its word is a plan either.

[Warrenite84]

Although the offer has been rejected, the people mover track wouldn't necessarily impact a residential hi-rise if that area of the building was part of the parking garage. It could be pocketed like Compuware's parking garage People Mover Stop.

[Khorasaurus]

Although the offer has been rejected, the people mover track wouldn't necessarily impact a residential hi-rise if that area of the building was part of the parking garage. It could be pocketed like Compuware's parking garage People Mover Stop.

Or the Millender Center.

[Gistok]

That land is already owned by Olympia if this map is correct. And in fact so is the UA building.



http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2.../BIZ/301160045

Actually the map is out of date [[not even the Ilitch owned Loyal Order of Moose Building footprint is shown as Ilitch owned). The entire Tuller/UA block is owned by Ilitch Holdings... including a very small parcel along Bagley, and a larger parcel on the NE corner of the block along W. Adams and Clifford. Those 2 parcels were purchased from a Harold Shapiro. Ilitch Holdings also has [[or at least "had") several banners on the sides of the UA Building listing it as available.

[southofbloor]

Are they going to tear down the remaining building [[can't remember the name) that got damaged when the Statler was torn down?

The Detroit Automobile Club, which I think was founded in 1902 in the Detroit Club:

[royce]

Didn't Higgins own the Detroit Automobile Club Building and was holding out to get paid big-time for a building he never had any intentions of doing anything with. Also, why hasn't the city condemned this building and torn it down?

[Lowell]

A little birdie sent me the prospectus on the rejected project.

Click Here to View

[animatedmartian]

The PDF presentation strikes me as... off. It seems less like a project that is crafted by developers and more like a project crafted by businessmen. I can see why the city rejected it.