Sources: Gilbert, GM working on mixed-use development of 20 acres along Detroit River

[Newdetroit]

I think that Detroit really needs to get it right regarding what it puts on the riverfront. It is arguably the gateway or view of the city as it borders to river. I think what would be great would be impressive Neo-classical or Beaux-art "European" style buildings with cobbled stone roads and the area could be called "Old Detroit" or Vieux-Détroit"

[mikeg19]

Good news to hear that this could finally be in the works after a long delay. It will be interesting to see what the A) height & density of the ten acre development will be B) how it fits in with the 375 project and C) what architectural style will be incorporated into the designs, given you have the most brutalist modern architecture one could think of sitting next door at the Ren Cen.

[EGrant]

I picture it as more of a Brush Park looking development, rather than a bunch of high rises. But I have no idea haha.

[southen]

I think that Detroit really needs to get it right regarding what it puts on the riverfront. It is arguably the gateway or view of the city as it borders to river. I think what would be great would be impressive Neo-classical or Beaux-art "European" style buildings with cobbled stone roads and the area could be called "Old Detroit" or Vieux-Détroit"

Yuck. That is so contrived and it would look it if completed. Detroit has lots of great architecture and we should work towards preserving it, but this needs to be forward looking for the city. Contemporary design with an emphasis on green space and the river should be the way to go and I hope it includes a mix of high-rises and more people scaled structures close to the river.

[hybridy]

I think that Detroit really needs to get it right regarding what it puts on the riverfront. It is arguably the gateway or view of the city as it borders to river. I think what would be great would be impressive Neo-classical or Beaux-art "European" style buildings with cobbled stone roads and the area could be called "Old Detroit" or Vieux-Détroit"

if u need that fix try frankenmuth or canterbury village

[pete]

An ideal example to follow would be Chicago's upcoming Riverline project on the south branch of the Chicago River. Similar size and dynamics of site, including currently vacant land, distance to downtown and the incorporation of a riverwalk.

The big difference being the gobs of wealth in Chicago allowing for development of these types of projects and the use of high end architects [[Perkins+Will in this case). It will be a beautiful development when finished.

http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/9/13/...groundbreaking

[56packman]

This area must be renamed "Archer park" in honor of Dennis Archer's idiotic plan to locate all three casinos side-by-side on this location. Killed the Soup Kitchen, the Woodbridge Tavern and that big nightclub that were the nightlife in that region. The casino operators didn't share his vision.

[Honky Tonk]

This area must be renamed "Archer park" in honor of Dennis Archer's idiotic plan to locate all three casinos side-by-side on this location. Killed the Soup Kitchen, the Woodbridge Tavern and that big nightclub that were the nightlife in that region. The casino operators didn't share his vision.

+5.... Took the words right out of my mouth. That section of Detroit was completely viable and thriving. You were hard pressed to find a parking space on any Friday or Saturday night. You forgot BC's and The Rhino.

[Gistok]

if u need that fix try frankenmuth or canterbury village

Awww I was hoping for something like the Prince of Wales "Poundbury" expansion for the town of Dorset.....

http://www.architectmagazine.com/des...ss-poundbury_o

But I guess something that looks like a random stack of Kleenex boxes with windows will do....

[masterblaster]

It would interest me to find out what the "retail components" of this development might be. It seems to be a trend to include retail in developments like this, only to have he retail lay unoccupied, or at best consist of a convenience store to serve the residents. Retail space without foot traffic is pretty much a dead issue.

JUST NO. Stop it.

-All of the storefronts for the Auburn, a new mixed-use building in midtown, completed in 2012 are full. There is a Thai restaurant, home goods store, a pet store, and a couple other boutiques.

-In the Studio One mixed use Development competed in 2008, there is a bank, Firehouse Subs, a bar & grill, a pharmacy, AT&T store and an art supplies store. No empty store front.

-In the Woodward Garden Block mixed use development completed in 2014, there is a bank, Xfinity office, a popular restaurant, and a coffeehouse. There is an empty storefront or two, however.


-In the new Lawrence Technological University Detroit Design center, completed earlier this year, the one storefront is occupied by a new mediterranean restaurant.

http://detroit.eater.com/2016/11/14/...et-food-photos


-The El Moore, a restored apartment building and first floor retail that was just finished a few months ago will welcome Dangerously Delicious Pies sometime this winter.

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in...ious_pies.html


-The Albert, an office building turned apartment building on Capitol Park downtown, has a bike shop, a coffeehouse, and a new overpriced bar. In addition, a Thai restaurant, an Italian Restaurant, and a women's clothing store are set to open us soon.

[subsidized]

The Albert, an office building turned apartment building on Capitol Park downtown, has a bike shop, a coffeehouse, and a new overpriced bar.

The Albert wasn't an office building. It was senior apartments. Gilbert kicked all the old people out onto the cold streets so he could charge upwards of $1000 a month to young hip trendy people. The forced gentrification of Detroit is real.

[MSUguy]

The Albert wasn't an office building. It was senior apartments. Gilbert kicked all the old people out onto the cold streets so he could charge upwards of $1000 a month to young hip trendy people. The forced gentrification of Detroit is real.

Dan did none none of that, Broder and Sachse are developers/owner of that building. Bedrock just manages their retail space.

[royce]

High-rises would be great. It would be nice to have an apartment complex south of Atwater in front of the Beaubien Place garage and retail space. Connect the parking deck with a walkway to the apartment complex, add restaurants and retail in the location where Asian Village used to be and you have a winner. Yeah, Asian Village. It could have worked if you had foot traffic coming from the apartment complex and other developments.

In addition, some serious consideration needs to be made to have underground parking under most of the current parking lots. There really isn't anymore room for parking decks. I hope developers and the city can work out an agreement that allows this to happen.

[Newdetroit]

Yuck. That is so contrived and it would look it if completed. Detroit has lots of great architecture and we should work towards preserving it, but this needs to be forward looking for the city. Contemporary design with an emphasis on green space and the river should be the way to go and I hope it includes a mix of high-rises and more people scaled structures close to the river.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor...2012-06-23.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobe...xton_manor.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renais...erin_01_09.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renais...esdonManor.JPG

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor...%26Science.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor..._town_hall.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor...llorsCourt.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor...London_[[2).jpg

[southen]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor...2012-06-23.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobe...xton_manor.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renais...erin_01_09.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renais...esdonManor.JPG

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor...%26Science.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor..._town_hall.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor...llorsCourt.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor...London_[[2).jpg

Thank you. I completely understood the type of buildings you were referring to. Throwing up "replicas" of 1800's buildings from Europe in a place where those structures have no history is the definition of dumb. You want to create a city, not a theme park. We have our own history here there is no need to replicate that of other places.

Just curious. Do you have any examples on the scale of the buildings you linked to of districts being created and built today in that style? It doesn't happen and for good reason. Buildings may pay homage to some historical elements but to do new construction like that is just silly and isn't at all authentic.

[Newdetroit]

You are welcome.

To begin, I wasn't saying to just throw up "replicas" of building from Europe in some Disney-themed fashion. Rather, buildings with neo-classical architecture or beaux-arts architecture is certainly a design which is used all over the world. One thing that differentiates American cities from those in Europe is architectural uniformity. We can disagree on this point, but I feel that architectural uniformity makes a city or a district of a city to be pleasing and dynamic. That being said, using beaux-arts architecture is not dumb, silly, or disney-theme like. Have you seen the building at 115 Willits St, in Birmingham? https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bi...!4d-83.2113192
Does this look silly? And if there was a district with uniformity in architecture in this style for a few blocks, it would not look silly or dumb to me. To you, perhaps.

As far as your question regarding examples on the scale of buildings to districts being created in that style. Yes. China is one example. The rebuilding of downtown Beirut is another example.

Lastly, look at some of the buildings which have been demolished in Detroit. Heard of the Hotel Ponchartrain? http://historicdetroit.org/galleries...-old-photos/So, this type of architecture existed and still exists in Detroit. But I get it, you prefer the 2016 modern look. To each his/her own.

[southen]

It would be a replica. You don't get that kind of craftsmanship in buildings anymore and the cost would be exponentially more to do something. History and place matters though. These buildings have very little history here and you want to create an entire district of them. That is inauthentic and Disney-esque.

It is not about what look I prefer. I love Detroit's Art Deco and mid-century modern structures. If you wanted to make a district of one of those it would make more sense to me since those two styles have had a dramatic impact on the city but you want to take the culture of another place and plop it right on the river. That does strike me as silly.

If we are talking styles I do feel like Detroit needs more modern architecture. For the most part the city missed out on the 70's and 80's when bland glass boxes were the rage, but if you look at the building stock we have Detroit has great examples of most styles of architecture. What it is lacking is more modern structures. I love our architectural heritage but it is time to keep moving forward, not look back to replicate a style of the past. DG's city modern is a good example of this. It isn't completely out of touch with what we have and it does move design in the city forward. I hope for something similar along the river on a much larger scale.

[EGrant]

If we are talking styles I do feel like Detroit needs more modern architecture. For the most part the city missed out on the 70's and 80's when bland glass boxes were the rage, but if you look at the building stock we have Detroit has great examples of most styles of architecture.

This is very important. Not only did we avoid the modernist style [[I'm not a fan), but the hard economic times probably meant that a lot of these classic buildings in Detroit were not torn down and replaced by bland glass box architecture like many cities [[including nearby Grand Rapids). We're left with is an amazing stock of great looking, historic architecture, but not much modern. Adding a few newer designs will add some diversity to the city. Let's keep moving forward, instead of trying to recreate the past.

[Gistok]

I'm not sure the city missed out on the 1970s..... we have BCBS Building, AT&T HQ, MacNamara, DTE Energy, and above all the RenCen.

Besides the RenCen, I don't look at any of the others as being little more than filler buildings... nothing really improving the downtown skyline.

The drought downtown was mainly between 1977 [[RenCen) and 1989 [[150 W. Jefferson)... and again for a decade after the 1993 building of One Detroit Center.

Some of you lament the lack of modernism in Detroit, I look at it as a blessing.... nothing exceptional comes to mind that was built in the cities that had building booms during that era, with the exception of high rise density.

[1953]

Modernist architecture is gross.

Please build buildings with character, such as those from earlier periods.

It is illogical to say that we cannot build with some level of authenticity that which we once built before.

1953