GM to plan move from RenCen to Dan Gilbert’s Hudson’s tower

[Gistok]

sirrealone... sorry for being snarky... had a cranky day today... but I don't think that location of employees matters as much anymore when it comes down to corporate performance.

stasu1213... I agree... during the GM years, there was no real feeling of welcome to visit the center. Dan Gilbert would change that.

I do feel that with no observation area in the Hudson's Tower, that the RenCen hotel tower should once again open themselves up for meal, bar and also observation visitation. I remember the first 10 years of the opening of the RenCen that anyone could visit the observation area for free, while later there was a nominal charge [nothing outrageous]. The 71st floor was the restaurant, the 72nd floor was viewing and 73rd floor was the bar. Even if they charged $5 just to go to view, it would draw some folks into the complex. And they need to have something to draw the folks to the Wintergarten... not sure if it should be some kind of entertainment, or what.

The lowest level of the hotel atrium used to be some sort of museum space... maybe they should bring that back too.

It's just that GM killed the mood of visiting the RenCen, and Gilbert should bring that back... so much potential!!

[southen]

The lowest level of the hotel atrium used to be some sort of museum space... maybe they should bring that back too.

That is an interesting thought. If you look at some of the earliest renderings of Hudson's the initial plan was to put several cultural spaces into the building including some sort of car museum. I feel like Gilbert could take that concept and apply it to the Ren Cen. GM had already been thinking about that when they shared renderings of "GM World" which was going to alter the exterior the exterior of the building and drastically change the northeast corner of the site.

There are definitely things that can be done to reactivate the building and better open it up to the river and surrounding area. There has to be the will and money behind it though.

[sirrealone]

It's just that GM killed the mood of visiting the RenCen

I think GM did quite a bit.

They moved in and renovated the entire complex. I think they tried to draw the public in by initially putting prototype cars in the atrium space, before dumbing it down with plain old showroom cars, presumably if it affected their draw at the auto show.

They got rid of the berms, and put actual front doors to open up the street side. They built the Wintergarden and opened it up to the riverfront side. I always seemed to remember these things being applauded for making it more welcome to the public. Yes, the place was still a maze, but that was still a byproduct of the initial design. I'll be curious if the next effort will be able to fix this.

The renovations created quite a bit of retail space. For quite some time, a lot of it was occupied. But, yeah, things eventually started closing, especially when they started laying off thousands of workers and the overall economy began to crater.

After the initial outlay to re-do the building and get themselves settled, they had plans to work with developers to do a lot with the surrounding land. If I recall, they had plans to build condos, retail and more office space, but outside of the failed Asian Village project, it all went to crap when the company and the city both went bankrupt.

The place was always on kind of an island Having the nearby Rivertown area killed off right around the time when they bought the building probably didn't help things out at all.

Just saying, I think they did an awful lot, but there was quite a bit that simply was out of their control.

[DetBill]

Well thinking about this, with a little vision, maybe between Wayne State and other educational institutions we have and their never ending need for expansion, and a sweetheart deal with GM, it could taken over by them for educational purposes..think about it, parking is available, not a ton of retro fitting, small food court businesses would do well, lots of foot traffic with students..the hotel would continue to be viable….Not to be sarcastic but it would truly be a site of “ higher learning” for so many purposes getting a Renaissance education…A little imagination/ ingenuity could make this work with great benefit for the city and all.

[stasu1213]

I think GM did quite a bit.

They moved in and renovated the entire complex. I think they tried to draw the public in by initially putting prototype cars in the atrium space, before dumbing it down with plain old showroom cars, presumably if it affected their draw at the auto show.

They got rid of the berms, and put actual front doors to open up the street side. They built the Wintergarden and opened it up to the riverfront side. I always seemed to remember these things being applauded for making it more welcome to the public. Yes, the place was still a maze, but that was still a byproduct of the initial design. I'll be curious if the next effort will be able to fix this.

The renovations created quite a bit of retail space. For quite some time, a lot of it was occupied. But, yeah, things eventually started closing, especially when they started laying off thousands of workers and the overall economy began to crater.

After the initial outlay to re-do the building and get themselves settled, they had plans to work with developers to do a lot with the surrounding land. If I recall, they had plans to build condos, retail and more office space, but outside of the failed Asian Village project, it all went to crap when the company and the city both went bankrupt.

The place was always on kind of an island Having the nearby Rivertown area killed off right around the time when they bought the building probably didn't help things out at all.

Just saying, I think they did an awful lot, but there was quite a bit that simply was out of their control.

What GM should had done was to put classic cars throughout the first and lower levels of the RenCen as well as new cars. GM had done similar when their headquarters were on Grand Blvd. That would had drawn more visitors and tourists especially on weekends when people are on the Riverwalk on warmer days. Former CEO Wagoner probably would had considered it but Mary Bara just wanted an office complex which closed after 6pm and on weekends. Thank God that GM will only leade out two floors and not control the whole Hudson's Detroit building. I would be good to put a classic Chrvy, Pontiac, or Cadillac in the atrium of the Block for show to visitors

[401don]

What GM should had done was to put classic cars throughout the first and lower levels of the RenCen as well as new cars. GM had done similar when their headquarters were on Grand Blvd. That would had drawn more visitors and tourists especially on weekends when people are on the Riverwalk on warmer days. Former CEO Wagoner probably would had considered it but Mary Bara just wanted an office complex which closed after 6pm and on weekends. Thank God that GM will only leade out two floors and not control the whole Hudson's Detroit building. I would be good to put a classic Chrvy, Pontiac, or Cadillac in the atrium of the Block for show to visitors

Tourists on the riverfront would wander in to see the Ren Cen and new car displays anyway. It's not like classics would draw thousands more, plus those cars are very valuable, require constant rotation do to ventilation requirements and there are security issues which would require a guard at all times. Besides I think a display with videos on future technology would be of more interest. There was never any audio or music to liven up the area. Either way, it's was never going to have any impact on the overall viability of the place.

[stasu1213]

Tourists on the riverfront would wander in to see the Ren Cen and new car displays anyway. It's not like classics would draw thousands more, plus those cars are very valuable, require constant rotation do to ventilation requirements and there are security issues which would require a guard at all times. Besides I think a display with videos on future technology would be of more interest. There was never any audio or music to liven up the area. Either way, it's was never going to have any impact on the overall viability of the place.

GM had a few classic cars displayed in the lower level new the food court. Tourists don't want to see current modeled cars. They could visit any dealership showroom to see those. The RenCen management failed at many things including accommodations such as shopping, some type of attraction such as classic GM cars, restaurants, etc. The RenCen had more visitors and tourists on weekends in the 70s, 80, and 90s, when there weren't even a Riverwalk. Ford had "The World of Ford" area or room where classic, new, and concept cars were displayed visited by local visitors and tourists. What also hurt the RenCen was the change in building management which were clueless in managing the complex and the change in CEO for GM

[401don]

GM had a few classic cars displayed in the lower level new the food court. Tourists don't want to see current modeled cars. They could visit any dealership showroom to see those. The RenCen management failed at many things including accommodations such as shopping, some type of attraction such as classic GM cars, restaurants, etc. The RenCen had more visitors and tourists on weekends in the 70s, 80, and 90s, when there weren't even a Riverwalk. Ford had "The World of Ford" area or room where classic, new, and concept cars were displayed visited by local visitors and tourists. What also hurt the RenCen was the change in building management which were clueless in managing the complex and the change in CEO for GM

I've been through the Ren Cen weekends since the '70's. It's basically always been a Ghost town. If you have a way to change that and profitably activate all that space better than Hines and all the other companies that have tried please tell us.

[bailey]

I've been through the Ren Cen weekends since the '70's. It's basically always been a Ghost town. If you have a way to change that and profitably activate all that space better than Hines and all the other companies that have tried please tell us.

The common areas would make a great Casino. Confusing layout to keep people playing. Isolated location to stop them from leaving. Restaurant and event space already there. Demo short towers, keep the middle one as the casino's hotel .

[stasu1213]

I've been through the Ren Cen weekends since the '70's. It's basically always been a Ghost town. If you have a way to change that and profitably activate all that space better than Hines and all the other companies that have tried please tell us.

Rencen was crowded on weekends during the late 70s throughout the 80s. The shops, the restaurants, and the movie theaters were always occupied or heavily attended. Had the RenCen wasn't built like a cement maze had the riverfront been developed then the complex would had attracted more people

[mkd]

Tourists on the riverfront would wander in to see the Ren Cen and new car displays anyway. It's not like classics would draw thousands more, plus those cars are very valuable, require constant rotation do to ventilation requirements and there are security issues which would require a guard at all times. Besides I think a display with videos on future technology would be of more interest. There was never any audio or music to liven up the area. Either way, it's was never going to have any impact on the overall viability of the place.

Actually there was audio playing, at least when I was working there pre-Covid. This also reminded me that there used to be free tours of the Ren Cen, like three times a day or something. Took it maybe 15 years ago. But even working there, I saw random people taking pictures especially in the Wintergarden regularly. The complex has always been of some touristic interest.