West Elm boutique hotel Announced for 2020

And another one. Just in from Crain's. New hotel in SOMA.

"Construction on the planned West Elm hotel in Detroit is expected to begin next year at a new site on Woodward Avenue and be complete by 2020.

The boutique hotel by the Brooklyn-based furniture brand is the latest to come into clearer view, following others scattered throughout the greater downtown area.

Detroit-based developer The Roxbury Group has entered into an agreement to develop the approximately 130-room hotel at Woodward and Eliot Street on the approximately 7-acre development site known as South of Mack Avenue, or SOMA, across from Whole Foods. David Di Rita, principal of Roxbury Group, said the hotel market in and around downtown "remains very underserved on various product types down the chain."

Nice little sidebar to the article.

HOTEL WAVE
In the last several years, hotel developments in Detroit have been increasing at a steady clip in an emerging hospitality market, including:
* Elm hotel, 130 rooms
**Shinola Hotel, 130 rooms
*The Siren Hotel, 98 rooms
*The Element Detroit at the Metropolitan Building, 110 rooms
*Boutique hotel at 640 Temple, 100 rooms
*Crowne Plaza Downtown Detroit Riverfront second tower, 498 rooms
*Book Tower, 200 rooms
*Two District Detroit hotels, unknown number of rooms
*Aloft Hotel, 136 rooms — opened 2014
*The Foundation Hotel, 100 rooms — opened 2017

Is this the site which was to be the location of a Target?

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Originally Posted by emu steve

Is this the site which was to be the location of a Target?

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It looks like it's going to be immediately north of the Bonstelle Theatre and south of Eliot. The proposed mixed development would then directly north of Eliot and south of Mack. Both can definitely be placed there and that's what density is all about.

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

It looks like it's going to be immediately north of the Bonstelle Theatre and south of Eliot. The proposed mixed development would then directly north of Eliot and south of Mack. Both can definitely be placed there and that's what density is all about.

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I think you are right.

If it were the adjacent block they would have said: Woodward/Mack.

Even better is that nothing is being torn down for this project. Excellent news!

Will Pure Michigan promote Detroit as a great place to spend a day if you are flying from the left to the east coast? If so, this new botique hotel will have a great location since it is on the Q line and within walking distance of some of the city's most interesting architecture. Who knew there would
be such a demand for botique hotel rooms in downtown?

Attachment 35531

From the Free press article, aerial view of the site. WSU was planning on decommissioning the Bonstelle in 2020 when the new performing arts complex opens next to the Hilberry. The rendering of the Woodward frontage shows a return to the pre-Mayfair Theatre facade.

I really, really hope they make Eliot Street go through to John R. No more split up blocks!

hmm very nice

I really liked the original proposed location for the West Elm hotel at Cass and Canfield. That part of Cass Avenue is such a vibrant area and the hotel et al would have added to the awesomeness.

This hotel was originally proposed in 2015, and I thought this wouldn't happen, so I am ECSTATIC that this is still being built though.

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Originally Posted by WPitonya

I really, really hope they make Eliot Street go through to John R. No more split up blocks!

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I believe that is the plan for the area with residential and now this hotel fronting Woodward, with parking garages behind to accommodate the residential as well as the Red Cross offices there.

Some news...

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...GxGGKw_Lx2_0Ok

That entire South of Mack [[SoMa is a super catchy name!) area both East and West of Woodward holds major value. It is one of the very few available areas remaining undeveloped along Detroit's main street. A hotel in the location would be great news for the high quality dining and drinking establishments in the area.

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Originally Posted by emu steve

I think you are right.

If it were the adjacent block they would have said: Woodward/Mack.

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Target will be at the development that will run east on Mack/Woodward/John Rwith the parking garage servicing the hotel and Bonstelle along with the designated shopping area.

Wonderful news about the re-use of the Bonstelle Theatre as part of a hotel project.

To the original 1903 Albert Kahn designed Temple Beth-El building Detroit's famous theatre architect C. Howard Crane mostly just added a blocked up entrance to the former columned stairs, and changed the altar/organ area of the former synagogue by removing them and and adding a stage and stage house in back.

This is a win-win for the city... adaptive reuse [[words not in the Ilitch lexicon). The restoral of the former facade underneath the Crane facade addition will restore it to its' attractive original look of 1903... although the lawn approach to the entrance was removed during the widening of Woodward in the 1930s.

This is going to look great!! :)

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Originally Posted by Gistok

Wonderful news about the re-use of the Bonstelle Theatre as part of a hotel project.

To the original 1903 Albert Kahn designed Temple Beth-El building Detroit's famous theatre architect C. Howard Crane mostly just added a blocked up entrance to the former columned stairs, and changed the altar/organ area of the former synagogue by removing them and and adding a stage and stage house in back.

This is a win-win for the city... adaptive reuse [[words not in the Ilitch lexicon). The restoral of the former facade underneath the Crane facade addition will restore it to its' attractive original look of 1903... although the lawn approach to the entrance was removed during the widening of Woodward in the 1930s.

This is going to look great!! :)

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Wow, that is truly amazing. Not a bad set up either. What would they use the actual theater for though?

Good stuff. Things will ultimately spread into the neighborhoods. Crime and grime is going down. That dirty War on Drugs is abating and MayorMike seems to be doing Corruption the right way.. Buisiness first

West Elm project scrapped

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The deal was scrapped by Detroit-based The Roxbury Group late this spring, David Di Rita, the company's principal, said Monday, confirming a detail in a lengthy Detroit Free Press story by JC Reindl on Friday.

He declined to provide specifics on why the business relationship didn't work out, although he did say that Roxbury started talks with other hotel flags for the project after West Elm was no longer in the picture.

But the hiccup in the Detroit project comes around the same time that a West Elm hotel in Indianapolis was canceled, as well. In June, Indianapolis Monthly reported that the West Elm hotel in that city was DOA.

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Originally Posted by hybridy

West Elm project scrapped

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Seems to be an issue with West Elm, hopefully the project will just move on under a different flag. Good news about the Vernor site though, hopefully that actually does get approval in the next few months

This Freep article of 2 days earlier link makes the former West Elm... now Hotel Bonstelle, sound more promising...

https://freep-mi.newsmemory.com/?pub...8ad8ca_13410e0

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...re-development

Update on the project. Now slated to be a 10 story 153 room AC hotel by Marriot. Construction is slated to start this summer

This will be an excellent development. I am glad it is still moving forward. It seems like an ambitious timeline though. Hopefully this means construction starts sooner rather than later. "Summer" is quite vague.

Here's the Bonstelle when it was first built as Temple Beth-El...

https://historicdetroit.org/gallerie...tre-old-photos

I'm having trouble finding good images of the 1925 renovation by C. Howard Crane when it was turned into a playhouse... but it's not anywhere near as beautiful as the 1903 original.

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Originally Posted by Gistok

Here's the Bonstelle when it was first built as Temple Beth-El...

https://historicdetroit.org/gallerie...tre-old-photos

I'm having trouble finding good images of the 1925 renovation by C. Howard Crane when it was turned into a playhouse... but it's not anywhere near as beautiful as the 1903 original.

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Great find and pics,,, thanks for posting

The Bonstelle as C Howard Crane adapted from the Temple...note the entrance to the physical auditorium was added to but not dramatically altered. The alterations happened when Woodwars was widened in the mid1930's and the theatre was operating as the Mayfair, all day B run motion picture theater.


https://i0.wp.com/www.theatreanddanc...fit=1316%2C553

FROM THE WSU THEATER AND DANCE PAGE,
PHOTOGRAPHS OF CONSTRUCTION, FRAMING AND INTERIOR OF THE TEMPLE

https://www.theatreanddanceatwayne.c...5-years-today/

VIEWS OF MAYFAIR THEATRE DURING CIVIL DISTURBANCES OF 1943
SHOWING THE MIDIFICATIONS AFTER THE WIDENING OF WOODWARD
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c5/a8...be2d9148bc.jpgBONSTELL 1950'S AFTER WAYNE ACQUIRED THE BLDG
https://reuther.wayne.edu/files/imag...71.preview.jpg

Thanks for the links Detroitbob...

But unfortunately all of those interior images are of the Temple Beth-El... and I have not found any good images of the interior as the Bonstelle. There are a few images, but they are very dark and you cannot make out the interior ceiling or sidewalls.

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Originally Posted by Gistok

Thanks for the links Detroitbob...

But unfortunately all of those interior images are of the Temple Beth-El... and I have not found any good images of the interior as the Bonstelle. There are a few images, but they are very dark and you cannot make out the interior ceiling or sidewalls.

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Thanks for all the info. Can the thread title pleases be changed to Bonstelle or Hotel AC, as the West Elm name is not coming to the hotel now? A title change could help avoid duplication of threads.

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Originally Posted by Gistok

and I have not found any good images of the interior as the Bonstelle. There are a few images, but they are very dark and you cannot make out the interior ceiling or sidewalls.

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That is the sad fact...I don't recall Manning Brothers having anything years back when Bud Manning still was on Church St & John R. WSU painted out the interior at least once. There is no dome, but the framing of course is all still above the auditorium celling. The plaster work from the Temple was all removed. One of the architectural magazines did a write up but its been so many years I don't remember which one. I'm attaching the link to the Bonstelle WSU page which has photographs showing the entry, lobby, wood paneling, and general proscenium and side wall views. There are bits of Orchestra Hall and draped arches where boxes would have been and a standard proscenium. Large balcony stepped ceiling above. A comfortable room...Crane's office crew led by Dixon B Kellogg did great work.
https://www.theatreanddanceatwayne.c...elle-theatre/#

I've notice that most or not all current hotels plans and design in Detroit are short of "exciting". Especially the ones being built from the ground up. Detroit is seeing some boring prefab and brick hotels being built. But the suburbs and other cities are seeing some exciting designs. Why Detroit settling for such boring designs?

I've seen the other AC Hotels and they are amazing, especially the one in Nashville and New Orleans. Another hotel planned here that comes up short for me is the Cambria Hotel...like yuck? Come on Detroit, step your game up as far as "Design". Sigh..

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Originally Posted by gthomas

I've notice that most or not all current hotels plans and design in Detroit are short of "exciting". Especially the ones being built from the ground up. Detroit is seeing some boring prefab and brick hotels being built. But the suburbs and other cities are seeing some exciting designs. Why Detroit settling for such boring designs?

I've seen the other AC Hotels and they are amazing, especially the one in Nashville and New Orleans. Another hotel planned here that comes up short for me is the Cambria Hotel...like yuck? Come on Detroit, step your game up as far as "Design". Sigh..

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AC Hotel has pretty bland architecture overall the fact that this one incorporates the Beth-El I think makes it more aesthetically pleasing. With that being said architecture is awful now

For all those drab hotels, we have real gems that were retrofitted into buildings [[and new build) making up the Shinola, as well as those inside the Wurlitzer, Metropolitan, Firehouse, and David Whitney Buildings. The lobby of the David Whitney alone is architecturally stunning... :eek:

Amen. To Gistok's point.

To me the theater is the visual focal point from the Woodward perspective and the new building simply adds to the viability of the whole development. In that sense I don't care about the bland design. If the architecture of the new hotel structure was too bold it might throw things off visually. It can't be easy in 2020 to design a brand new building to mesh with a 100 year old building, with a modern atrium in the middle.