10 Detroit projects that were announced - but never happened
It use be be one step forward, two back. In recent years it has been two forward, one back. In today's Freep JC Reindl lists the back steps in a cluttered article entitled "10 Detroit projects that were announced - but never happened" that I have excerpted and summarized below. The headline seems a bit disingenuous since it seems that some of these still have legs. Perhaps "Yet" needs to be added to the title? Thoughts? Any additions?
Belle Isle Big Boy Apartments
Site razed and to be replaced it with a new $50 million eight- or 10-story residential high-rise. The Platform's plans called for about 240 apartments in the tower, plus 11,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Construction was to start in fall 2018.
The Mondrian @ Midtown, a five-story building on the 3400 block of Woodward, near the new Little Caesars Arena, was originally announced in 2013 as a future medical office building, with an expected completion in 2014. That date came and went.
Wayne State's boutique hotel
In November 2013, the Wayne State University Board of Governors approved a $60-million-plus plan to construct a ninestory building with about 248 apartments and 120 boutique hotel rooms on what was - and still is - a parking lot at Cass and Canfield, next to WSU's University Towers Apartments.
The targeted completion was sometime in 2016.
Ilitch Athletes' Hotel
An upscale hotel between the arena and the Fisher Freeway service drive, which according to a 2016 tentative site plan for the district, was expected to open for business this year.
[Comment on the rest of the Ilitch unfulfilled promises was not made.]
The Ashton Detroit was to be a newly constructed 11-story luxury condos building at the western edge of downtown with floor-to-ceiling windows, elaborate penthouses and an indoor swimming pool. It was to rise next to the Walker-Roehrig Building at 600 W. Lafayette, across from the old Detroit News building, and be finished in 2018.
Lee Plaza Reno
Formerly unknown in development circles, Detroit native Craig Sasser made headlines in November 2015 when he announced plans to purchase Detroit's vacant and ravaged Lee Plaza high-rise and transform it into 200 luxury apartments.
Packard Plant
Ambitious plans to redevelop parts of the factory as a mixed-use development in phases over many years, starting with a rehab of the old administration building into modern offices and event space. There was a festive groundbreaking event in May 2017 that included remarks by Wayne County Executive Warren Evans. The project's initial phase was to take 18 to 24 months and cost $16 million.
Galapagos buys warehouse, then cashes out
In late 2014, a high-profile arts program called Galapagos Art Space made headlines when its director announced plans to close the program's popular Brooklyn headquarters and reopen in Detroit, because artists were getting priced out of New York and needed a new hip city.
Elmes said earlier this year he still wants to open an arts megacomplex in two former Highland Park school buildings that he purchased, but was considering alternative sites.
Chinese left lofts empty.
Then came Gilbert.
[Why this is included doesn't make sense since Gilbert has rehabbed [or is rehabbing] all three of the DDI properties that included the Stott and Free Press buildings.]
In fall 2013, a Chinese firm called DDI Group bought three downtown buildings at auction, including a 10-story apartment complex at 35 W. Grand River known as Clark Lofts.
Brewster Wheeler Rec Center
In April 2015, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan stood with KC Crain, scion of the Crain Communications media dynasty, to announce plans to save the long-dormant Brewster Wheeler recreational center building and turn it into a trendy restaurant and event space.
Today, the building still sits empty. However, it did host the invitation-only Crain's Detroit Homecoming in September 2016, an event aimed at attracting interest and investment to the region from metro Detroit natives who left. In the lead-up to the homecoming, Duggan called the rec center a “symbol of what Detroit was, how far it fell and how it's coming back.”
