Upscale boutique hotel "The Foundation" coming downtown, old fire dep HQ

**SpartanDawg** · July-02-14, 09:07 AM

The old fire headquarters across cobo hall right next to the crowne plaza will be a 100 room upscale hotel called The Foundation.

I feel like the resurgence of Downtown Detroit's hotels have been in large part a trickle down effect of the massive Cobo renovation... all the renovations and now two new hotels will open within a year of each other in historic buildings that were sitting empty [[aloft in the david whitney being the other).. wonderful news.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...ned-into-hotel

**stinkytofu** · July-02-14, 09:30 AM

This has been discussed for a year or two now. Hopefully they'll get moving on it soon. I don't know if I read this hear or heard from someone, but I believe they also purchased the little building next to it that was the terrible nightclub to use as part of this development.

**DetroitPlanner** · July-02-14, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by stinkytofu

This has been discussed for a year or two now. Hopefully they'll get moving on it soon. I don't know if I read this hear or heard from someone, but I believe they also purchased the little building next to it that was the terrible nightclub to use as part of this development.

My best guess is that with the next move on this chess board that it is probably a goner. Will most likely replace this and the lot next to it with a parking structure suitable for both hotels. The reality is that hotels need parking, particularly in this town where we underfund transit and we have 'supporters' like trainman who want to kill any funding in hopes that we will fund his own narrow vision. Not sure if there is anything historic about the building other than it once being home to Pontchartrain Wine Cellar and most of what it was back then has been far destroyed by Envy.

**stinkytofu** · July-02-14, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

My best guess is that with the next move on this chess board that it is probably a goner. Will most likely replace this and the lot next to it with a parking structure suitable for both hotels. The reality is that hotels need parking, particularly in this town where we underfund transit and we have 'supporters' like trainman who want to kill any funding in hopes that we will fund his own narrow vision. Not sure if there is anything historic about the building other than it once being home to Pontchartrain Wine Cellar and most of what it was back then has been far destroyed by Envy.

I should clarify - whoever I heard it from [[I think I know who - not on here) said they are keeping the building and using that as part of the hotel as well. Before I heard about it being purchased I thought that would be an awesome place for a cool Detroit themed relatively upscale bar. You have the Pontch and this hotel feeding you nightly...and the Cobo events as well. Cool way to show off the city and have fun with visitors.

**bassab** · July-02-14, 10:22 AM

Plans or building next door:

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...c-gem.php#more

**stinkytofu** · July-02-14, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by bassab

Plans or building next door:

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...c-gem.php#more

Great - thanks!

**DetroitPlanner** · July-02-14, 11:53 AM

Interesting. Hope they can turn that pig's ear into a silk purse and save it.

**Chicago48** · July-02-14, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by SpartanDawg

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...ned-into-hotel

the old fire headquarters across cobo hall right next to the crowne plaza will be a 100 room upscale hotel called The Foundation

I feel like the resurgence of Downtown Detroit's hotels have been in large part a trickle down effect of the massive Cobo renovation... all the renovations and now two new hotels will open within a year of each other in historic buildings that were sitting empty [[aloft in the david whitney being the other).. wonderful news

The city will need a LOT of convention business to make this many hotels work. Like Chicago or Orlando. The thing that Detroit has going for it is competitive prices and taxes for conventioneers. Other than that, Detroit has a steep hill to climb to get big conventions into the city.

**animatedmartian** · July-02-14, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Chicago48

The city will need a LOT of convention business to make this many hotels work. Like Chicago or Orlando. The thing that Detroit has going for it is competitive prices and taxes for conventioneers. Other than that, Detroit has a steep hill to climb to get big conventions into the city.

9 hotels is hardly "many" hotels.

**rb336** · July-02-14, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

9 hotels is hardly "many" hotels.

I can name 13 downtown hotels off the top of my head that I wouldn't worry about recommending. 14 if you count the Inn at Ferry Street.

**DetroitPlanner** · July-03-14, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by rb336

I can name 13 downtown hotels off the top of my head that I wouldn't worry about recommending. 14 if you count the Inn at Ferry Street.

15 if you include the Viking! http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Michigan.html

**stinkytofu** · July-03-14, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by Chicago48

The city will need a LOT of convention business to make this many hotels work. Like Chicago or Orlando. The thing that Detroit has going for it is competitive prices and taxes for conventioneers. Other than that, Detroit has a steep hill to climb to get big conventions into the city.

Well, the good news is that Cobo has seen a very significant uptick in business the last year or so.

**DetroitPlanner** · July-03-14, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by stinkytofu

Well, the good news is that Cobo has seen a very significant uptick in business the last year or so.

One year is not a trend. You need to sustain it over a much longer period of time. For example, it has been years since Detroit has hosted a Superbowl, All Star Game, or Final four. If you look at the trend of hosting major sporting events it has been a downward trend. Is this all bad? No. But don't place your bets before you sit at the table.

**stinkytofu** · July-03-14, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

One year is not a trend. You need to sustain it over a much longer period of time. For example, it has been years since Detroit has hosted a Superbowl, All Star Game, or Final four. If you look at the trend of hosting major sporting events it has been a downward trend. Is this all bad? No. But don't place your bets before you sit at the table.

True, but we are comparing apples and oranges if you consider "old" Cobo to "new" Cobo. Cobo is now viewed infinitely better than it was just three or four years ago. That's not even taking into consideration they still have a good amount of work left. I would have to believe that the "new" Cobo has helped generate the additional business and don't see how that business would take a significant hit going forward. It's becoming a great facility.

**jt1** · July-03-14, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

One year is not a trend. You need to sustain it over a much longer period of time. For example, it has been years since Detroit has hosted a Superbowl, All Star Game, or Final four. If you look at the trend of hosting major sporting events it has been a downward trend. Is this all bad? No. But don't place your bets before you sit at the table.

I agree however I recall reading an article that the number of events booked in the next three years are already more than in past years [[year over year). The books, if memory serves are much stronger in 2015 and 2016 as well. There are also more large scale events already booked.

**SpartanDawg** · July-03-14, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

One year is not a trend. You need to sustain it over a much longer period of time. For example, it has been years since Detroit has hosted a Superbowl, All Star Game, or Final four. If you look at the trend of hosting major sporting events it has been a downward trend. Is this all bad? No. But don't place your bets before you sit at the table.

this is where the new Red wings arena will come into play.. i guarantee we host the NHL all-star game.. along with ncaa mens basketball tournament games every few years... along with many more concerts and events that flee to the palace currently because joe louis is such a POS

also JUST this year we had the winter classic events all in downtown at comerica... that brought in quite a few people

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · July-05-14, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by jt1

I agree however I recall reading an article that the number of events booked in the next three years are already more than in past years [[year over year). The books, if memory serves are much stronger in 2015 and 2016 as well. There are also more large scale events already booked.

This is true. Cobo already has many more non-Auto Show bookings in the coming years. Also, the improvements at Cobo free up time there so that other events can be booked during some of the time previously used for set up and break down for the Auto Show. Hotel room rates and occupancy levels have been on a consistent upswing in the last few years. But event-related hotel bookings are only part of the equation. All the new people living and working downtown themselves cause hotel bookings. All the new office tenants generate them, too. And we have already crossed over a once unthinkable threshhold [[I know this first hand from people I deal with every day): people from SE Michigan and even a little further out now regularly book a room downtown, with a plan to eat dinner, catch a game or show, spend a little time at a casino, have breakfast followed by a walk along the river. In short: hanging out in Detroit for a day or a night is now a thing a lot of people do, event without an event or obligation attached. That is probably the most valuable thing in the long run: getting locals to appreciate what's here.

**rb336** · July-05-14, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

One year is not a trend. You need to sustain it over a much longer period of time. For example, it has been years since Detroit has hosted a Superbowl, All Star Game, or Final four. If you look at the trend of hosting major sporting events it has been a downward trend. Is this all bad? No. But don't place your bets before you sit at the table.

bookings are higher for 1 year and 2 year lead times as well

**rb336** · July-05-14, 03:50 PM

I was just reading the reviews of the Detroit hotels on tripadvisor. lots of great comments, both about the hotels and the city. What distressed me was the HORRIBLE spelling and grammar of some of the hotel responses

**SpartanDawg** · October-28-14, 01:06 PM

http://www.freep.com/story/money/bus...cobo/18053683/

"The Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $5.84 million investment in the project. The hotel project is estimated to cost $28 million and will create almost 100 jobs."

"This historic building exemplifies Detroit's rich architectural legacy. When completed in time for the 2016 North American International Auto Show, it will be a new showcase of the city's continuing revitalization."

**Danny** · October-28-14, 05:42 PM

That old Gilberttown Detroit fire station used be part of the major motion picture Reel-Steel.

**401don** · March-14-16, 10:04 AM

Funding finally in place. The hotel was supposed to open in time for the 2016 Auto Show. Now they are saying next year's. That would be 9 months to gut and build it. I'm guessing it will open by late spring/early summer next yr.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...s-funding-base