Wurlitzer Building to be saved, turned into boutique hotel

**rb336** · March-27-15, 11:28 AM

I read the title of this thread as "Turned Into Burlesque Hotel"

now that would be interesting

**kathy2trips** · March-28-15, 01:48 AM

Yes, the People Mover is an eyesore, and earsore, and should be underground.

That said, I would definitely stay at the Wurlitzer on trips back home...IF I didn't have to hear the PM whizzing by my window at all hours. For that racket, I could stay at Uncle Vito's and hear his foghorn snore all night, and for zero money, too.

**Carcross** · March-28-15, 12:47 PM

It would be great to see the Wurlitzer redeveloped. I wonder if the plans also include any use of the adjacent corner lot that the people mover passes over?

**archfan** · March-29-15, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by kathy2trips

Yes, the People Mover is an eyesore, and earsore, and should be underground.

That said, I would definitely stay at the Wurlitzer on trips back home...IF I didn't have to hear the PM whizzing by my window at all hours. For that racket, I could stay at Uncle Vito's and hear his foghorn snore all night, and for zero money, too.

The PM schedule says it runs until midnight on weekdays, 2am on the weekend. What time does Uncle Vito get to sleep?

**Lowell** · March-30-15, 09:34 AM

The Free Press did an article on this a couple of days ago. There is not a lot new but a there is fun rendering and an announcement of the proposed boutique hotel's name ASH NYC. I find it interesting that a rooftop garden appears on top of 1515 Broadway. The last time I spoke with 1515 owner Chris Jaszczak he said he was negotiating with Ash for the right to build balconies jutting out from the hotel, but nothing of using his rooftop.

Other tidbits...

The Brooklyn-based firm has drawn up plans for a $20-million makeover to the historic 14-story building at 1509 Broadway, which dates to 1926 and is one of the most slender towers in Detroit. It has been vacant since 1982.

Work on the Wurlitzer Hotel could start as early as this fall and finish by September 2016. It would add a street-level café and bar to the building as well as a restaurant on the second floor, according to a proposal submitted this month to local officials.

"For years and years, people would stay in Dearborn and the rest of the suburbs and drive downtown to do business and then drive back out to the suburbs -- that's not so true anymore," said hotel consultant Chuck Skelton, president of Ann Arbor-based Hospitality Advisors.

"You've actually got people going downtown and staying downtown now because there's activity down there, there are things to do, there are nice hotels and you have the casinos," he said.

The average hotel occupancy rate in greater downtown Detroit was 70% last year, up from 54% in 2010, according to the latest "7.2 SQ MI" statistical report on the area. The report says there are about 4,500 rooms in greater downtown.

The developer behind the proposed Wurlitzer Hotel is ASH NYC, a design and real estate firm in Brooklyn. Its past projects include a $7.4 million renovation of a 60-room hotel in downtown Providence, R.I. — The Dean — that was formerly a strip club.

**davewindsor** · March-30-15, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Lowell

A New York developer is considering a gut renovation of downtown Detroit's long-vacant and sometimes dangerous Wurlitzer Building to make it a 100-room hotel.

So where exactly are 100 out-of-town guests supposed to park for this hotel?

**rjlj** · March-30-15, 10:49 AM

In a parking lot or parking structure.

Originally Posted by davewindsor

So where exactly are 100 out-of-town guests supposed to park for this hotel?

**401don** · March-30-15, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by rjlj

In a parking lot or parking structure.

I was just about to post the same thing. Lots of boutique hotels are in older buildings with no parking. The norm is to have valet take the cars to a nearby garage.

**kathy2trips** · March-30-15, 12:03 PM

That's true. Hopefully any newly built parking structure will be architecturally harmonious with the area. The last thing we need is some Brutalist monstrosity assaulting the view.

Originally Posted by 401don

I was just about to post the same thing. Lots of boutique hotels are in older buildings with no parking. The norm is to have valet take the cars to a nearby garage.

**Mackinaw** · March-30-15, 12:43 PM

I suspect they'll cut a deal for the Opera House garage or Z-lot, and valet will be the main system of parking. Realistically, even in the current low-transit Detroit, only so many people will arrive with a personal car to park, and this is a small hotel. Should be a minor parking strain.

**davewindsor** · March-30-15, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by rjlj

In a parking lot or parking structure.

If they don't have additional parking in their plan, the building department shouldn't be granting an occupancy permit for another hotel. Most other cities, like Windsor across the river, have by-laws in place that don't allow hotel conversions without providing for new parking lots or structures. And why should Dan Gilbert allow them to park at Z-lot or the Greektown casino garage when he owns a competing hotel at Greektown? The opera house spots are for the opera house. This was previously an office building, so there's no parking grandfathering once it's a zoning change to a hotel, which makes it a new development.

**animatedmartian** · March-30-15, 10:54 PM

There's literally several other hotels downtown that don't have dedicated parking and manage just fine.

**davewindsor** · March-31-15, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

There's literally several other hotels downtown that don't have dedicated parking and manage just fine.

That doesn't make it right. It's poor planning by the city to allow more hotels in downtown without parking spots.

**Gistok** · March-31-15, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by davewindsor

That doesn't make it right. It's poor planning by the city to allow more hotels in downtown without parking spots.

Since you are unaware... the Detroit Opera House built a huge parking structure as part of their endowment. That structure and the parking spaces around the Opera House are more than enough to handle ANY opera.

They built it huge to earn money off of other endeavors, such as sports functions, and leased spaces to other businesses. This way it helps pay for their $65 million [[$42 million for the theatre, $23 million parking structure) Opera House expansion debt. It's not poor planning by the city to allow a boutique hotel... it was shrewd planning by Michigan Opera Theatre to allow for expansion of the neighborhood, and to profit off of it.

When Dr. DiChiera built the Opera House Parking Structure, he was planning on using the the Opera House and parking structure as a catalyst for the revitalization of the neighborhood as he discusses here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODXZsamv2UM

**Hypestyles** · March-31-15, 10:01 PM

anyone ever stay in the holiday inn downtown?

**animatedmartian** · April-01-15, 04:34 AM

Originally Posted by davewindsor

That doesn't make it right. It's poor planning by the city to allow more hotels in downtown without parking spots.

Doesn't make it right? The only time a downtown hotel is ever fully occupied is during a major event. Not only is every other parking space downtown already going to be used anyway, but most patrons probably aren't even arriving with their own private car. There's literally never a need for a hotel this small to ever need 1:1 parking spots for each hotel room.

**mikeg19** · April-01-15, 06:18 AM

God forbid anyone would have to walk 2 blocks after parking or drop it off with a valet.

**Hypestyles** · April-01-15, 08:53 AM

the new hotel should have free Wi-Fi in all its rooms. [[though I'm sure costs will be merged with the base fees).

**davewindsor** · April-01-15, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

Doesn't make it right? The only time a downtown hotel is ever fully occupied is during a major event. Not only is every other parking space downtown already going to be used anyway, but most patrons probably aren't even arriving with their own private car. There's literally never a need for a hotel this small to ever need 1:1 parking spots for each hotel room.

Sorry that I'm not a fan of riding a Shinola bike from the suburbs to downtown like you. I cherish my own personal safety by riding around inside a 4,600 lbs safety box. I don't car pool. I use my own private car during major events. I've seen a lot of others do it too. Downtown does have a lot of major events and I've seen traffic lined up for blocks to get parking during major events plus parking gets quite expensive during major events [[in some lots as high as 50 bucks a day because there isn't enough parking). I've also been stuck on the highway for half an hour to get on the offramp exit to downtown during a major event. This is called the motor city because it was supposed to be built for cars. I don't personally know anyone out of town that visits downtown with anything other than a car.

There is a need for more parking in downtown and hotels in downtown should have their own parking garages. Period.

**Gistok** · April-01-15, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by davewindsor

Sorry that I'm not a fan of riding a Shinola bike from the suburbs to downtown like you. I cherish my own personal safety by riding around inside a 4,600 lbs safety box. I don't car pool. I use my own private car during major events. I've seen a lot of others do it too. Downtown does have a lot of major events and I've seen traffic lined up for blocks to get parking during major events plus parking gets quite expensive during major events [[in some lots as high as 50 bucks a day because there isn't enough parking). I've also been stuck on the highway for half an hour to get on the offramp exit to downtown during a major event. This is called the motor city because it was supposed to be built for cars. I don't personally know anyone out of town that visits downtown with anything other than a car.

There is a need for more parking in downtown and hotels in downtown should have their own parking lots. Period.

Apparently you didn't read my Opera House comments..... are you this daft every time you cross the border?

**southen** · April-01-15, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by davewindsor

Sorry that I'm not a fan of riding a Shinola bike from the suburbs to downtown like you. I cherish my own personal safety by riding around inside a 4,600 lbs safety box. I don't car pool. I use my own private car during major events. I've seen a lot of others do it too. Downtown does have a lot of major events and I've seen traffic lined up for blocks to get parking during major events plus parking gets quite expensive during major events [[in some lots as high as 50 bucks a day because there isn't enough parking). I've also been stuck on the highway for half an hour to get on the offramp exit to downtown during a major event. This is called the motor city because it was supposed to be built for cars. I don't personally know anyone out of town that visits downtown with anything other than a car.

There is a need for more parking in downtown and hotels in downtown should have their own parking lots. Period.

plan accordingly and quit whining. it is a major city and cars/parking is an issue in all of them. also, if im in town visiting a place the last thing im doing is using my car regularly. i will use public transportation or cab/uber to any destination.

**davewindsor** · April-01-15, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by gistok

apparently you didn't read my opera house comments..... Are you this daft every time you cross the border?

No, are you?? Why should I use the opera house parking garage if I want to rent a hotel room for the night? One new hotel room = one new parking spot in downtown!

**davewindsor** · April-01-15, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by southen

plan accordingly and quit whining. it is a major city and cars/parking is an issue in all of them. also, if im in town visiting a place the last thing im doing is using my car regularly. i will use public transportation or cab/uber to any destination.

Or perhaps the city should plan their zoning by-laws accordingly like other cities. With the crimes rates the way they are in Detroit, I don't think public transportation is safe [[let alone reliable to any normal standard) in this city. How do you like them apples??

**southen** · April-01-15, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by davewindsor

Or perhaps the city should plan their zoning by-laws accordingly like other cities. With the crimes rates the way they are in Detroit, I don't think public transportation is safe [[let alone reliable to any normal standard) in this city. How do you like them apples??

conveniently ignoring the uber/cap option... apparently you dont travel far from windsor or the cesspool [[detroit). ive stayed at many places that dont have on site parking and you have to valet. get out and see the world, there are more examples to compare things to than the hustle and bustle of windsor.

[[insert played out late 90's comeback here.)

**davewindsor** · April-01-15, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by southen

conveniently ignoring the uber/cap option... apparently you dont travel far from windsor or the cesspool [[detroit). ive stayed at many places that dont have on site parking and you have to valet. get out and see the world, there are more examples to compare things to than the hustle and bustle of windsor.

[[insert played out late 90's comeback here.)

I have neither the need nor desire to visit overcrowded cities like Manhattan. Why should I "get out and see the world" when everything I'm satisfied with seeing can be conveniently reached by car in this area?