Iron & Wight Sts-- What's Going On?

[Llama]

There's a lot of construction equipment and a big hole in the ground at Iron & Wight streets on the east side, opposite Mt Elliott Park. The hole extends all the way up to the back of the storefronts on Jefferson. Is something being built there, or is it just a thorough clean up from the buildings they tore down?

[downtownguy]

The latter. Foreman from the site told me when they were knocking down the buildings that they would continue to be around for some time while they removed all the concrete foundations and filled all in with clean dirt. Actually, what you saw yesterday is small compared to the hole that had been there. They've had trucks bringing dirt non-stop for a few weeks. Foreman said it would be filled level with the sidewalks when they were done.

[Llama]

Thanks!

I wonder what's next for that site. Might the development of Mt Elliott Park [[splash pad) help its value any?

[downtownguy]

If anything helps the value, its that its adjacent to the Uniroyal site, which has long been slated for development. Years ago it was announced that former Pittsburgh Steelers halfback and Detroit native Jerome Bettis had formed a partnership with the goal of developing the site into residences and commercial space. That got stalled by the great recession, but last I heard they were again seeking funding. I think Uniroyal will come first, Iron Street site second -- not the other way around.

The park is a nice amenity, but I think potential views of the Detroit River and Belle Isle supersede any benefit of having a small water attraction nearby.