Hudson's Site Building Thread

**401don** · November-18-21, 12:02 PM

https://www.freep.com/story/money/bu...ad/6301100001/

Can anyone with a subscription say if there's anything new here. There are some obvious reasons for the delays - a lot of other developments going on, a lack of tenants made worse by the pandemic, Gilbert's health, etc.

**JonWylie** · November-18-21, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

https://www.freep.com/story/money/bu...ad/6301100001/

Can anyone with a subscription say if there's anything new here. There are some obvious reasons for the delays - a lot of other developments going on, a lack of tenants made worse by the pandemic, Gilbert's health, etc.

Besides Covid I don't think you can really attribute anything to a "delay". Once the actually construction started, the progress has been pretty consistent. The groundbreaking was actually just the groundbreaking of the demolition of the old garage, and there was well cited delays with that due to undiscovered things below ground. Since they restarted construction full time, it appears to be moving along pretty well.

**angry_fred** · November-18-21, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

https://www.freep.com/story/money/bu...ad/6301100001/

Can anyone with a subscription say if there's anything new here. There are some obvious reasons for the delays - a lot of other developments going on, a lack of tenants made worse by the pandemic, Gilbert's health, etc.

Nothing super groundbreaking but there are a few tidbits:

1. Bedrock confirmed Wednesday that the tower will still be 49 stories.
2. Hotelier Ian Schrager [[co-founder of NYC's Studio 54) referred to Detroit, Gilbert, and this specific project in recent interviews this year about his EDITION hotels, which are a joint venture with Marriott, so clearly talks are happening but we don't know to what extent
3. The Huntington [[former TCF and Chemical Bank) tower is on pace for a summer 2022 completion

That's about it. A bunch of mildly obvious stuff. You can choose what you want to believe on the 49 stories, and the hotel operator is going to lead me down a google rabbit hole in short order

**401don** · November-18-21, 01:25 PM

Thanks for the info Fred.

**Scottathew** · November-18-21, 03:36 PM

49 stories is still pretty awesome. The fact that it's full steam ahead even through the rapidly changing times is great.

However, after watching the site it just looks like they're moving steel and concrete around! /sarcasm

**Gistok** · November-18-21, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by Scottathew

49 stories is still pretty awesome. The fact that it's full steam ahead even through the rapidly changing times is great.

Since much of the building is hotel/residential... with 49 floors, I have a hard time coming up with the 680 ft. height. I realize that lower floors will be taller, as event and other space, but if you look at the Renaissance Center Marriott Hotel... the 73 floors of hotel averages out to 10 ft. per floor.

Also, speaking of RenCen... when the then Detroit Plaza Hotel was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the worlds tallest hotel a few decades ago... they listed it as 727ft. tall from the front entrance, but 748ft. tall when measured from the back [now Wintergarten] entrance. The lowest level of the hotel was not exactly a basement, but it was below front street level.

**royce** · November-19-21, 06:21 AM

The tower's height just seems out of place, in relation to that area of downtown. It should be comparable in height to the Broderick and Stott. Anything higher is just going to look out of place. Oh, I already said that. Well, I guess you know how I feel.

**Gistok** · November-20-21, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by royce

The tower's height just seems out of place, in relation to that area of downtown. It should be comparable in height to the Broderick and Stott. Anything higher is just going to look out of place. Oh, I already said that. Well, I guess you know how I feel.

I don't think so... as someone said... from the waterfront it helps with the lopsided height issue that RenCen presents, and from the north, it wouldn't overpower the city center.

**ILKSGAMI** · December-07-21, 12:23 PM

Checked out the Hudson's Site website today as it was down a couple days ago and noticed some new interesting details. First thing was that it states a height of 685' 4" ... which seems pretty exact. Also noted that they claim there will be a 5 star hotel with 227 rooms. https://www.hudsonssitedetroit.com/

**ShadowSoarer** · December-07-21, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by ILKSGAMI

Checked out the Hudson's Site website today as it was down a couple days ago and noticed some new interesting details. First thing was that it states a height of 685' 4" ... which seems pretty exact. Also noted that they claim there will be a 5 star hotel with 227 rooms. https://www.hudsonssitedetroit.com/

Great update, also noticed that office space is roughly the same [[from 2020), but retail square feet has increased from 18,000 sq. ft to 28,600 sq. ft so almost 1.5x and now they is a rooftop terrace on the block. Also looks like they included 21,000 sq. ft of outside plaza space.

Attachment 41851

**Gistok** · December-07-21, 01:10 PM

^ Thanks for the info! 64 ft. taller than the Ally Building. I cannot fathom anyone thinking that this is too tall. It would be like saying the Broderick Tower is too tall for Grand Circus Park.

**angry_fred** · December-07-21, 03:18 PM

Now we just need to get that damn camera back up and running on YouTube

**Satiricalivory** · December-07-21, 03:23 PM

Yeah I think hopes for a height increase are looking pretty bleak right now.

Can't for the life of me understand why Gilbert said "biggest building" and 70 some stories if it's going to be neither of those things. But who knows maybe there will still be an announcement surprise.

Missed opportunity if not, like you have the resources to inch it up a little more all it takes is some more apartments which downtown can easily fill. Doesn't make any damn sense. They're going all out making this building extremely lavish, why can't you just increase the height a small amount?

**southen** · December-08-21, 10:15 AM

With each iteration I am less impressed with the design when viewing from afar but I think it will be really nice with some great details on a pedestrian level. The tower looks just a bit off near the top.

**ShadowSoarer** · December-08-21, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by southen

With each iteration I am less impressed with the design when viewing from afar but I think it will be really nice with some great details on a pedestrian level. The tower looks just a bit off near the top.

Forgot to mention that the video on the Hudson website has updated renders toward the end of the video, but looks like they removed that video even from YouTube. Maybe they are still in the process of updating, but believe there was one at a pedestrian level.

**southen** · December-09-21, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by ShadowSoarer

Forgot to mention that the video on the Hudson website has updated renders toward the end of the video, but looks like they removed that video even from YouTube. Maybe they are still in the process of updating, but believe there was one at a pedestrian level.

Yeah I was able to screen shot some of those. It will be incredible nice at the street level and how must of us will experience the buildings. Comparing it to other SHoP designs from afar just makes go "meh" but that may also be due to the insanely long timeline of this project and its downgrading in scope.

**1953** · December-09-21, 01:30 PM

I agree that this building is getting uglier and uglier. I guess we'll have to take solace in the street wall restoration and addition of a tower to downtown.

**mikeg19** · December-08-21, 12:24 PM

It's got a nice scale to it according to the initial shot looking down Woodward. It drives me nuts though that Downtown all seems situated to the west of Broadway in terms of height. Hopefully whatever gets put up at the Fail Jail site + The Exchange start to facilitate growth in that section of Downtown.

**Satiricalivory** · December-09-21, 01:44 PM

In what world, what universe are these buildings ugly? You realize that's terracotta and bronze on the facade? It's going to look incredible. Only Detroityes would find a way to complain. You should probably consider that you have bad taste.

**Gistok** · December-09-21, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by Satiricalivory

In what world, what universe are these buildings ugly? You realize that's terracotta and bronze on the facade? It's going to look incredible. Only Detroityes would find a way to complain. You should probably consider that you have bad taste.

Yes... we DYESers always do complain... just like you did on the height a few posts back... but that's what a forum is all about... giving personal opinions.

That distant perspective looks different again from this closeup one, which I too prefer...

**Satiricalivory** · December-09-21, 06:46 PM

At some point a complaint becomes irrational and just for the sake of complaining. Some opinions should have stayed in a draft.

**gthomas** · December-10-21, 02:57 AM

I posted some pictures on Skyscrapercity.com of the Hudson site. Unfortunately, Detroityes is not capable of letting me post pictures here, says I'm banned...

**gthomas** · December-10-21, 02:58 AM

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threa...post-176459743

**bragaboutme** · December-12-21, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by gthomas

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threa...post-176459743

I was reading some of the post from 2010. It's interesting to see what people thought back then and how crazy it was that Downtown Detroit would get any structure built. All of the buildings that was said wouldn't be redone are finishing up or finished. Even though half right, in one comment Dan did build on the Hudson site, but his company isn't going to be in there. Here's to a bright future for Detroit.

**Gistok** · December-10-21, 05:37 AM

Thanks gthomas... I am pleased with that design. Is it innovative? Not at all, but it looks good, and it fits the streetwall exceptionally well.

I also like the fact that part of the west side of lower Woodward is midrise, with Broderick Tower, Hudson's Tower and Ally Tower rising above the rest. It will look very good, especially with Hudson's tower rising 60 ft. higher than Ally Tower.