Google Moving Downtown

**emu steve** · October-10-17, 02:12 PM

from the 'burbs.

"The tech giant plans to double space from the 17,000 square feet it occupies in Birmingham. The office has 100 employees that focus on digital advertising for auto industry.

“Google is psyched to be part of Detroit’s comeback,” Danielle Russell, head of Google Detroit said in a statement. “There’s so much energy in this city — so much creativity, innovation and hard work — we can’t wait to be part of the day-to-day action and to grow with downtown Detroit.”

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/tec...oit/106499386/

**313WX** · October-10-17, 02:29 PM

The title should be clarified. I'm sure I won't be the only one who thinks it's the Ann Arbor offices moving downtown.

**emu steve** · October-10-17, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by 313WX

The title should be clarified. I'm sure I won't be the only one who thinks it's the Ann Arbor offices moving downtown.

I hear you, but Ann Arbor isn't normally considered a suburb of Detroit like some of the OC cities.

**EGrant** · October-10-17, 06:23 PM

Can anyone give a basic idea of what kind of space 30,000 sq. feet would occupy?

**archfan** · October-11-17, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by emu steve

I hear you, but Ann Arbor isn't normally considered a suburb of Detroit like some of the OC cities.

I really hope we aren't going to argue about that again!

**archfan** · October-11-17, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by EGrant

Can anyone give a basic idea of what kind of space 30,000 sq. feet would occupy?

Well, it's 30 feet wide by 1000 feet long...

This entire building is 35,000 square feet.

From what I can tell, the 150 W. Jefferson building has floors about 19,000 sq ft. So, maybe 2 floors in a skinnier building?

**EGrant** · October-11-17, 01:30 PM

Gotcha. So one of the newly renovated buildings on Merchant Row seems like a nice fit. And there's a lot of value in having Google signage on such a prominent part of downtown.

DetroitNightLights · October-11-17, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by EGrant

Can anyone give a basic idea of what kind of space 30,000 sq. feet would occupy?

Originally Posted by EGrant

Gotcha. So one of the newly renovated buildings on Merchant Row seems like a nice fit. And there's a lot of value in having Google signage on such a prominent part of downtown.

Below are some buildings around 30,000 square feet.

Greektown Jack Office - Former school
Lear Tech Center - Capitol Park
Arts League Building 1528 Woodward Ave.
Lane Bryant Building 1520 Woodward Ave.
Traver Building 1217 Woodward Ave.
1265 Griswold
Old Salvation Army Building 601 Bagley
220 W. Congress St.

Lear's new place in Capitol Park is very close in size. Three of your Woodward Avenue buildings made that list, but only the Traver Building is vacant. The Congress Street building is the only other one that is vacant. 601 Bagley is being used by DTE temporarily while their main office tower is being renovated, floor by floor. Jack Casino offices are being moved to the vacant former school building at St. Antoine and Monroe, freeing up enough space for Google in One Woodward Avenue. Besides those, I think there are eight the buildings with enough vacant contiguous Class A office space that could immediately accommodate Google.

150 W. Jefferson
211 W. Fort
Guardian Building
One Woodward Ave.
Ren Cen Tower 1
Ren Cen Tower 2
Ren Cen Tower 4
Ren Cen Tower 6

**EGrant** · October-12-17, 09:20 AM

I also saw on Reddit that they were looking at space in the LCA.

**Zads07** · October-12-17, 01:45 PM

Would love to see them on Woodward somewhere downtown

**SammyS** · October-12-17, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Zads07

Would love to see them on Woodward somewhere downtown

That would be sweet

**Zads07** · October-13-17, 11:01 AM

Appears the company will move next to Little Caesars Arena.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...-caesars-arena

"Internet giant Google is nearing a deal for at least 35,000 square feet of new office space next to Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit."

**stasu1213** · October-13-17, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitNightLights

Below are some buildings around 30,000 square feet.

Greektown Jack Office - Former school
Lear Tech Center - Capitol Park
Arts League Building 1528 Woodward Ave.
Lane Bryant Building 1520 Woodward Ave.
Traver Building 1217 Woodward Ave.
1265 Griswold
Old Salvation Army Building 601 Bagley
220 W. Congress St.

Lear's new place in Capitol Park is very close in size. Three of your Woodward Avenue buildings made that list, but only the Traver Building is vacant. The Congress Street building is the only other one that is vacant. 601 Bagley is being used by DTE temporarily while their main office tower is being renovated, floor by floor. Jack Casino offices are being moved to the vacant former school building at St. Antoine and Monroe, freeing up enough space for Google in One Woodward Avenue. Besides those, I think there are eight the buildings with enough vacant contiguous Class A office space that could immediately accommodate Google.

150 W. Jefferson
211 W. Fort
Guardian Building
One Woodward Ave.
Ren Cen Tower 1
Ren Cen Tower 2
Ren Cen Tower 4
Ren Cen Tower 6

I would rather see Google on Merchants Row in the thick of things instead of inside an island off to itself which is named the RenCen

**stasu1213** · October-13-17, 01:14 PM

How about the former Michigan National Bank location on Woodward and Clifford. The Care Center currently had it's attention display on the ground level. That building was currently renovated. 1001 Woodward would also be a nice location for Google

**SpartanDawg** · October-13-17, 04:07 PM

So looks like they're moving to the building attached to LCA! the four story one with the team store and "sports and social" on the ground floor. That's pretty awesome!

great job by the illitches

**SammyS** · October-13-17, 05:09 PM

The lifestyle expectations of those living/working in Birmingham and Detroit couldn't be further apart. I'd expect many current employees to ditch and spots open to local Detroiters. Another bonus

DetroitNightLights · October-16-17, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by stasu1213

Originally Posted by DetroitNightLights

...Besides those, I think there are eight the buildings with enough vacant contiguous Class A office space that could immediately accommodate Google.

150 W. Jefferson
211 W. Fort
Guardian Building
One Woodward Ave.
Ren Cen Tower 1
Ren Cen Tower 2
Ren Cen Tower 4
Ren Cen Tower 6

I would rather see Google on Merchants Row in the thick of things instead of inside an island off to itself which is named the RenCen

Are the high vacancies at the Renaissance Center and Penobscot Block depressing real estate values, preventing new office buildings from being built?

Dan Gilbert runs low on downtown space, may spill workers to suburbs

Are the Renaissance Center and Penobscot Buildings really that undesirable?

**mikehamm45** · October-17-17, 01:13 PM

I can read between the lines, the cynic in me sees this as a soft threat for me tax breaks to build the hudson site... from the article...
Gilbert predicted he might not be the only one looking elsewhere before the city sees a building boom.He calculated that based on the number of businesses in Detroit's central district, they would be 10 million square feet short of space within nine years if they grow as projected.
"If you don’t have new development, you’re in big trouble," he concluded.

**dtowncitylover** · October-17-17, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by mikehamm45

I can read between the lines, the cynic in me sees this as a soft threat for me tax breaks to build the hudson site... from the article...
Gilbert predicted he might not be the only one looking elsewhere before the city sees a building boom.He calculated that based on the number of businesses in Detroit's central district, they would be 10 million square feet short of space within nine years if they grow as projected.
"If you don’t have new development, you’re in big trouble," he concluded.

The article that DetroitNightLights posted is nearly a year old. I believe he will get the tax breaks and build the Hudson development and the Monroe development.

**emu steve** · November-20-17, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by SpartanDawg

So looks like they're moving to the building attached to LCA! the four story one with the team store and "sports and social" on the ground floor. That's pretty awesome!

great job by the illitches

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...little-caesars

Almost 30K square feet, more than 100 employees, delivery in spring.

Nice start.

And the 'in spring' indicates [[explicitly in the article) that when the space is ready.

Sounds like lot of work to get the LCA ready for the Red Wings offices as well as other commercial office space ready.

By time all of the commercial office space is utilized sounds like a nice addition of workers in that area and then WSU bus. school will also open in 2018.

**Scottathew** · November-20-17, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by SammyS

The lifestyle expectations of those living/working in Birmingham and Detroit couldn't be further apart. I'd expect many current employees to ditch and spots open to local Detroiters. Another bonus

Quicken didn't lose a lot of people when it moved downtown from various suburban location, I don't expect Google to lose a lot. Some people may be unhappy, especially if they're a short drive to Birmingham.

However, I do hope that any new jobs generated or turned over might be able to go to locals. Detroit can really benefit from well-paying professional jobs being held by residents.

**ParisianLesion** · November-20-17, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by SammyS

The lifestyle expectations of those living/working in Birmingham and Detroit couldn't be further apart. I'd expect many current employees to ditch and spots open to local Detroiters. Another bonus

Literally zero employees are going to leave Google simply because the office is 10 miles away from where it was before. And if google does hire anyone new, they are going to base it in qualifications, not where that individual happens to live.

**SammyS** · November-20-17, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by ParisianLesion

Literally zero employees are going to leave Google simply because the office is 10 miles away from where it was before. And if google does hire anyone new, they are going to base it in qualifications, not where that individual happens to live.

That's the right approach but knowing Googles "Social Justice" initiatives, they may insist on local "diversification" if you know what I mean. This is not to suggest locals are not qualified but simply put, they'll have a greater pool to draw from that ticks all thier boxes.
https://youtu.be/L1D0QtwXmJI