10 Detroit projects that were announced - but never happened

[Lowell]

It use be be one step forward, two back. In recent years it has been two forward, one back. In today's Freep JC Reindl lists the back steps in a cluttered article entitled "10 Detroit projects that were announced - but never happened" that I have excerpted and summarized below. The headline seems a bit disingenuous since it seems that some of these still have legs. Perhaps "Yet" needs to be added to the title? Thoughts? Any additions?

Belle Isle Big Boy Apartments
Site razed and to be replaced it with a new $50 million eight- or 10-story residential high-rise. The Platform's plans called for about 240 apartments in the tower, plus 11,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Construction was to start in fall 2018.

The Mondrian @ Midtown, a five-story building on the 3400 block of Woodward, near the new Little Caesars Arena, was originally announced in 2013 as a future medical office building, with an expected completion in 2014. That date came and went.

Wayne State's boutique hotel
In November 2013, the Wayne State University Board of Governors approved a $60-million-plus plan to construct a ninestory building with about 248 apartments and 120 boutique hotel rooms on what was - and still is - a parking lot at Cass and Canfield, next to WSU's University Towers Apartments.
The targeted completion was sometime in 2016.

Ilitch Athletes' Hotel
An upscale hotel between the arena and the Fisher Freeway service drive, which according to a 2016 tentative site plan for the district, was expected to open for business this year.
[Comment on the rest of the Ilitch unfulfilled promises was not made.]

The Ashton Detroit was to be a newly constructed 11-story luxury condos building at the western edge of downtown with floor-to-ceiling windows, elaborate penthouses and an indoor swimming pool. It was to rise next to the Walker-Roehrig Building at 600 W. Lafayette, across from the old Detroit News building, and be finished in 2018.

Lee Plaza Reno
Formerly unknown in development circles, Detroit native Craig Sasser made headlines in November 2015 when he announced plans to purchase Detroit's vacant and ravaged Lee Plaza high-rise and transform it into 200 luxury apartments.

Packard Plant
Ambitious plans to redevelop parts of the factory as a mixed-use development in phases over many years, starting with a rehab of the old administration building into modern offices and event space. There was a festive groundbreaking event in May 2017 that included remarks by Wayne County Executive Warren Evans. The project's initial phase was to take 18 to 24 months and cost $16 million.

Galapagos buys warehouse, then cashes out
In late 2014, a high-profile arts program called Galapagos Art Space made headlines when its director announced plans to close the program's popular Brooklyn headquarters and reopen in Detroit, because artists were getting priced out of New York and needed a new hip city.

Elmes said earlier this year he still wants to open an arts megacomplex in two former Highland Park school buildings that he purchased, but was considering alternative sites.

Chinese left lofts empty.
Then came Gilbert.
[Why this is included doesn't make sense since Gilbert has rehabbed [or is rehabbing] all three of the DDI properties that included the Stott and Free Press buildings.]
In fall 2013, a Chinese firm called DDI Group bought three downtown buildings at auction, including a 10-story apartment complex at 35 W. Grand River known as Clark Lofts.

Brewster Wheeler Rec Center
In April 2015, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan stood with KC Crain, scion of the Crain Communications media dynasty, to announce plans to save the long-dormant Brewster Wheeler recreational center building and turn it into a trendy restaurant and event space.

Today, the building still sits empty. However, it did host the invitation-only Crain's Detroit Homecoming in September 2016, an event aimed at attracting interest and investment to the region from metro Detroit natives who left. In the lead-up to the homecoming, Duggan called the rec center a “symbol of what Detroit was, how far it fell and how it's coming back.”

[Seven&wyo]

The only reason the Mondrian might get built is because The Platform is behind it the idiots who initiated the idea were clearly incompetent. The same goes for the developer behind the Lee Plaza renovation, DiRita has a track record that speaks for itself. I'll personally give Palazuelo all the time in the world for the Packard Plant considering the scale of the project. The Galapagos guy is either a bullshitter or an idiot for buying in Highland Park

[401don]

I think it would be fair to say "may not happen" with these proposals.

[Danny]

If those developers do not implement a plan to their investors, They will not sponsor. You better be an intelligent business person even when you're real estate business.

[Gistok]

One building that mercifully never got built was the Wayne State Physician building... they wanted to raze the Hammer & Nail Building. Now, I'll be surprised if the larger $300 million multi building property next door gets built... but I'm happy that they saved the high rise Hammer and Nail....

[NSortzi]

The Galapagos building in Corktown is owned by Bedrock and is currently under renovation.

[SpartanDawg]

One building that mercifully never got built was the Wayne State Physician building... they wanted to raze the Hammer & Nail Building. Now, I'll be surprised if the larger $300 million multi building property next door gets built... but I'm happy that they saved the high rise Hammer and Nail....

i'm pretty confident we'll see groundbreaking on this project soon. they wrapped up the community benefit meetings just about 2 weeks ago

[stinkytofu]

i'm pretty confident we'll see groundbreaking on this project soon. they wrapped up the community benefit meetings just about 2 weeks ago

Crossing my fingers. It's a very ambitious/incredible project I really hope happens, but I'm a little pessimistic. Any idea how the meetings went? Did they give a firm date for start of construction? Believe when they announced earlier in year they said July...

[masterblaster]

TWO OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT WERE NEVER BUILT:

$27 million Renovation of the Stone Soap Building on the east Riverfront [[announced Oct. 2017)
-63 new residential units
- The “European-style, open market” food hall will occupy roughly 13,000-square-feet within the building
- include a gym, pool, rooftop gardens, storage, and bike stations for residents.
- The project also includes a permanent performance space for Shakespeare in Detroit.

https://detroit.curbed.com/2017/10/4...-redevelopment

$32 million Sugar Hills Arts District Mixed-use project [[announced June 2017)


"The city has announced the development team for the new $32 million residential/retail development in the Sugar Hill Arts District. The mixed-use building will have 84 apartments, with 25% designated affordable, plus 7,000 square feet of retail space, a 300-space parking garage, and green alleyways
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...ent/102666808/

[hybridy]

The Ashton shouldn’t be on list since it’s now proposed as a Cambria Hotel.

These should be on the list though:
Midtown West

GM/Gilbert Riverfront

Cass & York

[ParisianLesion]

I think we can add everything proposed for Paradise Valley to this list as well.

[hybridy]

The Ashton shouldn’t be on list since it’s now proposed as a Cambria Hotel.

These should be on the list though:
Midtown West
GM/Gilbert Riverfront
Cass & York
Crown Plaza additional tower
Herman Keifer
State Fairgrounds
Henry Ford South Campus

edit. added some additional items

[Danny]

I think we can add everything proposed for Paradise Valley to this list as well.

We tried building 'Africantown' at the once Harmonie Park, but its not catching on.

[Danny]

TWO OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT WERE NEVER BUILT:

$27 million Renovation of the Stone Soap Building on the east Riverfront [[announced Oct. 2017)
-63 new residential units
- The “European-style, open market” food hall will occupy roughly 13,000-square-feet within the building
- include a gym, pool, rooftop gardens, storage, and bike stations for residents.
- The project also includes a permanent performance space for Shakespeare in Detroit.

https://detroit.curbed.com/2017/10/4...-redevelopment

$32 million Sugar Hills Arts District Mixed-use project [[announced June 2017)


"The city has announced the development team for the new $32 million residential/retail development in the Sugar Hill Arts District. The mixed-use building will have 84 apartments, with 25% designated affordable, plus 7,000 square feet of retail space, a 300-space parking garage, and green alleyways
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...ent/102666808/

For that $32 Million dollar super apartment it quotes...'The apartments are made up of studios and 1-2 bedroom apartments. The low-income units will be set aside for renters making around $26,000 to $40,000 a year.'

That's not low-income to me. But gentrification is a necessity that only the lifestyles of the rich and famous can afford.

[Danny]

The Galapagos building in Corktown is owned by Bedrock and is currently under renovation.

Now those are smart and intelligent investors with a real estate game plan.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

Now those are smart and intelligent investors with a real estate game plan.

Yeah, his name is Dan Gilbert.

[Zacha341]

Didn't the Henry Ford South Campus get started? Is that the cancer center across from the main hospital on West Grand Blvd.?

edit. added some additional items

[hybridy]

Didn't the Henry Ford South Campus get started? Is that the cancer center across from the main hospital on West Grand Blvd.?

The cancer center and cardinal health are only pieces so far. Original scope included multiple outpatient buildings, senior housing, surgery center, hotel etc. Perhaps it will still be built, but it's been almost a decade now since initial announcement.

[JonWylie]

I think its worth going back to note that Sugar Hill and Midtown West [[Wigle) have both officially broken ground. Some of these projects are definitely cancelled but there's still some hope for a few.

[Ray1936]

Surprised no one mentioned Jerry Cavanagh's plan to bring the 1968 Olympics to Detroit. Well, most of you weren't born then................

[renf]

While we are at it, there were also plans to build a subway under Woodward but the second Roosevelt administration decided to stimulate
the economy by funding a subway in Chicago. And Mayor Coleman Young, after playing a major role in the nomination of Jimmy Carter, certainly expect that the quid pro quo would be something much for
extensive than the funds Detroit got for it rather successful but modest
People Mover.

[Wheels]

What ever happened to the Robocop Statue.