West Elm boutique hotel Announced for 2020

[Lowell]

And another one. Just in from Crain's. New hotel in SOMA.

"Construction on the planned West Elm hotel in Detroit is expected to begin next year at a new site on Woodward Avenue and be complete by 2020.

The boutique hotel by the Brooklyn-based furniture brand is the latest to come into clearer view, following others scattered throughout the greater downtown area.

Detroit-based developer The Roxbury Group has entered into an agreement to develop the approximately 130-room hotel at Woodward and Eliot Street on the approximately 7-acre development site known as South of Mack Avenue, or SOMA, across from Whole Foods. David Di Rita, principal of Roxbury Group, said the hotel market in and around downtown "remains very underserved on various product types down the chain."

Nice little sidebar to the article.

HOTEL WAVE
In the last several years, hotel developments in Detroit have been increasing at a steady clip in an emerging hospitality market, including:
* Elm hotel, 130 rooms
**Shinola Hotel, 130 rooms
*The Siren Hotel, 98 rooms
*The Element Detroit at the Metropolitan Building, 110 rooms
*Boutique hotel at 640 Temple, 100 rooms
*Crowne Plaza Downtown Detroit Riverfront second tower, 498 rooms
*Book Tower, 200 rooms
*Two District Detroit hotels, unknown number of rooms
*Aloft Hotel, 136 rooms — opened 2014
*The Foundation Hotel, 100 rooms — opened 2017

[emu steve]

Is this the site which was to be the location of a Target?

[dtowncitylover]

Is this the site which was to be the location of a Target?

It looks like it's going to be immediately north of the Bonstelle Theatre and south of Eliot. The proposed mixed development would then directly north of Eliot and south of Mack. Both can definitely be placed there and that's what density is all about.

[emu steve]

It looks like it's going to be immediately north of the Bonstelle Theatre and south of Eliot. The proposed mixed development would then directly north of Eliot and south of Mack. Both can definitely be placed there and that's what density is all about.

I think you are right.

If it were the adjacent block they would have said: Woodward/Mack.

[Zads07]

Even better is that nothing is being torn down for this project. Excellent news!

[renf]

Will Pure Michigan promote Detroit as a great place to spend a day if you are flying from the left to the east coast? If so, this new botique hotel will have a great location since it is on the Q line and within walking distance of some of the city's most interesting architecture. Who knew there would
be such a demand for botique hotel rooms in downtown?

[detroitbob]

From the Free press article, aerial view of the site. WSU was planning on decommissioning the Bonstelle in 2020 when the new performing arts complex opens next to the Hilberry. The rendering of the Woodward frontage shows a return to the pre-Mayfair Theatre facade.

[WPitonya]

I really, really hope they make Eliot Street go through to John R. No more split up blocks!

[Hypestyles]

hmm very nice

[masterblaster]

I really liked the original proposed location for the West Elm hotel at Cass and Canfield. That part of Cass Avenue is such a vibrant area and the hotel et al would have added to the awesomeness.

This hotel was originally proposed in 2015, and I thought this wouldn't happen, so I am ECSTATIC that this is still being built though.

[southen]

I really, really hope they make Eliot Street go through to John R. No more split up blocks!

I believe that is the plan for the area with residential and now this hotel fronting Woodward, with parking garages behind to accommodate the residential as well as the Red Cross offices there.

[dtowncitylover]

Some news...

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...GxGGKw_Lx2_0Ok

[DetroitSoldier]

That entire South of Mack [[SoMa is a super catchy name!) area both East and West of Woodward holds major value. It is one of the very few available areas remaining undeveloped along Detroit's main street. A hotel in the location would be great news for the high quality dining and drinking establishments in the area.

[detroitbob]

I think you are right.

If it were the adjacent block they would have said: Woodward/Mack.

Target will be at the development that will run east on Mack/Woodward/John Rwith the parking garage servicing the hotel and Bonstelle along with the designated shopping area.

[Gistok]

Wonderful news about the re-use of the Bonstelle Theatre as part of a hotel project.

To the original 1903 Albert Kahn designed Temple Beth-El building Detroit's famous theatre architect C. Howard Crane mostly just added a blocked up entrance to the former columned stairs, and changed the altar/organ area of the former synagogue by removing them and and adding a stage and stage house in back.

This is a win-win for the city... adaptive reuse [[words not in the Ilitch lexicon). The restoral of the former facade underneath the Crane facade addition will restore it to its' attractive original look of 1903... although the lawn approach to the entrance was removed during the widening of Woodward in the 1930s.

This is going to look great!!

[p1acebo]

Wonderful news about the re-use of the Bonstelle Theatre as part of a hotel project.

To the original 1903 Albert Kahn designed Temple Beth-El building Detroit's famous theatre architect C. Howard Crane mostly just added a blocked up entrance to the former columned stairs, and changed the altar/organ area of the former synagogue by removing them and and adding a stage and stage house in back.

This is a win-win for the city... adaptive reuse [[words not in the Ilitch lexicon). The restoral of the former facade underneath the Crane facade addition will restore it to its' attractive original look of 1903... although the lawn approach to the entrance was removed during the widening of Woodward in the 1930s.

This is going to look great!!

Wow, that is truly amazing. Not a bad set up either. What would they use the actual theater for though?

[Bradley]

Good stuff. Things will ultimately spread into the neighborhoods. Crime and grime is going down. That dirty War on Drugs is abating and MayorMike seems to be doing Corruption the right way.. Buisiness first

[hybridy]

West Elm project scrapped

The deal was scrapped by Detroit-based The Roxbury Group late this spring, David Di Rita, the company's principal, said Monday, confirming a detail in a lengthy Detroit Free Press story by JC Reindl on Friday.

He declined to provide specifics on why the business relationship didn't work out, although he did say that Roxbury started talks with other hotel flags for the project after West Elm was no longer in the picture.

But the hiccup in the Detroit project comes around the same time that a West Elm hotel in Indianapolis was canceled, as well. In June, Indianapolis Monthly reported that the West Elm hotel in that city was DOA.

[JonWylie]

West Elm project scrapped

Seems to be an issue with West Elm, hopefully the project will just move on under a different flag. Good news about the Vernor site though, hopefully that actually does get approval in the next few months

[Gistok]

This Freep article of 2 days earlier link makes the former West Elm... now Hotel Bonstelle, sound more promising...

https://freep-mi.newsmemory.com/?pub...8ad8ca_13410e0

[JK313]

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...re-development

Update on the project. Now slated to be a 10 story 153 room AC hotel by Marriot. Construction is slated to start this summer

[DetroitSoldier]

This will be an excellent development. I am glad it is still moving forward. It seems like an ambitious timeline though. Hopefully this means construction starts sooner rather than later. "Summer" is quite vague.

[Gistok]

Here's the Bonstelle when it was first built as Temple Beth-El...

https://historicdetroit.org/gallerie...tre-old-photos

I'm having trouble finding good images of the 1925 renovation by C. Howard Crane when it was turned into a playhouse... but it's not anywhere near as beautiful as the 1903 original.

[DetBill]

Here's the Bonstelle when it was first built as Temple Beth-El...

https://historicdetroit.org/gallerie...tre-old-photos

I'm having trouble finding good images of the 1925 renovation by C. Howard Crane when it was turned into a playhouse... but it's not anywhere near as beautiful as the 1903 original.

Great find and pics,,, thanks for posting

[detroitbob]

The Bonstelle as C Howard Crane adapted from the Temple...note the entrance to the physical auditorium was added to but not dramatically altered. The alterations happened when Woodwars was widened in the mid1930's and the theatre was operating as the Mayfair, all day B run motion picture theater.