Detroit Development News

[Lmichigan]

Movement is looking to transform the former site of Ford Auditorium, adjacent to Hart Plaza, into a new stage for Movement.

Mandi Wright / Detroit Free Press

Movement looks to increase fest's footprint, book big-name acts

By Brian McCollum | Detroit Free Press

May 28, 2012

The biggest news out of this weekend’s festival might regard the future: Odds are high that Movement is set for a new look, sound and size.

Fest chief Jason Huvaere said he’s ramping up efforts to develop and integrate the space where Ford Auditorium once sat, adjacent to Hart Plaza. Demolition work was finished last week on the city-owned lot, which is about twice the size of Hart Plaza’s 7,000-person capacity main bowl area.

A stage on the new site would allow for larger crowds and bigger name acts, Huvaere said — including the pop crossover artists many young fans are clamoring for amid electronic music’s fast-growing popularity.

Getting there would involve shoring up the site’s foundation — possibly with cement — in an effort that would involve the City of Detroit, a quasi-public management team and support from sponsors or philanthropists.

...

[scolls]

Masonic Temple, Cass Park may get $38M renovation

Plan would give Detroit's Cass Park area, Temple building $38M renovation

A plan is in the works to pump $38 million into Detroit's Masonic Temple and the surrounding desolate area.

The investment in the world's largest Masonic Temple, in the Cass Corridor, is being driven by a team of state and city economic power brokers who are working on the financing and declare the deal could be done by year's end, according to information that was posted online by the Michigan Magnet Fund.

"At this stage, it is expected the project will be able to close in six to eight months," according to the memo, written about a month ago, by the Magnet Fund. It's not clear how long the memo was online, but it was removed Friday after The Detroit News made telephone calls to fund officials.

Plans call for a $9.3 million parking garage, as well as $5 million in inside upgrades that include a new geothermal heating system and more women's rest rooms.

The 14-story complex has 1,037 rooms and multiple theater and entertainment venues. Jack White last month played two sold-out concerts at the temple's rarely used Scottish Rite Cathedral.

The once-grand facility has a storied past in Detroit entertainment history, often used by traveling companies of Broadway shows, as well as top musical acts of the day.

The project also calls for $4 million in upgrades to outdoor public lighting and improvements to Cass Park across the street.

The Magnet Fund is a super-committee of state and city economic officials, such as the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Invest Detroit, that identifies big projects around the state that need tax breaks to become a reality.

The nonprofit fund is run by the MEDC, Great Lakes Capital Fund and the state's Housing Development Authority. The Great Lakes Fund raises money from socially responsible companies and financial institutions that it then invests in affordable housing and community economic development projects, according to the Lansing-based fund's website.

Officials from the MEDC, Invest Detroit and Great Lakes Capital did not return telephone calls and emails to The News. Nor did officials from the Masonic respond. The building is owned by the Masonic Temple Association.

Among the other multimillion-dollar projects the Magnet Fund is working on are the David Whitney Building in downtown Detroit, the Knapp building in Lansing, the Cardinal Health Distribution Center in Detroit's New Center area and the Urban Market in Grand Rapids.

In the case of the Masonic, the Magnet Fund says the project can qualify for federal historic tax credits, federal new market tax credits, state grants and loans. But the Magnet Fund memo said $20 million of the $38 million will come from a "qualified equity investment," which usually means a private investor who often receives part ownership in the property.

Calls to the Magnet Fund were referred to John Fovenesi, who did not return telephone calls. Public records list Fovenesi as chief financial officer of Halberd Holdings LLC, which oversees projects for entertainment and conference facilities.

The Masonic facility at 500 Temple is in a lower Midtown area, where 22 property deals, often cloaked in confidentiality agreements, have taken place. The prices of some of the publicly disclosed deals have been well above prevailing market prices for an area that is among the poorest in the city.

Some business owners and others in the area say they believe the area near Temple and Woodward Avenue — just east of the Masonic Temple — may be part of the land used for a new Detroit Red Wings hockey arena, which team owner Mike Ilitch says he eventually wants to build downtown.

Temple and Woodward has also been named as a stop for the proposed Woodward light-rail project.

In April 2010, the Masonic Temple and Ilitch-owned Olympia Entertainment ended a two-year arrangement in which Olympia Entertainment managed the venue. At the time, Olympia officials said the firm had invested millions of dollars in the facility and paid off and restructured the debt of the building's owners.

Masonic President Roget Sobran vowed then the terminated arrangement did not mean the end of the historic structure.

"We are not going anywhere," he said then.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...#ixzz1xIz8G4vs

I've always liked the Masonic Temple. That area between downtown and midtown needs some help. If the new arena gets built there, you would have a solid corridor along Woodward to build out from.

[Mudhen419]

http://www.toledoblade.com/Nation/20...to-Canada.html

Approval close on new Detroit bridge to Canada
OK by Michigan governor reported

[Mudhen419]

http://www.toledoblade.com/State/201...ew-bridge.html

Michigan governor, Canadian PM announce $1 billion new bridge

[testdrive]

Target is opening a store in downtown Seattle and a few other places around the country. The name on it is called City Target. I am wondering if this would be a good fit for the New Center area or further downtown?

[Mudhen419]

http://www.13abc.com/story/19098504/...-detroit-plant

Chrysler may invest nearly $198M at Detroit plant

[testdrive]

The city want to sell this piece of property on Woodward for development http://www.degc.org/images/gallery/3...RFPFinal_2.pdf
Anything new in this article not already discussed http://www.freep.com/article/2012080...ghborhood-type

[Lmichigan]

More news on the Woodward Streetcar:

(M-1 Rail)

Movement on Detroit's Woodward light rail system to be discussed in open house event

By Khalil AlHajal | kalhajal@mlive.com

August 8, 2012

DETROIT, MI -- An event to discuss the status of plans to build a streetcar system along Woodward Avenue is being planned by state, federal and local authorities.

The state Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments will host the open house Tuesday, Aug. 21, 3 p.m.-7 p.m. at Michigan State University's Detroit Center, 3408 Woodward Ave.

Supporters of the Woodward Avenue Light Rail Transit Project initially planned a 9.3-mile system stretching from Downtown Detroit to 8 Mile Road, but backers later decided on a shorter version.

The group of private investors and philanthropic groups behind the effort now hopes to build 3.3-mile streetcar line between Downtown and the New Center area, according to a SEMCOG news release.

The event later this month is meant to "provide information on an environmental assessment that will analyze potential impacts of the project," according to SEMCOG.

The private investors, lead by M-1 CEO Matt Cullen, Roger Penske and Dan Gilbert, plan to proceed with the project despite setbacks in efforts to secure federal funding.

The group said in June that it had raised close to $90 million in private and philanthropic contributions for construction of the $137-million rail system.

The proposed streetcar line would run along Woodward Avenue from Congress Street to the New Center, making 11 stops along the way. Organizers have said a one-way trip would take between 15 and 16 minutes.

[Lmichigan]

Magic Johnson-backed proposal seeks to redevelop Michigan State Fairgrounds

By Darren A. Nichols | The Detroit News

August 31, 2012

Detroit — Star athlete turned entrepreneur Earvin "Magic" Johnson is a part of a group that submitted a proposal to redevelop the Michigan State Fairgrounds site in Detroit to revitalize a city in need of retail shopping.

Johnson, the Lansing native and Michigan State great who now is a part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is working with Lansing businessman Joel Ferguson and Detroit entrepreneur Marvin Beatty in putting a mixed use project together.

The 500,000 square foot development is expected to include a movie theater, pocket park, restaurants, townhouses and senior living complex, as well as a grocery store. The project, which could bring 1,300 jobs to the Detroit area, would also include an Amtrak station.

...

The project is expected to be adjacent to the Gateway Marketplace project that is under construction. The 350,000 square foot project along Eight Mile and Woodward is expected to include a Meijer, McDonald's, and Marshall's discount and K & G fashions stores. The $72 million project is set to open next year.

...http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...xt|FRONTPAGE|s

I'd actually heard about this a few years back, and by happenstance, had seen a preliminary site plan. I like the idea of an additional Amtrak station. In my mind, this could really serve a better purpose, later, as a major commuter station whenever the state senate finally gets around to passing the RTA.

[Lmichigan]

I love hearing about this kind of jobs impact outside the immediate boundaries of downtown and midtown:

Warren-based Lentine Group brings 200 jobs in move to Detroit near Wayne State

By John Gallagher | Detroit Free Press

September 5, 2012

Warren-based Lentine Group, a family of companies including the Golden Dental Plans and the UnionCircle.com social networking site for union members, announced its move to a Detroit headquarters today and said the move means 200 new jobs for the city.

Lentine executives will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 14 at their new Detroit Center of Operations at 5671 Trumbull near Wayne State University. The center will house Lentine’s LeCom Communications, LeCom Utility Contractors, Golden Dental Plans Marketing and UnionCircle.com.

It will be the new home for 100 current employees as well as about 100 new hires, including software engineers and voice, video and data service technicians.

Lentine Group CEO and founder Sam Lentine commented, “This move is reinvigorating our entire company and we look forward to the prospect of further expansion in the very near future.”

[Lmichigan]

More...

Sachse Construction to relocate HQ to downtown Detroit

by John Gallagher | Detroit Free Press

September 6, 2012

Sachse Construction, a firm doing contracting work for Quicken Loans, is the latest suburban-based company to announce a move to downtown Detroit.

The company will move its headquarters into the Arts League Building at 1528 Woodward in Detroit. The building is owned by Rock Ventures, the umbrella entity owned by Quicken Loans founder and chair Dan Gilbert and his partners.

Sachse’s new 5,500-square-foot office will take up the building’s top floor. About 45 employees will move there when construction is complete in December.

Sachse was the general contractor responsible for the build-out of Quicken Loans’ space in the Compuware building, the M@dison building at 1555 Broadway, the Chase Tower at 611 Woodward Avenue, and other Gilbert-related projects.

“It’s all happening in Detroit and Sachse is in the middle of it,” said Todd Sachse, president of Sachse Construction. “Our entire company is excited to move into and be part of the ‘D’.”

Sachse (the name rhymes with “taxi”) was founded in 1991 and has been based in Birmingham up to now.

The Arts League Building is a 45,146-square-foot, six-story building that was built in 1915.

[scolls]

Basically all the jobs moving to Detroit are being taken from the suburbs. If L Brooks Patterson does this, it's job poaching. When Detroit does it, it's just fantastic. I would be more excited when new jobs come to Detroit instead of just shifting jobs to Detroit. I'm also nervous about this Dan Gilbert empire. What happens if Gilbert goes bankrupt? This is the auto industry all over again.

[Lmichigan]

Where are you originally from in the region? It's time to re-center this region where these type of jobs should have been in the first place.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by Lmichigan

Where are you originally from in the region? It's time to re-center this region where these type of jobs should have been in the first place.

I'm originally from Detroit. Why should the jobs be in Detroit? I work next to Title Source which is moving to Detroit. Most of the people have families and live in and around Troy because of the schools and the family friendly neighborhoods. Now, they have to commute to Detroit and pay Detroit income taxes because a few yuppies have this idea that jobs should be downtown and we should live in lofts above over priced restaurants with catchy names. I would be more excite if outside industries were expanding in Detroit vs shifting jobs. I'm also concerned that Detroit's downtown development is being driven by one person. We done that before with the big 3.

[Mudhen419]

http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotiv...ock-plant.html

Ford to add 1,200 jobs at Flat Rock plant

[hudkina]

Originally Posted by scolls

I'm originally from Detroit. Why should the jobs be in Detroit? I work next to Title Source which is moving to Detroit. Most of the people have families and live in and around Troy because of the schools and the family friendly neighborhoods. Now, they have to commute to Detroit and pay Detroit income taxes because a few yuppies have this idea that jobs should be downtown and we should live in lofts above over priced restaurants with catchy names. I would be more excite if outside industries were expanding in Detroit vs shifting jobs. I'm also concerned that Detroit's downtown development is being driven by one person. We done that before with the big 3.

We wouldn't have had this problem if Troy hadn't poached the jobs in the first place.

[scolls]

Originally Posted by hudkina

We wouldn't have had this problem if Troy hadn't poached the jobs in the first place.

I don't recall Title Source ever being in Detroit, so no Troy didn't poach them from Detroit.

[hudkina]

Well, if maybe Troy had stayed a farm field instead of becoming a job center of 200,000 people, and left the original job centers like Detroit and Pontiac to be the places where Title Source would have opened shop, they wouldn't have needed to be poached. Where do you think all the jobs in Troy came from? Alabama? Yeah, no...

[scolls]

Originally Posted by hudkina

Well, if maybe Troy had stayed a farm field instead of becoming a job center of 200,000 people, and left the original job centers like Detroit and Pontiac to be the places where Title Source would have opened shop, they wouldn't have needed to be poached. Where do you think all the jobs in Troy came from? Alabama? Yeah, no...

It's not Troy's fault Detroit became a crime ridden and high tax city that no one wanted to live in and open a business in. Why don't you blame the business owners who chose Troy over Detroit? Why don't you blame Coleman Young who alienated the city from the rest of the area? I'm not getting excited because jobs shift from the suburbs to Detroit. I'll get excited when a business decides to expand in Detroit, and that doesn't include when a yuppy opens a restaurant in Detroit.

[Lmichigan]

Here we go with the whole Coleman Young thing, again. lol I know exactly what type of "Detroiter" you are from that tell. It's great to see with these announcements that the people that truly believe in the region aren't those bitter folks beholden to the past. You've lost; Metro Detroit is winning by re-centering itself like most metropolitan areas already are. You can either get on the train, or be dragged beneath it; what you're not going to be able to do is stop it.