Detroit Development News

[deepdive282]

http://detroit2020.com/2011/11/03/de...lopment-plans/

[hudkina]

This is why I think having light rail extended along Jefferson from Downtown to the Indian Village area is crucial. To create the demand for density that this area truly needs, the people need access to the major job centers in the Downtown, Midtown, and New Center areas.

[deepdive282]

New Plan In Works For Old Hudson's Site In Detroit

Businessman Dan Gilbert Taking Reigns On Redevelopment Of Site On Woodward Ave.

DETROIT -- The site of the former Hudson’s department store in Detroit has been sitting vacant since 1998. But there’s new hope that the site on Woodward Avenue could soon be filled with upwards of $100 million in development.

The Wayne County Commission’s Economic Development Committee met Tuesday to go over a plan masterminded by prominent businessman Dan Gilbert and his real estate group to develop retail and loft-style housing at the site.

In a statement, Gilbert told Local 4 a development entity for Bedrock Real Estate and/or its affiliates was requesting a 15-year extension of the renaissance zone, just north of the Compuware building.

"Bedrock and its affiliates currently own rights to develop the site and are evaluating options to do so, including potential retail, parking and residential loft-style apartments at some point in the future," Gilbert said.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/29716074/detail.html

[Paddington]

I'll have to try that.

[Lmichigan]

Looks like the two proposed Meijer stores for the out-city neighborhoods of Old Redford and Fairgrounds are still moving along:

Meijer proposes store on old Redford High site in Detroit; Gateway site further along

Jaclyn Trop | The Detroit News

November 15, 2011

Meijer Inc. plans to build a retail and grocery store at the now-vacant site of Redford High School in Detroit with tax breaks approved Tuesday by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority.

The MEGA board OK'd state and local tax breaks worth nearly $10 million — including a $3.3 million tax credit — to demolish the 1.1 million-square-foot high school at 21431 W. Grand River Ave., clean up the site and then allow Meijer to build a 217,000-square-foot store with a grocery, garden center and gas station, according to a press statement.

Grand Rapids-based superstore chain Meijer would invest $33 million in the project that would create an estimated 83 full-time jobs and 208 part-time employees being paid $8 to $23 an hour, the state agency said.

...

The Grand Rapids company is further along in pursuing plans to construct Detroit's first grocery supercenter to anchor the Shoppes at Gateway development near the former State Fairgrounds at Woodward and Eight Mile.

Guglielmi said the Gateway project hinges on the developer.

There are "several requirements for them to meet before we start digging," he said.

...

http://www.detnews.com/article/20111...-further-along

I do wish they'd take the plunge, already, as it sounds like they are still years off from building on either site. There needs to be another example (besides the nearby Home Depot) to show that the floodgates can be thrown open in these out-city neighborhoods for this type of redevelopment.

[GarfieldPark]

Good luck to Mayor Bing and the Detroit City Council on figuring out a way to deal with these financial issues. It'll be interesting to hear how the press conference goes - with Mayor Bing discussing his plans.

http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/1...bus-in-detroit

[Битола]

Downtown Detroit's surging hotel scene is much closer to getting to get its first boutique hotel — a genre of small, trendy lodgings that often become local hangouts — at the elegant David Whitney Building in Grand Circus Park.
The state's first Aloft Hotel, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, will join the redevelopment of the Daniel Burnham-designed David Whitney that is expected to open by July 2014 with 136 loft-like rooms. The hotel, to be named Aloft Detroit at the David Whitney, will have what Starwood officials describe in a statement as its signature "pioneering initiatives in pop culture, design and technology." That includes a "re:mix lounge" and "w xyzbar" that have helped Aloft hotels earn TripAdvisor's 2011 "Top 10 Trendiest Hotels in the U.S." and "Top 10 Trendiest Hotels in the World" rankings lists.
Aloft has 55 hotels, and the brand is 3 years old.
The David Whitney has been closed for several years, but the Aloft deal hopes to reopen it in partnership with hotel investment firm Troy-based Trans Inns Management Inc. and Detroit-based the Roxbury Group. The Roxbury Group bought the Whitney for $3.3 million in March...


From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20111212/...#ixzz1gLIMrHF4

[Jaybird]

Looks like the light rail won't happen after all, very disappointing, but considering the city's financial woes and possible inability to build and maintain this light rail, maybe not surprising either.

Detroit light-rail plan is dead; high-speed city, suburban buses to be used instead

but, there may be a slight glimmer of hope for a light rail line on Woodward....

Light rail backers push Woodward line as bus system proposed

[Mudhen419]

dislike... was really hoping for this project to happen

[Mudhen419]

http://www.toledoblade.com/JackLesse...tter-idea.html

Death of Detroit's light rail makes way for a better idea

[Jaybird]

Originally Posted by Mudhen419

http://www.toledoblade.com/JackLesse...tter-idea.html

Death of Detroit's light rail makes way for a better idea

IMO, they should look to Cleveland's Healthline as a backbone for BRT. I have ridden on the Healthline and it got me to University Circle in decent time, so BRT can work, as long as it's planned and engineered properly.

[testdrive]

Wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year and join in with you for an ever quickening pace for Detroit and surrounds revival.

[Lmichigan]

Update on rail...

LaHood: Light rail in Detroit could get new $25 million fed boost

By David Shepardson | The Detroit News

January 9, 2012

Washington - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the government will consider awarding Detroit's light-rail project up to $25 million - on top of $25 million awarded for a bus rapid transit system for Metro Detroit.

LaHood told The Detroit News Monday that he is willing to offer additional government funds if the M-1 light rail coalition can show it's financially viable.

On Friday, LaHood met with Gov. Rick Snyder, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Michigan's two senators and Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, and business advocates of light rail Roger Penske, Dan Gilbert and Matt Cullen.

"Over the next 90 days, we will be in the room working with them on their proposal to invest $100 million - leveraged with federal dollars - to make the light rail project work as a part of a regional program for Detroit," LaHood told The News. "We're in the red zone on this. We're just about over the goal line on the light rail - but it has to be part of a regional focus."

...

[araman0]

Wow, last I heard I thought Congress was going to pull away funding for the Woodward Avenue rail project. Does this mean that it might get funding after all?

[GarfieldPark]

Correct me if I'm wrong -- but I'm pretty sure it wasn't the federal government (particularly "Congress" specifically) that had any plans to "pull" funding. I thought it was a local decision - that the most effective way to spend the money was to invest it in bus rapid transit improvements. I can understand that decision - because its pretty difficult to build much of a light rail corridor with only a few hundred million dollars. It seems a few hundred million spent on bus rapid transit improvements would stretch that money much further and provide a lot more transit service.

[Lmichigan]

Originally Posted by araman0

Wow, last I heard I thought Congress was going to pull away funding for the Woodward Avenue rail project. Does this mean that it might get funding after all?

The mayor, governor, and transportation secretary - without consulting anyone else - tried to scrap light rail, last month. There was a huge backlash by the business community and others involved with the project, who are backing the project upwards of $100 million. Within the last week, in the face of the backlash, the politicians changed their mind, and they are now giving the private backers 90 days to come up with a viable plan for a downsized (3 mile) light rail project as a component of the regional system (which had always been the plan).

To make it shorter, the politicians involved blinked after having tried to cut a back-door deal to kill the rail without consultation of any of the other parties involved in the project. The ball is now back in the private backers' court, and it looks like LaHood is back on the same page as M1.

[Mudhen419]

If they end up building the light rail i really hope it doesnt end up being like the people mover. 3 miles isnt really covering that much

[Mudhen419]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1195254.html

Detroit Light Rail Scaled Back To Streetcar

[hudkina]

I actually think Downtown to New Center is probably a better starter line anyway. While it would have been great to see it extended as far north as Birmingham, the stretch between New Center and 8 Mile wouldn't have been viable on its own. In fact, I would have preferred to see the money that would have funded New Center to 8 Mile go from Downtown to the Gold Coast/Indian Village area to spur development along the riverfront.

[scolls]

A streetcar seems like a waste. How is it an improvement over a bus?