Detroit developments expected to finish in 2020

In many ways, 2019 was an in between year for development in Detroit. Some sizable projects—like The Boulevard, The Corner, Elton Park, and the Piston’s Training Facility—all finished. But the most transformative projects in Detroit, like Michigan Central Station or the Gordie Howe Bridge, are still several years away.

Expect 2020 be similar. We once again should some some important projects to finish, but will still be waiting for the biggest ones.

Nonetheless, here’s a few we’ll be keeping our eye on.

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Cambria Hotel

This new 158-room hotel just broke ground in November. But due to its modular design, it’s still expected to open by the end of 2020.

The Cambria will be a mix of old and new. Developers the Means Group are renovating the 90,000-square-foot, Albert Kahn–designed former WWJ Studios building at 600 W. Lafayette Street into office and retail space, as well as some hotel amenities. The new 150,000-square-foot hotel will be constructed on a surface lot behind the building. There will also be an upscale Italian restaurant, rooftop bar, grand ballroom, and 150-car parking structure.

Courtesy B. Siegel Detroit

B. Siegel’s Detroit

Originally called 7.Liv, this mixed-use development that’s also a combination of old and new was expected to open in August 2019. Some construction delays pushed that back slightly, but the opening should happen pretty soon.

The $8.3-million rehab of the former B. Siegel building and two others at the corner of Livernois Avenue and 7 Mile Road will bring 10 apartment units, 19,000 square feet of commercial space, and 30 spots of underground parking to the Avenue of Fashion commercial strip.

One Campus Martius

The Bedrock Detroit–owned, nearly 1 million-square-foot building in the heart of downtown has been undergoing an expansion. A 310,000-square-foot addition, which has also covered up the Shepard Fairey mural, is expected to finish in 2020.

Current tenants at One Campus Martius include Quicken Loans, Meridian Health, Compuware, and two ground-floor restaurants.

Courtesy Henry Ford Health System

Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion

Developed by Henry Ford Health System, this state-of-the-art, 187,000-square-foot cancer center is expected to start receiving patients by July this year. The six-story building will be connected via a glass skyway to the hospital across West Grand Boulevard. The total cost is estimated at $155 million.

The center is part of a 300-acre expansion in and around New Center being undertaken by the Henry Ford Health System.

Gensler

Marquette Building

Redevelopment of one of Detroit’s oldest skyscrapers has been underway for some time. Though now the work is being done under new ownership.

In 2016, auto supplier Adient began a $75 million restoration of the Marquette Building for its new world headquarters. But those plans were halted in 2018 after the company reported major financial losses. It was as bought later that year by Detroit-based the Sterling Group for $10 million

The redevelopment has been scaled back slightly, but work has been steady and a major tenant was announced last year.

Next Door Photos

City Modern

The huge Brush Park development may not be completely done by 2020, but such a significant portion of it will be that we might as well call it complete.

Right now, the 39 townhomes and carriage houses south of Alfred Street are nearly complete. Construction has begun on phase two of the 34 for-sale units near John R Street north of Alfred, and they’re expected to be occupied by the end of 2020.

Bedrock says it expects to start leasing for all six of the multi-family buildings in the first quarter of 2020. And much of the “mews”—a north-south green alleyway down the middle of the development—will be done by the end of the year as well.

The Residences at The Albert Kahn

Announced in 2018, the Albert Kahn Building is being converted into 206 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments at an estimated cost of $58 million. The development will also bring 75,650 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

Northern Equities Group bought the New Center building, designed by its namesake Albert Kahn, for $9.5 million. According to the developers, the project is on time and slated for a summer 2020 opening.

Courtesy Detroit Rising Development

444

Next door to Detroit Shipping Company, another shipping container project from the same developers is underway. The 21,000-square-foot building dubbed 444—since the address is 444 Peterboro Street—will have 16 “micro-retail” tenants and a cafe on the first floor, smaller private offices on the second floor, and a large anchor office tenant on the 6,800-square-foot third floor.

Courtesy the Platform

Chroma

The redevelopment of a former cold storage building in Milwaukee Junction should open this year, though what exactly it will be isn’t yet clear.

A food hall was expected to occupy a large portion of the 75,000-square-foot building, but those plans were scrapped in late 2019. There will still likely be some kind of food and beverage component as part of the $16-million project, as well as coworking offices, an event space, and more.

City of Detroit

Streetscaping

Three major streetscaping projects on Detroit’s west side are nearly done. Work along Grand River Avenue, Livernois Avenue, and Bagley Street has been underway since spring last year. and it’s caused disruption for businesses on all three commercial corridors.

But once complete this year, the final product should be impressive. Expect wider pedestrian walkways—or, in the case of Bagley, a “shared street”—protected bike lanes and bike signals, shorter crosswalks, bus islands with shelters, and more.

City Modern

Brush Street, , MI 48201 Visit Website

One Campus Martius

1050 Woodward Avenue, , MI 48226

Marquette Building

243 West Congress Street, , MI 48226 Visit Website