Major Downtown/Midtown/Corktown Developments! (Detroit, Troy: sales, real estate market, lease)
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I must say, I held my breath on this one, but the Maroun family has finally begun restoration work on Michigan Central Station, located in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. Currently, asbestos is being removed and new windows are being installed.
In a conversation with the Detroit News, Nora Maroun stated that this is the first step towards the depot's restoration. Once work is completed on the first floor, they will begin working their way towards the top. With 1,400 windows, a long process this will make, I'm sure.
Michigan Central Station is probably the most emblematic symbol of Detroit's decline as a city. It is often the "cover girl" for news articles about Detroit. It appears several times in Google searches of "Detroit." It has been featured by TIME, CNN, FOX News, bloggers, politicians, talking heads, and everyone in between. Putting a new face on this building means a lot for the city in terms of it's public perception. And, at a local level, this restoration may mean a lot for Matty Maroun, an aging Detroit billionaire desperate to redeem his own public image.
Whatever becomes of MCS, the building should be salvaged. It is an important part of Michigan's history. Thousands of immigrants arrived in the United States through MCS, in much the same way as Ellis Island. No plans for the building have yet been released, however, I would speculate that with talks of trains and transit coming to Detroit, especially high-speed rail connecting Detroit and Chicago, the Marouns may be planning to revive MCS' original purpose as a train station. Maroun already has monopoly control over commercial transit between Detroit and Windsor, and may be looking to control the venue for train travel between Detroit and Chicago. Time will tell; stay tuned.
Metro and State | Work begins to replace windows at Michigan Central Depot | The Detroit News (http://www.detnews.com/article/20110607/METRO/106070433/Work-begins-to-replace-windows-at-Michigan-Central-Depot - broken link)
Art Center "Kunsthalle Detroit" Opens This Weekend
WOODBRIDGE
Detroit's artistic light burns even brighter this weekend, as Kunsthalle Detroit opens in the city's Woodbridge neighborhood. The new gallery is owned and operated by Russian-born native, Tate Osten, who previously worked as an art appraiser in New York City.
According to the Free Press, Osten was immediately seduced by the contrast of Detroit's urban decay and beautiful architecture. She rented a car and left Manhattan and moved into Detroit's historic Boston-Edison District, along with Polish artist, Tim White-Sobieski.
This new exhibition space is a manifestation of the belief that Detroit can be reinvented through art. Artists see opportunity in Detroit that simply isn't available anywhere else. Many admit that Detroit is quickly emerging as an artistic Mecca, and Kunsthalle Detroit will host some reportedly big name artists this weekend for its grand opening, including Bill Viola, William Kentridge and Diana Thater. Osten stated that she is hoping that her exhibition will help attract more talent and attention from around the world.
New museum, Kunsthalle Detroit, to open exhibition space | Detroit Free Press | freep.com (http://www.freep.com/article/20110609/ENT05/110609046/New-museum-Kunsthalle-Detroit-open-exhibition-space - broken link)
Hamtramck, a densely-populated enclave near Detroit's geographic center is getting a new restaurant called "Ootie's." The eatery will be Torya Blanchard's most recent restaurant creation.
Blanchard is a self-made Detroit entrepreneur, restaurateur, and developer. She has quickly become a rising star on the city's restaurant scene by building unique and delightful eateries in up-and-coming neighborhoods. In addition to "Ootie's," Blanchard is best known for her flagship restaurant, Good Girls Go To Paris, which serves up French crepes in Midtown. Coming soon, Blanchard will also open a bar called "Rodin" in Midtown's Park Shelton Building, as well as a second GGTP in Grosse Pointe Park.
In terms of Ootie's, the restaurant will be an upscale place for breakfast and lunch, but will be reasonably priced for everyone. She stated she plans for a large mural of Wrigley gum to be painted on one wall- her inspiration coming from the former Hamtramck Salvador Deli.
Trent Design, an interactive media and design firm principally located in Rochester, MI is opening an office in the Garfield Building located in Midtown's Sugar Hill Arts District.
Midtown's Sugar Hill Arts District has gained a lot of attention lately as a creative epicenter in the Midwest. Midtown Detroit boats dozens of art galleries and studios, but the Sugar Hill district especially, continues to concentrate such energy and talent into one small neighborhood.
The call to bring more creative and technology-based companies to Detroit's Woodward Corridor is being answered by firms like Trent Design. Companies and entrepreneurs are clearly seeing the advantage of being not only centrally located, but also inundated by the creative energy this city is really beginning to pump out.
I must say, I held my breath on this one, but the Maroun family has finally begun restoration work on Michigan Central Station, located in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. Currently, asbestos is being removed and new windows are being installed.
In a conversation with the Detroit News, Nora Maroun stated that this is the first step towards the depot's restoration. Once work is completed on the first floor, they will begin working their way towards the top. With 1,400 windows, a long process this will make, I'm sure.
Michigan Central Station is probably the most emblematic symbol of Detroit's decline as a city. It is often the "cover girl" for news articles about Detroit. It appears several times in Google searches of "Detroit." It has been featured by TIME, CNN, FOX News, bloggers, politicians, talking heads, and everyone in between. Putting a new face on this building means a lot for the city in terms of it's public perception. And, at a local level, this restoration may mean a lot for Matty Maroun, an aging Detroit billionaire desperate to redeem his own public image.
Whatever becomes of MCS, the building should be salvaged. It is an important part of Michigan's history. Thousands of immigrants arrived in the United States through MCS, in much the same way as Ellis Island. No plans for the building have yet been released, however, I would speculate that with talks of trains and transit coming to Detroit, especially high-speed rail connecting Detroit and Chicago, the Marouns may be planning to revive MCS' original purpose as a train station. Maroun already has monopoly control over commercial transit between Detroit and Windsor, and may be looking to control the venue for train travel between Detroit and Chicago. Time will tell; stay tuned.
Metro and State | Work begins to replace windows at Michigan Central Depot | The Detroit News (http://www.detnews.com/article/20110607/METRO/106070433/Work-begins-to-replace-windows-at-Michigan-Central-Depot - broken link)
So, they're restoring the building, that's cool... But it doesn't seem like they really have a plan beyond that? What will the building become. It would be a shame for them to do all that work, only to get to the completion of the project with no real idea what to do with the building...
So, they're restoring the building, that's cool... But it doesn't seem like they really have a plan beyond that? What will the building become. It would be a shame for them to do all that work, only to get to the completion of the project with no real idea what to do with the building...
I agree. I'm not buying what's going on now with MCS. Seems simply like a PR move during the bridge debate. There is no long term plan for MCS and I see no proof there will be one once the bridge issue is resolved.
I agree. I'm not buying what's going on now with MCS. Seems simply like a PR move during the bridge debate. There is no long term plan for MCS and I see no proof there will be one once the bridge issue is resolved.
Without injecting my own politics into the discussion, it is clear why people are not interested in giving Matty Maroun "the benefit of the doubt" in regards to the MCS renovation. However, I will say that any improvement made to MCS is exactly that, an improvement. Even if his efforts do nothing except help seal and preserve the building for future generations or mothball it for potential development, then he has done at least one thing I can agree with. I wouldn't consider MCS' future redevelopment out of the question, though. No matter who holds the deed to MCS, the building has a lot of value. Consider what was accomplished with the Book-Cadillac, or the soon-to-be Broderick Tower. Time will look favorably upon MCS as long as it can stay out of DEGC's demolition-happy cross hairs. Kickbacks anyone?
Since 1891, the nation's oldest, continuously-operating market will expand its hours of operation. Eastern Market is a large warehouse district just east of downtown Detroit that attracts as many as 45,000 people each Saturday to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, seafood, and other products, like imported foods and dry goods.
Beginning July 12th, Eastern Market will now be open for business on Tuesdays, from 11:00am-7:00pm, in addition to its regular Saturday hours. This is a huge development in that it will hopefully lighten the Saturday morning congestion and open the market up to more vendors and shoppers.
If you haven't been down to Eastern Market, you should come. There is plenty to see and do, including many great restaurants and unique stores, carrying everything from French antiques, to imported olive oil, to hard-to-find wines, to hand-crafted wood workings. And, that's not even including all of the fresh produce, oven baked bread, or meat straight from the butcher's cooler!
"Canine to Five" is a unique business founded in Detroit's Cass Corridor 6 years ago by entrepreneur, Liz Blondy. Located in a neighborhood that was once revered as one of America's most dangerous places, Canine to Five is set to expand, bringing even more vibrancy to the once notorious neighborhood.
As the city's only pet daycare center, Canine to Five carved out a niche and created a useful service to many Detroiters who needed someone to watch their furry friends while at work or on vacation. The business has been expanding ever since and is now averaging 60 dogs per day and 150 grooming appointments per week, which has caused the need for expansion.
In a positive decision, the Detroit City Council approved the expansion of Canine to Five into an area that served as an urban garden. While I can attest that the garden, which was maintained by volunteers, was beautiful and added much-appreciated life to the street scape, this show of support for the business community is outstanding. It's businesses like Canine to Five that are emerging and succeeding in places where not long ago, people considered they were lost causes. Today, an entrepreneur with talent and ambition is brightening up Cass Corridor and making herself a small fortune in the process.
Cupcakes and More, a new cupcake shop has opened in Tower 200 of the Detroit Renaissance Center. The company got its start in Oakland Mall, and has chosen to open its second location downtown. Owner, Scott Culver stated that he is excited to be in the city that he believes has exciting growth potential.
Cupcakes and More is open from 9:00am-5:30pm, Monday-Friday, and so far has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of traffic they've had. With BCBS moving in right next door, Culver stated that he only expects business to get better. The company also does catering for the Detroit Medical Center and Henry Ford Hospital. Best of luck!
FYI: ModelD Media has supplied some up-to-date information on developments coming to Corktown:
Astro Coffee - Coming in July or August
Mercury Burger Bar - Coming end of 2011
Sugar House (bar) - Coming soon
Pizza and Italian cuisine - Opening date unknown
Coney Island - Opening date unknown
Also, O'Connor Realty has been steadily renovating and leasing lofts in the Corktown neighborhood. According to the source, the lofts have been rented within just days of release. All is well in Corktown.
International advertising firm, Jack Morton Worldwide, is moving its office to downtown Detroit. The firm, which represents clients such as Hewlett-Packard and Nickelodeon, has added General Motors to that list. The firm will be moving into One Detroit Center this summer. As a large international ad agency, this move continues to build the clout of Detroit's central business district.
Local video-production firm, Final Five Productions, is also moving its office to downtown Detroit. Founder Matt Dibble says he was attracted to Detroit because of the growing collection of creative-based firms in the area. Right now, the company is small, but is looking to expand as it attracts clients from outside the Metro area. Dibble and his wife have also relocated to the city.
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Restoration Work on MCS Begins
