There are development projects and then there are transformational projects – those that change how we live, work, play, and get around our city. Detroit’s landscape is changing every day, hopefully for the better, maybe not always. We’ve mapped out ten specific projects – either in progress or planned – that we think will be transformational to their neighborhoods at least, and possibly the city as a whole.
We chose projects ranging from the M-1 rail that will open in May, to a new bridge to Canada that will start construction and open sometime in the next decade, to the new development of the Hudson’s site – with the tallest building in Detroit planned to open in 2020. Disagree with one of them? Did we forget something? Our comments are open!
1. Little Caesars Arena
The future home of the Red Wings and the Pistons is well on its way to being completed by September. But it’s not just the arena, of course. The entire area around is is being built up, and Chris Ilitch has recently said they had more than 50 projects in the works. This should include residential, parking, retail, a hotel, the Mike Ilitch School of Business, and the Little Caesars Headquarters. That’s a lot of Hot ‘n Readys.
2. M-1 Rail
The QLINE will start running along Woodward on May 12. The M-1 rail has been anticipated for years and now the cars are showing up and testing has started. Property prices have risen along the Woodward corridor in recent years – will people use the rail? Or will it be the People Mover 2.0?
3. Hudson’s Site
Dan Gilbert and Bedrock plan to start construction on the tallest building in Detroit (by a few feet) later this year, to be completed in 2020. The development will include 1.2 million square feet; a nine story “podium” with mixed use, commercial, office, technology, arts and culture space; 250 residential units; and three stories below grade featuring additional commercial space and 700 parking spaces.
