Hotel Charlevoix on the Clock

The 108 year old Hotel Charlevoix could be toppled as early as tomorrow.  A demolition permit was issued April 30 and the building could be history by August.

A Grand Opening

Whole Foods Detroit has set its grand opening for June 5, 2013.  WXYZ's Detroit 20/20 has a preview.

Crowne Plaza Pontchartrain

The all new Pontch is taking reservations starting June 15.

Woodward Garden Apartments

The third phase of the Woodward Garden Block redevelopment is taking shape.

Five Windows

Five down, hundreds to go. Rehabilitation should be complete by the middle of the 22nd century.

Five down, hundreds to go. Rehabilitation should be complete by the middle of the 22nd century.

DPD Crime Lab

The infamous Detroit Police Department Crime Lab inside the former Stephen Foster School in Brush Park.

Hotel Charlevoix Spared (UPDATED)

Hotel Charlevoix owner Ralph Sachs got more than he bargained for when his representatives went before Detroit's Historic District Commission this week.  Not only did the commission reject his request to demolish the 107 year old building, the commission determined that Sachs was responsible for the deterioration of the structure and gave him 15 days to submit a plan to mothball the building.  At this point it is unclear what consequences Sachs would face if he fails to comply with the commission's orders.

*UPDATED 1/12/13*

A judge signed a demolition order for the building on January 9, 2013.  According to reports, the owner, Ralph Sachs has budgeted $250,000 to demolish the building this year.

I would be shocked if the Charlevoix wasn't down by opening day, just in time to rake in some parking dollars.

The demolition would also free up some more land, just in case Mike Ilitch is still considering Foxtown as a potential location for his new hockey arena development.

Beaubien Party Store

 July, 2004

November, 2012

This is what the building looked like in 1976, and just after its collapse in 2012.

Nouveau Ruins?

A certain never completed Brush Park development was found exposed to the elements last month.  Construction began in 2007, but the site sits abandoned today having never been occupied.  How long will it be before it is reclaimed by nature?

Just Another Hole in the Ground

245 Edmund Place never really stood a chance.

 April, 2005

November, 2012

HQ

The process of converting the old IRS building/MGM Grand temporary casino into the new public safety headquarters is well underway.

Whole Foods - Midtown

Opening Spring, 2013

A Very Moosejaw Christmas

The Moosejaw pop-up store at Grand River and Woodward in downtown Detroit.

Cobo Phase III

Corktown Development

Unable to find a suitable location in Midtown, the Two James Spirits Company has settled on a location on Michigan Avenue in the shadow of the Michigan Central Station.  Owners Peter Bailey and David Landrum will convert a former taxi garage into a distillery and tasting room for their gin, whiskey and bourbon.

When Two James Spirits opens in early 2013, it will be the first licensed distillery in Detroit since prohibition.

Moving In

Earlier this month residents began moving into the completed Auburn development on Cass.

Next Door Neighbors

As Buffalo Wild Wings readies for its grand opening, it was revealed today that a Bagger Dave's Legendary Burgers franchise will be moving in next door.  T. Michael Ansley, president and CEO of Diversified Restaurant Holdings has announced that the company has signed a long-term lease for the restaurant to occupy the building that once housed Shaw's Grooming Center on Randolph Street.

Diversified Restaurant Holdings operates several Buffalo Wild Wings franchises in Michigan and it is the owner, operator, and franchisor of the Bagger Dave's chain.

Almost Done

Detroit's first Buffalo Wild Wings didn't meet its goal of opening in time for the Thanksgiving Day parade, but it's getting closer.

Temple of Odd Fellows

Infill

With the completion of the redeveolpment of the David Broderick Tower, the owners have finally filled the gap between the tower and the neighboring building.  The adjacent restaurant space had collapsed in 2008 and was used as a staging area during the Broderick's conversion to apartments.

Detroit 2020/Broderick Tower

WXYZ-TV

Eaton Beacon

Originally named Eaton Tower, the David Broderick Tower was fully lit for the World Series.

Line to be drawn over State Savings Bank?

Expect a new property fight in Downtown Detroit.  Andreas Apostolopoulos, the new owner of the Penobscot Building, purchased the neighboring State Savings Bank earlier this month for $700,000 with the intent on demolishing it for parking.

Apostolopoulos claims in an interview with the Detroit Free Press that:

 “Detroit needs parking, If we don’t have parking people won’t come downtown… We tried to bring some tenants downtown and the people are not coming because there is no parking.”

Yes! The one thing Downtown Detroit lacks is parking.

If the building can not be demolished, Apostolopoulos would look into maintaining the facade and incorporating it into the $20 million garage.

Fortunately, any demolition plans would face stiff opposition.  The 112 year old Beaux-Arts style bank is listed on the federal, state, and city registers of historic places.  Therefore, Apostolopoulos would have to demonstrate financial hardship and would have to try to sell the structure for a year before the city could grant permission for demolition. He could also argue that the building is blocking a major project that would benefit the community.

I would expect Preservation Detroit to get involved in this one.

Lafayette Greens

Garden Theater Revival

C. Howard Crane's 1912 Garden Theater on Woodward is receiving a $12.3 million dollar makeover. It is being renovated into a performance space with a capacity for 1,300 people. This is the third phase of the Woodward Garden Block redevelopment.

Skinned

The walls are going up on The Auburn.