Le centre-ville de Detroit poursuit sa mue avec un projet d’aménagement du site de l’ancien « JL Hudson store » situé sur Woodward, et, deuxième plus grand magasin au monde à sa construction en 1911.
L’administration de la ville et les investisseurs se réjouissent déjà du renouveau de ce site historique qui alliera développement économique et social. Le futur immeuble accueillera des commerces et 250 logements au pied du tramway en plein cœur du renouveau de Detroit. Le chantier démarrera en 2017 et durera trois ans. Un projet donc ambitieux pour un secteur prestigieux.
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Billionaire businessman Dan Gilbert received preliminary go-ahead today to construct a highly anticipated new building on the site of the old J.L. Hudson department store that would fill a decades-long physical and emotional vacancy in downtown Detroit.
The Detroit Downtown Development Authority approved a tentative deal to sell the underground, city-owned parking garage on the Hudson’s site to an affiliate of Gilbert's real estate arm for $15 million. That agreement clears the way for Gilbert to redevelop the vacant surface of the Woodward Avenue property with a new, architecturally significant building.
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The proposed building -- whose cost, scale, height and name have yet to be determined -- would include 225,000 square feet of commercial, retail and community gathering space as well as 250 apartments, of which 50 units must be set aside as "affordable." Construction could start in April 2017 and finish by spring 2020.
"For all of us who are longtime Detroiters, this is pretty emotional," said Mayor Mike Duggan, who chaired the DDA meeting.
Duggan also praised Gilbert's development firm for reserving 20% of the planned apartments for lower middle-income people and agreeing to have at least 51% of the construction work done by Detroit residents. Additionally, 30% of the contractors must be based in Detroit.
Gilbert has long held the rights to redevelop the Hudson's site, and last year released a striking architectural image of a potential building designed by New York-based SHoP architects. But the building's ultimate design is still being finalized, said Matt Cullen, president and CEO of Gilbert's Rock Ventures.
"It was such an iconic site in the history of the city," Cullen said. “We really want the Hudson’s site to feel like it did before, where the entire community came together and had things to do and enjoy".
Cullen said the project's consultants have even sat down and presented details of the project with members of the Hudson family. "We're really excited about the legacy of Hudson's there and I'm sure that will be celebrated in an appropriate way," he said.
Hudson’s red brick flagship opened in 1911 and grew to 25 stories and encompassed an entire city block. It was considered the second-largest department store in the world. (...)
The building still housed Hudson's corporate offices until 1990. The entire structure was then spectacularly imploded in 1998 after a number of failed attempts to redevelop it, including ideas for a casino. (...)
As part of the future property sale, Bedrock also would enter into a more extensive affordable housing agreement with the city that would commit the firm to setting aside 20% of the next 1,350 rental units it develops in greater downtown and Brush Park as "affordable" units for people making below certain income thresholds.
The Duggan administration views set-aside requirements as one strategy for helping to ensure that a broad section of residents benefit from the economic revitalization occurring in Detroit's greater downtown.
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Detroit officials said they intend to use the $15 million in proceeds from the pending sale of the Hudson's site garage to pay down city debt.
Article du Detroit Free Press publié le 28.04.2016
Journaliste : JC Reindl et John Gallagher
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