GM и Bedrock представили план на $1,6 млрд по перестройке центра Ренессанс в Детройте

$1.6B Revamp: GM and Bedrock’s Bold Plan to Transform Detroit’s Renaissance Center Representatives of Dan Gilbert’s real estate firm, General Motors, and real estate firm Bedrock Detroit defended their $1.6 billion Renaissance Center redevelopment at a Sept. 1 community meeting. They also… Representatives of Dan Gilbert's real estate firm, General Motors, and real estate firm Bedrock Detroit defended their $1.6 billion Renaissance Center redevelopment at a Sept. 1 community meeting. They also rejected alternative ideas for the center as unworkable. Bedrock and General Motors (GM) have a plan to tear down two of the original five towers and reconfigure them into hotel rooms, apartments, and offices. Steve Ogden, a vice president at Bedrock, told the crowd at Coleman A. Young Municipal Center that his team consulted with top architects and seasoned contractors who specialize in reusing old buildings for the redevelopment plan. Some opponents of the redevelopment of the Renaissance Center offered three other options: Doing nothing and waiting for someone someday to save the RenCen, similar to what Ford Motor Co. did with Michigan Central Station. Trying to fill all four office towers with office tenants. Saving the two riverfront office towers from demolition and converting them to residential. According to The Detroit Free Press, Jake Chidester, another vice president at Bedrock, explained why three different approaches aren't really feasible. Chidester argued that doing nothing would leave a giant empty spot on the skyline for decades. "Now Michigan Central is a fantastic success story," he said. "But let's not forget that Michigan Central sat vacant for 35 years — the heart of Corktown and southwest — before it was revamped." Filling the buildings with office workers isn't realistic, he argued. Metro Detroit has too much empty office space already, and it will stay empty for years. "There is just no projected demand for 2.7 million square feet of office space, today or forever," he stated. Turning the two 39-story riverfront towers into apartments would run $400 million per tower. That's $800 million total, Chidester said. The octagonal shape makes conversion tough. Office floor plans designed decades ago need massive heating, cooling, and plumbing overhauls. Bedrock's proposal included demolishing the two 39-story office towers that sit closest to the riverfront. So will the concrete podium connecting all five towers. The remaining 72-story center tower that houses a Marriott, along with other structures, will transform into homes, hotel space, and updated offices. A new public park and riverfront attraction will appear in front of and east of the standing towers, costing more than the $1.6 billion price tag. Public reactions at Tuesday's meeting were more mixed than at the Aug. 18 gathering. Detroit resident Francois Moore celebrated his 54th birthday this week at Highlands Detroit restaurant and said he was shocked by how empty everything seemed. Resident Scotty Bowman criticized the proposal to remove covered areas to build outdoor spaces that Detroiters won't visit when it's cold. The developers will reveal what tax breaks and incentives they're requesting from Detroit City Council at the Sept. 15 meeting. GM and Bedrock hope to start work next summer. Kristina Hall Writer Related Stories Trending Stories More from DetroitNewsroom.com