It's been a busy news week for the most familiar landmark in Detroit's skyline. The fate of the Renaissance Center isn't looking good at this point.
First, Crain's Detroit Business (paywalled) reported that Bedrock would likely buy the property; paperwork has started. This isn't a huge surprise. Earlier this year, GM announced they'd be moving from the RenCen to the new Hudson's Detroit. They'd work with Bedrock, the City, and the County to figure out what to do with the office towers along the Riverfront.
The Detroit Free Press (paywalled) reported yesterday that it's likely that some of the towers will be demolished. Sources tell the Free Press that the design of the building makes it very difficult and expensive to convert the towers to anything but offices. If they were demolished, new buildings would go up, and they'd have an opportunity to make it more a part of the city, unlike its fortress or island-like design.
“We want it to be a connective space between the city and the riverfront," one of the people told the Free Press. "The RenCen was built with the intention to be an island onto itself. Now we know we need that area to be a gateway to the city. So to do that, the best thing is to tear it down. People say, ‘You’ll change the whole skyline of Detroit.’ Well then, are we to leave a vacant monument just to keep the skyline?”
If it's decided to demolish some of towers, not only would it be expensive, but complicated due to the Riverfront and surrounding buildings.
What do you think? As always, let us know in the comments.
