Here are a few of the stories we're reading this week.
Stalled developments
We've seen a lot of forward momentum on many Detroit developments this year, but there are plenty that sit stagnant. Crain's looked into six of them, including two mixed-use buildings next to LCA (they're not coming, y'all), the Temple Hotel (stalled since early 2021, developer trying to buy out other owners), Park Avenue Building (increased costs, reevaluating development plans), and SteelHaus on Michigan Avenue (contractor dispute; working on financing to start up again. Then there's Perfecting Church on Woodward - the owner's rep says financing is secured, construction could start soon. This week, the Free Press reports they're filing for rezoning. Crain's Detroit Business (paywalled)
Mostly Ws in the dirty dozen
In 2004, the Detroit Free Press ran a list of the "Towers of Neglect" around Detroit. Now that Michigan Central is restored, the list has been checked off; either buildings have been rehabbed or demolished. Some rehabbed standouts include the Book Cadillac, the David Whitney Building, the Metropolitan Building, and the Wurlitzer Building. But we lost some along the way - the Lafayette Building, the Statler Hotel, and the Madison-Lenox Hotel. Outlier Media
Where to see the fireworks (not at the parks)
For the past few years, the city of Detroit has closed many parks and the Riverwalk along the Riverfront during the fireworks - over the river. A lot of people took notice this year. Many Detroiters felt that this was exclusionary - the people should be able to go to their neighborhood parks to watch them. But some see it in terms of safety and the police only being able to be so many places at once. It could likely spark discussion for next year. Detroit Metro Times Daily Detroit
