Detroit's skyline will look different in the coming years, but not as different as we thought it could. Bedrock and GM announced their intentions for the RenCen today, which includes a 27-acre entertainment district, high-end residential, and the demolition of two of its main towers.

New public space would be added along the Riverfront.Bedrock, Gensler

Earlier this year, GM announced it would move its employees out of the RenCen and into Bedrock's new Hudson's office building. The companies have been working with the city and county to develop a new plan for the iconic structures along Detroit's riverfront.

While the main tower of the RenCen holds the successful Marriott Hotel, the other towers have seen its office tenants decline over the past few years. 

The new plans include:

  • Removing two of the landmark's towers and its lower base;
  • Creating a promenade connecting the site to downtown; 
  • Developing more public spaces around the site;
  • Redeveloping the three remaining towers into residential and housing.

According to Crain's, the 100 tower would be redeveloped into 300-400 residential units, while the 200 tower would include new office space. The 300 and 400 towers would be demolished. The number of hotel rooms would decrease from 1,300 to 850, and the upper floors of that tower would be for high-end residential.

“This iconic landmark’s future is important to Detroit and Michigan, and our shared vision with General Motors ensures that its redevelopment aligns with Detroit’s economic advancement," said Kofi Bonner, CEO of Bedrock. "Additionally, our collaborative approach makes certain that the reimagined Renaissance Center and the riverfront further augment and support the city’s continued growth, benefiting the community and region at large.”

The estimate for the project has not been disclosed, but the development team will seek public financing for a portion of it. In the near future, they'll share their plans with local and state officials to determine next steps for the project.

Additional renderings can be found in the gallery at the top of the page.