DETROIT – Detroiters could see some major changes in the works soon at the Renaissance Center and a part of the city’s riverfront.
Bedrock and General Motors announced on Nov. 25 their new vision with the RenCen, saying it needs to be reinvented to provide opportunities for growth and connectivity.
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Take a look at the renderings in the photos above.
Here are some of the plans the companies proposed:
- A walkway for pedestrians that connects downtown to the riverfront.
- The low-rise base of the complex and the two office towers nearest the river would be removed.
- Redeveloping three towers into a mix of hospitality and housing.
- Turning reclaimed land into signature public spaces.
- Reconfiguring the flow of the site to allow direct access to the buildings and the riverfront.
“GM has the best possible partner with Bedrock in this effort to redevelop the Renaissance Center,” said Dave Massaron, Vice President of Infrastructure and Corporate Citizenship for General Motors. “Nobody has repurposed more buildings in Detroit than Dan Gilbert and his Bedrock team. This is another chapter in their unprecedented commitment to building the best possible future for the city and Michigan.”
Bedrock and General Motors said they would be funding the majority of the project, with some relying on public financing. The proposed redevelopment plan is expected to be presented to local and state leaders for funding approval in the coming weeks.
“We’ve said since the very beginning of this process that we were going to make a realistic decision about preserving as much of the Renaissance Center as possible. Dan Gilbert’s vision gives us a path forward to preserve and reuse three of the towers and, at the same time, creates a beautiful expansion of public space on the Detroit riverfront. We will need a public-private partnership to get this done and avoid the decades of inaction that accompanied so many other Detroit landmarks, like Hudson’s, Michigan Central Station, AMC Headquarters, and the Packard Plant. I am grateful for Dan Gilbert’s leadership in trying to prevent that fate for the Renaissance Center.”
DetroitMayor Mike Duggan
“Nearly 50 years ago, Mayor Coleman Young cut the ribbon on the Renaissance Center, opening the doors on one of the world’s most iconic buildings—one that has been part of the history and identity of Detroit ever since. It is hard for me to express how excited I was to see this plan to give new life to the Renaissance Center. The fact that this plan will also deliver affordable housing and turn the entire riverfront into an economic engine just takes it to another level. As my Father said before me…. The programs that will serve The People of Detroit are the same programs that will stimulate the economy. It is my honor to fulfill that principle of service for the next generation of Detroiters.”
Councilman Coleman A. Young II
“Like the Lions, the City of Detroit has been on a winning streak that has made us ‘America’s City’ – a city that Americans, not only Detroiters, are proud of. Detroit is Michigan’s signature city and the iconic Renaissance Center has made an impression on our skyline. But the skyline is not the primary issue at hand, it’s how we move forward. We can leverage our assets, such as the Detroit RiverWalk and Dan Gilbert’s personal investment, and plan for our continued growth – or retreat with negative consequences for Detroit and Michigan. For the Detroit Regional Chamber, there is no choice. We call upon Lansing to help realize the extraordinary partnership and philanthropic investment that is on the table.”
Sandy Baruah, CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
“It’s been said that ‘Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.’ The proposed plans for the Renaissance Center and the nearby riverfront represents a rare and clear path for growth - growth of our economy, growth of our workforce, and growth of our existence as a world-class City. To have the ability to transform these iconic spaces, vastly through private investment, is truly a once-in-alifetime opportunity. Bringing a waterfront entertainment district to the area around the Renaissance Center and repurposing a near-obsolete property into a global destination, which will include affordable housing, will be a transformation most cities could only dream of.”
City Council President Mary Sheffield
“The RenCen, like Ford Field, has become an iconic symbol of the
The Detroit Lions
growth and prosperity of downtown Detroit. This new vision accelerates the next chapter of the city’s growth by providing much needed hotel and hospitality venues to the already thriving riverfront. We are excited about the possibility of Lions fans from around the world enjoying this new vision as a part of their Lions and Ford Field experience.”
“Since moving our team back home to Detroit, the Pistons have been proud to be part of the momentum driving the city forward. The Renaissance Center is an iconic part of the city’s skyline and history, and we understand its importance to the city’s future. We applaud and support this vision to save and transform the Renaissance Center along with Detroit’s international riverfront.”
Arn Tellem, Vice Chairman, Detroit Pistons
