Gilbert draws six more businesses into downtown office space


It's not all just tech start-ups and hip restaurants and retailers that Dan Gilbert and his Bedrock Real Estate Services are trying to lure downtown. Six more companies have opened offices in Gilbert-owned buildings and they're a varied group with not a yoga mat or graffiti project among them. That we know of.

Dixon Masonry is a union construction contractor dealing in commercial masonry and restoration services. They'll be opening an office in 660 Woodward, the First National Building. Insurance and risk management provider Colburn & Colburn will become their neighbors, also opening an office in the First National Building.

JFM Consulting Group and Great Lakes Architectural Products Group are each opening offices in 1301 Broadway. JFM offers consulting services in strategy, planning, research, and evaluation for nonprofits, philanthropic groups, and the public sector. Great Lakes is a representative and consulting firm of regional manufacturers, dealing in everything from LED lighting to custom millwork.

Siegfried Group, which says it's on a mission to make accounting more fun and productive, is opening an office in One Woodward. And Ultimate Parking Management, a company which controls over 13,000 parking spaces in Detroit's Central Business District, is opening an office in 1001 Woodward. Ultimate Parking manages the Compuware Garage and The Z, both Gilbert-owned properties.

Pete Brewis is president of Ultimate Parking and has worked downtown's parking scene for more than 20 years. "I have never seen the city so vibrant and positive about its future," says Brewis.

Dan Mullen, Vice President of Leasing and Development with Bedrock Real Estate Services, says, "Companies of all sizes representing many different sectors clearly see the advantages and great benefits of locating in Detroit’s dynamic urban core."

Each of the six companies have already moved into and are operating out of their new spaces downtown.

Writer: MJ Galbraith

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MJ Galbraith is Model D's development news editor. Follow him on Twitter @mikegalbraith.