Quicken Loans to redevelop Madison Building as tech hub

Hot on the heels of news that two fellow Grand Circus Park denizens -- the Broderick Tower and David Whitney Building -- were set to undergo renovations, Quicken Loans announced that it has purchased the David Madison Building with plans to rehab its upper floors into a hub for high-tech start-ups. Construction is slated to begin in the spring and wrap up by fall.

Current ground-floor tenants, Angelina Italian Bistro and Stub Hub, will remain open through build-out and continue to operate once the upper floors are occupied -- and there's already been improvements for the two businesses since the transfer in ownership. "I'm very impressed, not just that they're coming down, but the first snowfall, there was a guy out there (plowing and shoveling) the snow," says Tom Agosta, co-owner of Angelina. "They promised that within a month (the heating and cooling) system would be improved and, even if that was just it..."

Agosta says that Angelina stands to benefit from anchoring a re-energized building and, after talking to members of the Quicken team, is even considering opening for lunch or operating a coffee shop. "They are going after young people, like from Michigan State, University of Michigan, Wayne State and College for Creative Studies, that leave," he says. "They are pushing that downtown is a good place for people to work."

The Madison Building project is the most recent milestone in a series of moves announced by the Quicken Loans family of companies since last year, when the firm moved its headquarters and 1,700 of its team members downtown. There have been subsequent announcements that four additional related companies -- One Reverse Mortgage, Quizzle, Fathead and In-House Realty -- will also be joining Quicken downtown.

The Madison Building was originally designed by architect C. Howard Crane and constructed in 1917. Gensler will act as the project architect and Sachse Construction as builder. The design phase is currently underway.

In Angelina news, the restaurant's winter wine tasting series kicks off this Wednesday, Feb. 9, and cooking classes will be held Feb. 26 (pasta-making), March 12 (chocolate) and March 26 (pickling and smoking). Register in advance by calling 313-962-1355.

Source: Tom Agosta, Angelina Italian Bistro
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh