Downtown development news round-up

Here's what's happening as we hit July:

• Dan Gilbert's Rock Ventures has expanded its retail portfolio to include 620 and 630 Woodward, two four-story buildings located next to each other on the east side of Woodward between Jefferson and Campus Martius. The company, which now owns or controls 30 buildings downtown, plans to upgrade these buildings for office and retail use. 

• Though the acquisition of the properties happened last December, representatives of DTE Energy are now finally giving us a teaser of what plans might be in store for the 69,000-square-foot lot and the three-story former Salvation Army building near its headquarters at Third Street and Bagley. Though plans are still vague, the idea of renovating the building at 601 Bagley into mixed office and retail space or a restaurant and bar has been suggested, and they have also mentioned plans to create an urban park on the lot similar to Campus Martius. Definitive plans include tearing down two empty buildings currently located on the lot. They expect this development project to take about five years to complete. 

• The Lofts at Merchant's Row on Woodward are expanding into an adjacent building, adding 42 more rental units. The total cost of the renovation project is estimated at $10 million.

• Campus Martius Park has seen a lot of action recently. It now has a new bar called the Beach Bar & Grille, located on a wooden deck in a section of the park that has been covered in sand. The Grille is owned by J. Lambrecht, who is also co-owner of Fountain Bistro and Bookie's. There is a new summer food market held in the park every Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring several local mobile food vendors.

The Market at Campus Martius has also officially launched, and will be held the fourth Friday and Saturday of the month from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through August featuring 20 vendors and 10 retailers each month. 

Writer: Nicole Rupersburg

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