The twin pair of vacant skyscrapers that for so long have stood sentry over Grand Circus Park, the David Whitney Building and Broderick Tower, are firmly on the road to revitalization.
Construction is already underway at the 34-story Broderick while, just across the street, a new development partnership was loaned $1 million towards the purchase of the Whitney.
The Detroit Downtown Development Authority's loan will cover about a third of the building's $3.3 million purchase price from current owner, Becker Ventures. Whitney Partners, the development team established to undergo the project, includes Detroit real estate investors
Roxbury Group and Trans Inn Management, a real estate company based in Farmington Hills. "We have not yet chosen an architect," says Roxbury's James Van Dyke. "We hope to close on financing by the fourth quarter of this year, construction would follow, completion in 2013."
What proportion of the 19-story 250,000 square foot building ends up as commercial will be determined via the predevelopment process. "There will be commercial uses on the first floor -- retail -- and the second through fourth, fifth or sixth will be commercial office users yet to be identified," says Van Dyke. "We think it is a good mixed use building, just the way it lays out."
A focal point of the renovation will be the lobby, which is four stories high topped with atrium skylights. "I think it's one of the top three lobbies in the city, after only the Guardian and Fisher (buildings)," says Van Dyke. "Unlike most lobbies or common areas, which are plaster, the one at the Whitney is done in terra cotta and it's been preserved." Decorative exterior elements that were removed in 1959 will also be replaced.
The residential portion of the building will be market rate rentals. "It'll be on par with other residential neighbors," says Van Dyke. "The nice thing about this building is, unlike other historic residential buildings in downtown, the historic finishes are still there so, from an interior perspective, this is not a loft project by any means -- it's going to have a very classic residential feel."
All told, the redevelopment of the Broderick, Whitney and neighboring
Madison buildings mean big things for the south end of Grand Circus Park. "I think it's amazing what the Kales Building did to the area, and adding that many residential and other uses to the park is only going to enhance its vibrancy and make this
the residential neighborhood of downtown," says Van Dyke. "This is one of the areas pointed out as a decaying corner of downtown and now there aren't going to be any vacant buildings left on the park."
The Whitney opened in 1915. It was
designed by Daniel Burnham, the architect best known for his leading role in the creation of Chicago's master plan and, locally, the Dime, Ford and Majestic, which was demolished in 1962.
Source: James Van Dyke, Roxbury Group
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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