March development news round-up

March was another busy month for development news in the city. Let’s catch up on five stories from the past four weeks.

• The historic James Scott Mansion in the Cass Corridor is facing a massive rehabilitation project as owner Joel Landy has announced that the building will be turned into condos. The 137 year old building will be converted into 25 units. The former home of the wealthy James Scott, the mansion is considered a ‘spite building,’ one that was built, in part, to spite a neighboring property owner.
• Another 25 units will eventually be available in a different historic structure, the former Tushiyah United Hebrew School at Kirby and St. Antoine streets. The former school will be converted to apartments, though, and construction should wrap up by the beginning of 2015. The financing is confirmed, according to Crain’s, and should ensure the completion of the project.
• In other former school news, Detroit Public Schools will transform the Kettering High School campus into a 27 acre farm. The soon-to-be Kettering Urban Agricultural Campus is located at Van Dyke Ave and I-94. The school, closed since 2012, will become a food processing facility while the land will be used for crops. Eight hoop houses are planned for the site.
• The owners of Traffic Jam & Snug have announced plans to relocate a family farm from western Michigan to Detroit. While a site has not yet been confirmed, the duo have said that the final location will be either in Corktown or Midtown. Plans for the building remain vague. The barn may become a music venue, restaurant, assembly hall, or even a hostel.
• Detroit has announced issuing a Request for Proposals for developing the old Tiger Stadium site. A combination of residential and commercial development that somehow incorporates at least part of the historic playing field seems to be a priority.

Writer: MJ Galbraith

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