Parking decks downtown Detroit show signs of a growing economy

More parking decks are a healthy economic sign, and currently at least five large parking structures are under construction in downtown Detroit:

1. The Blue Cross Blue Shield deck on the corner of Congress and the I-375 Service Drive;
2. The Price Waterhouse Coopers deck located adjacent to the Ford Field;
3. The Greektown Casino deck located between Beaubien and South Fort;
4. The 1001 Woodward deck at Woodward and Michigan;
5. And the Opera House Garage, to be located a block between Witherell, John R, Broadway and Madison.

“When companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield put money into designing a parking deck for over 1825 spaces, that’s a sign of their confidence in Detroit’s economic growth,” says Peter Zeiler, a business development representative for the Economic Growth Corporation. “None of these are your run-of-the-mill decks either,” says Zeiler. “They are actually state-of-the-art structures incorporating fitness centers and designer artwork, with a lot of attention given to the overall architecture, utility and façade.”

Surface lots have been predominantly used for parking in downtown Detroit, and, with space getting limited, they are getting more expensive.

“The growing trend of building cost-effective, multi-level parking decks could create an economic competition to surface lot owners, who may then consider selling their lots – contributing to residential or industrial redevelopment,” Zeiler says.

– Source: Based on interviews with Peter Zeiler of the Economic Growth Corporation.