The basic plan for Downtown Royal Oak's immense new hotel complex was approved by the city's planning commission yesterday, and if you haven't looked at it since we last mentioned it...well, let's just say it's grown a bit in the meantime. We're sure glad residents were so mean to the Kroger that wanted to move in here last year, because the current plan is now at one hotel (which the Hilton Garden Inn is "interested" in), two mixed-use buildings, one apartment building, and a parking garage.
At the development stands right now, the project should take up nearly an entire city block. Here's what we know: The 8-story, 114 room hotel will feature the usual hotel fare (meeting rooms, fitness center) and a restaurant. New, mixed-use buildings will appear on both sides of the hotel—a 3-story structure on the hotel's south end will be offices and retail, while a 5-story building on north end will be offices with a ground floor restaurant.
It's been years since Royal Oak's explosion of downtown apartments died out, so what's most intriguing for us is the 8-story apartment building planned for the property's southeast corner. Designed as a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, a studio units, what sort of price point will these things come in at?
Rounding out the development is a 4-story parking garage. Royal Oak residents are wisely demanding that the development not only provide its own parking, but that the parking be aesthetically pleasing and built to prevent noise and light pollution.
What variety of restaurant might appear in all those spaces? That's yet to be decided, but we're certain it's going be more than just your average burger joint. Stay tuned and we'll hit you with any updates.
· Development Watch [Curbed Detroit]
· Planning Commission OKs Basic Plan for Hotel Complex [Royal Oak Patch]