WSU’s former Criminal Justice Building to be converted to residential and art gallery

The Platform has more plans imminent in the New Center area. Wayne State University announced last week that the development group, who owns the Fisher Building and the Albert Kahn Building and who’s also building Third & Grand, purchased the former Criminal Justice Building. The WSU Board of Governors approved the sale.

The plans? The site at the Criminal Justice Building (6001 Cass Avenue) will be redeveloped into 69 residential units, plus 19,000 square feet of retail and a permanent art gallery.

Wayne State University

Also in the deal is a long-term ground lease of the adjacent property at 445 York Street — currently a surface parking lot — that will allow for the construction of a parking structure to include 543 spaces, 220 of which will be retained by Wayne State. Also included will be approximately 64 apartment units and 48 condo units at the site of 445 York Street — bordering Antoinette Street, Cass Avenue and York Street.

The Platform bought the six-story Criminal Justice Building from WSU for $2 million. Built in 1920, the 147,500-square-foot building was designed by Albert Kahn. Originally known as the Cadillac Sales and Services Building, it contained offices and a showroom. In the 1970s, it was converted into classrooms for WSU’s criminal justice program. Now vacant, the building has been used for Detroit Police Department training courses over the years.

The project will add a total of 181 residential units to the area. The Platform’s site has an expected completion date of 2019.