New eight- to 10-story building planned across from Belle Isle

Details are emerging for an area that will see a lot of development in the next few years. This spring, The Platform acquired the Big Boy site on East Jefferson, across from Belle Isle. The former restaurant is about to be demolished this week and by this time next year, construction will start on a new $50 million, eight-to-10 story mixed-use building.

According to a press release, The Platform would like to see, “[A] multi-family residential development with around 11,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and on-site parking. The $50 million project will feature about 240 apartments, with 20% of them set aside for affordable housing. Its mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments will boast some of the most scenic views in Detroit.”

This development is in the pre-development stage right now. They intend to break ground in the fourth quarter of 2018, with a mid-2020 completion date.

Los Angeles-based wHY and Detroit-based Hamilton Anderson were selected as the architectural firms. No renderings are available yet.

“Detroit hasn’t seen a high-rise project of this scale built in the neighborhoods in some time, so it was important that we find partners who will not only design this project right, but do right by our neighbors in Islandview,” said Dietrich Knoer, president and CEO of The Platform. “The team of wHY and Hamilton Anderson will create a design that integrates planning, community engagement, architecture, landscape and construction seamlessly into a development that all of Detroit will be proud of. Hamilton Anderson’s history of community engagement and understanding of Detroit is key to ensuring this project’s integration into the fabric of this neighborhood.”

The Platform has a number of developments in the planning and construction stages around Detroit, including Third & Grand in New Center, Baltimore Station on Woodward, mixed-use buildings in Old Redford, and an Eastern Market site that will be developed in the next few years. The Platform also acquired buildings and land along East Grand Boulevard and plans will be announced for these properties in early 2018.