Developers sought for two East Riverfront sites at Chene and Atwater

A few weeks ago, we showed you the vision and plan revealed by the Riverfront Conservancy for Detroit’s east riverfront. While much of the waterfront will remain open to the public, and greenways and streetscapes will be added, the city is looking to develop much of the land between Atwater and Jefferson.

Earlier this week, Crain’s obtained a document by Syncora, one of the primary bond insurers during Detroit’s bankruptcy. From this document, “It was through insuring City debt and the recent Detroit bankruptcy that they ultimately acquired the development rights to Detroit riverfront land.”

Since they are not a development group, they’re looking for developers to partner with on this project. According to the document, they have a March 31 deadline. There are two sites available: an 8.9 acre site at Chene and a 2.75 acre site on Atwater closer to Rivard Plaza.

Syncora worked with two architectural firms that each developed land massing studies for the Rivertown sites, Gensler and Hamilton Anderson. More renderings can be seen throughout the document, and Gensler’s Riverfront vision is seen below.

Courtesy of Gensler

What can you see in terms of potential for these properties? Office, residential, museums, perhaps? All of the above?