Construction watch: Third and Grand will start to rise in New Center

While groundbreaking officially took place in October for Third & Grand, construction is starting to increase on the $53.2 million mixed-use project near the Fisher Building. The six-story development will bring 231 new apartments to New Center in 2018, and the project is the first of its kind in the area in 30 years.

Since October, work has been underway with breaking up pavement, and excavating and removing the foundation for a Howard Johnson Motor Lodge hotel that was formerly on the site.

The 356,000-square-foot mixed-use development should open in summer 2018. There will be mostly studios or one-bedrooms, with 23% of the residences two-bedroom apartments. 20% will be designated affordable housing. The development will also have a 330-space parking structure and 21,000 square feet of commercial space.

A 128-foot tower crane is now on site, and the installation of the large crane (the only one of its kind in Detroit) will be completed later this week.

Third and Grand was designed by Cline Design Associates PA of Raleigh, N.C., and will be built by O’Brien Construction Co. The Platform is currently working on many projects around New Center and Islandview, including the renovation of the Fisher and Kahn Buildings and the nearby Baltimore Station.