The Metropolitan Building officially starts redevelopment into Element Detroit Hotel

Once destined for demo, the beautiful and long-vacant Metropolitan Building is finally starting its $32 million redevelopment. In a ceremony commemorated with the removal of the final rooftop tree downtown, the Metropolitan Hotel Partners officially announced the start of construction.

In 2018, the 14-story building will reopen as the Element Detroit at the Metropolitan Building, which will be the state’s first Element Hotel. It’s an extended-stay hotel, with 110 one and two bedroom hotel rooms, 2,000 square feet of meeting space on the second floor mezzanine, and 7,000 square feet of ground floor and lower level retail space. It will also have a rooftop bar and patio.

The Metropolitan Building is located right next to the Wurlitzer Building, which will be The Siren Hotel, and near the upcoming Shinola Hotel. By the end of 2018, Detroit will have its own hotel district.

We were able to peek inside the building, which still retains many of its Terra Cotta and plaster details.

The kick-off to construction was marked in an unusual way. A tree that had been growing from the rooftop was taken down and will be planted in a city park. Trees like this used to be a common sight downtown, as so many buildings were abandoned. This tree is now 13-feet-tall, and was lit up during the ceremony.

“Roof trees were once a symbol of our city’s tough times,” David Di Rita of the Roxbury Group said. “Removing and rescuing the last of downtown’s skyscraper trees seemed to us an appropriate way to mark this moment of rebirth, not only for the Metropolitan, but for our city.”

The Metropolitan Hotel Partners is a joint venture between the Means Group and the Roxbury Group. The Roxbury Group was also behind the stunning renovation of the David Whitney Building.

The Element Detroit at the Metropolitan Building is scheduled to open in summer 2018.

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Metropolitan Building

33 John R Street, , MI 48226