Could Lee Plaza get redeveloped? There have been many attempts over the years, but none have succeeded in reviving the extravagant Art Deco building. The city released an RFP in December looking for developers for the long-vacant 15-story building. In February 2019, the Roxbury Group announced that it would restore the building into 180 new residential units at a cost of $50 million. We’re still taking a wait-and-see approach.

In September 2019, the Motown Museum broke ground on phase one of its $50 million, 50,000-square-foot expansion. Expect a new theatre, recording studios, interactive exhibits, and meeting spaces to turn the museum into a bigger attraction for tourists, music lovers, and residents. It also recently opened the Dancing in the Street Park to host public events.

Henry Ford Health System has cleared a large area across from its hospital on West Grand Boulevard and is currently building the Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavillion, which will be connected to the hospital with a skyway. It’s part of a larger 300-acre expansion in the area. It’s expected to be finished in 2020.

HFHS also signed a Letter of Understanding with a community group to help with local hiring.

Construction of this 231-unit apartment building finished late in 2019. Built by the Platform at a cost of $60 million, it’s the first major residential development in the neighborhood in a generation. Its 356,000 square feet is spread across six stories, plus 330 underground parking spaces. The building has 17,500 square feet of ground floor retail—tenants include a Comerica Bank branch, Orangetheory Fitness, and Beyond Juice.

Development partners Northern Equities Group and Lutz Real Estate Investments recently bought this building from 1956 that once housed a TV studio for $2.6 million. No plans have been released so far, but the Georgian Revival structure is currently available for lease.

The Louis and Paul Kamper–designed Seward Hotel recently opened as the Wellington Square Apartments, which offers affordable housing for seniors. Shelborne Development led the renovation of the 11-story building just off of Woodward Avenue.

The Detroit Pistons and Henry Ford Health System opened their new performance center in October 2019. The 185,000-square-foot, four-story facility houses the new headquarters for the Detroit Pistons, performance technology and equipment for the basketball team, a Plum Market, a Blink Fitness, and a sports medicine and rehabilitation center. It was built at a cost of $90 million.

In 2018, The Platform purchased the 11-story Lakeshore Global Building with plans to update the building and fully lease it. They also purchased four acres of surface lots nearby for future development.

Wayne State University is working to build an “Innovation District” near TechTown. In 2018, the university purchased the NextEnergy Center, now called the Industry Innovation Center, and has worked on site activations nearby. It also built a new data center at the corner of Cass and Antoinette for its Computing & Information Technology department.

This Midtown Detroit, Inc. building has been steady getting renovated and filled with tenants over the last couple years. A $7.5 million investments brought 10 apartment units, office space for the non-profit support organization Co.act Detroit, and restaurant space for Baobab Fare.

Very little is known about plans for the former Woolworth building at the southwest corner of Woodward and Grand. In 2017, it was reported that Grasso Holdings was under contract to purchase the building with potential plans to build a 20-story high-rise. No major work has taken place at the site since.

The Platform has redeveloped this Albert Kahn–designed building that formerly housed WSU’s Criminal Justice Department. In September 2019, it was announced that WeWork would open its third location in Detroit at the building and occupy the majority of the 130,000 square feet.

Right next to Cass Cadillac, The Platform had planned to bring $30 million worth of high-end condos to New Center. However, high construction costs have put the project on hold.

Another high-profile development just outside of New Center involving The Platform. Chroma, in the building with the Illuminated Mural, will be a creative center with have retail, event space, a food hall, and more. Redevelopment is underway and expected to be finished in 2020.

The marketing firm Rebuild Group recently opened up their new offices in this redeveloped Milwaukee Junction building. The 10,000-square-foot, two-story building will also have a first floor restaurant tenant.