General Motors Co. and billionaire mortgage mogul Dan Gilbert’s real estate firm have opened a semi-permanent space along the Detroit River to get community input and buy-in on their vision to transform the Renaissance Center from a fortress to an open waterfront destination.
The public can visit what’s called the Riverfront Community Hub, 521 Atwater St., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays to view models, renderings and photos of similar waterfront developments in other cities.
Bedrock staff will be available to answer questions and walk guests through the museum-like space, which features exhibits on the history of the Renaissance Center from its opening in 1977 through its ownership under GM.
“If this isn’t you know for Detroiters by Detroiters, then it won’t be successful,” said Jake Chidester, vice president of strategic initiatives for Bedrock. “This has to have the foundational buy-in of of our community for it to be successful. You only get one shot at this.”
The redevelopment proposal calls for demolishing Towers 300 and 400, the river-facing buildings, along with the podium retail space. About 1.25 million square feet would be removed from the 5.5 million-square-foot complex, freeing about 6 acres for a public park and entertainment space.
Gilbert, the billionaire chairman of mortgage giant Rocket Cos. Inc., has pledged $1 billion to the project, and GM, which has classified the project as more of a philanthropic endeavor for the corporation, is chipping in $250 million.
Bedrock and GM in November 2024 announced a plan to shrink the five-tower complex to three with residential, office and hotel tenancy and a 6-acre riverfront park.
The space on Atwater is in addition to weekly public meetings about the project as required by Detroit’s Community Benefit Ordinance. The first meeting is Tuesday at 6 p.m. Weekly meetings will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Oct. 27 at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center at 2 Woodward Ave.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Bedrock and GM want to know what Detroiters think about RenCen redo
Reporting by Summer Ballentine, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Summer Ballentine, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
