Inside The $2.2 Billion Plan For Detroit's Renaissance Center

What do you do with 5.3 million square feet of concrete and glass when the world it was built for no longer exists?

Built in the 1970s as a corporate fortress to keep the city out, the Renaissance Center in Detroit stands today as a monument to a mid-century urban planning thesis that has completely collapsed.

RenCen office occupancy sits under 10%, construction costs are up 55% over the last decade, and downtown real estate demands an entirely new model.

My guests are Jennifer Stallings Dewey, the Senior Counsel, Community Engagement at General Motors; and Jake Chidester, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Bedrock.

In this episode, we dive into the multi-billion-dollar proposal by General Motors and Bedrock to demolish two 39-story towers, tear down the concrete podium, and turn an isolated corporate island into a connected, walkable riverfront district. We answer a ton of listener questions, as well. 

The process is ongoing for community feedback.

Here's a calendar of events at their East Riverfront Community Hub: https://detroit-riverfront.bedrockdetroit.com/events

And here is a link to the project survey: https://detroit-riverfront.bedrockdetroit.com/survey

What do you think? Let me know, dailydetroit@gmail.com or 313-789-3211. 

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