Latest news with #PreservationDetroit
Axios
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Things to do this weekend in Metro Detroit: July 3-6
🚴 Freak-for-all, an all-ages celebration from the Detroit Freakbike Experience with custom-built bikes, art and other creations is Saturday from 3-9pm at the Lincoln Street Art Park, 5926 Lincoln St. Free! 🌮 The annual Royal Oak Taco Fest brings more than 50 eateries, live music and family entertainment to the suburb's downtown all weekend. Thursday-Sunday; tickets, $12. 👒 Light up Livernois, the street festival for fashion, art and design, is Saturday from noon-8pm on Livernois Avenue between 8 Mile and McNichols roads. Free! 🎤 Tyler, The Creator's Chromakopia world tour comes to Little Caesars Arena on Thursday at 7:30pm. Secondary market tickets start at about $180. 🫛 Tour Eastern Market with Preservation Detroit, learning about the historic market's past involving prisons, breweries, rum runners and more. Saturday, 10am. Tickets, $23 for general admission. 🛟 Cool off at one of the area's public pools, beaches or water parks in our summer pool guide. Prices vary. ❤️🩹 Explore the world of energy healing at a Reiki share gathering for practitioners of all levels, including those who are just curious. Sunday, 11am. 195 W. 9 Mile Road, room 101, Ferndale. Free, but registration is encouraged to claim your spot.
CBS News
05-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Detroit RenCen redevelopment plans confirmed; city council rejects historic designation
Detroit City Council has rejected a suggestion to pursue National Register of Historic Places designation for the Detroit Renaissance Center complex. The complex, often referred to as RenCen, is currently the world headquarters for General Motors. The automotive company recently made plans to move its offices to the former J.L. Hudson Department store site in downtown Detroit; leaving the RenCen's future open. Under the plan, two of the five Renaissance Center towers will be demolished as part of a large-scale redevelopment that includes office space and residential unit plans. That direction was confirmed when Detroit City Council voted Tuesday against a resolution seeking a historic designation study. "Designating the Renaissance Center as historic office buildings would have killed any realistic hope of redevelopment and pretty much guaranteed Detroit would have five empty towers sitting on the riverfront for the next 30-40 years," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said. "Thanks to Detroit City Council's strong stance today, the Mayor's Office and Council can now move forward to explore all alternatives and develop the best solution for our city's future." The office complex that became a recognizable multi-tower landmark for the city opened in 1976. Preservation Detroit recently pleaded for "adaptive re-use," suggesting that all five towers be designated as a local historic district. In response to Preservation Detroit's statement, and ahead of the council meeting, a city spokesperson said, "We support the plan to save most of the Ren Cen through demolition of two towers and preservation of the rest, as that is the only viable plan to keep any of it. The only other realistic options are either full demolition, or for the five towers to remain vacant indefinitely as a new international symbol of blight in Detroit." In the meantime, a nearby office complex known as 600 Renaissance Center is scheduled for auction starting March 17.
CBS News
25-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Preservation Detroit suggests local historic district designation for RenCen
Preservation Detroit is adding its plea for "adaptive re-use" to the discussion of what to do with the Detroit Renaissance Center complex known as RenCen when General Motors moves out. "While we understand that only two towers are currently being considered for demolition, we believe this decision would have a lasting negative impact on the City," the organization said in a statement posted on its social media. "The RenCen is a unique and integral part of Detroit's civic and architectural history, prominently featured in images of our downtown skyline and nearly as recognizable as the Old English D. Any changes being proposed to this iconic landmark should be approached with the utmost care and diligence." The office complex that became a recognizable multi-tower landmark for the city opened in 1976. General Motors purchased the facility in 1996 and made it the company's world headquarters. Almost a year ago, GM and real estate firm Bedrock announced an agreement that called for plans to redevelop the Renaissance Center as GM moves its headquarters to the site of the former J.L. Hudson Department Store in downtown Detroit. As a leadup, GM, Bedrock, the city of Detroit and Wayne County have been involved in discussions on what to do with RenCen. By last fall, redevelopment plans for the Renaissance Center had morphed into a redevelopment of the site. Two towers would be removed under that proposal, creating a new pedestrian promenade and allowing for direct access to the riverfront. Preservation Detroit pointed to its status as "the city's oldest and largest preservation organization," and support from co-signers in another idea presented this week. The co-signers were The American Institute of Architects, Detroit; Docomomo_US/MI; the Michigan Historic Preservation Network; and the National Organization of Minority Architects, Detroit. The idea as explained by Preservation Detroit: "We urge the City of Detroit to pause and more thoughtfully consider the future of this famous, historic, and renowned Detroit structure. One way of ensuring protection of the entire property, including all five towers, is designation as a local historic district. Additionally, we recommend that the Historic Designation Advisory Board be empowered to study the eligibility of the RenCen for listing on the National Register of Historic Places." A letter detailing that request, and sent to Detroit City Council, was dated Monday. "The story of the Renaissance Center is essential to Detroit, as it has a close association with a profoundly transformational era of our history. The modern and vibrant architecture of 1970s Detroit directly mirrored the changing landscape of its politics. The RenCen was a key inflection point in city history and represents an unprecedented cooperative effort between the business community in Henry Ford II and the new city government of Coleman A. Young," that letter said. The video above previously aired on April 11, 2024.
