In a further sign that public and private investment is revitalizing downtown Detroit, Bedrock and General Motors unveiled plans to redevelop the city’s iconic GM Renaissance Center and 27 adjacent acres along the Detroit waterfront.
The proposal retains the defining elements of Detroit’s skyline while “right-sizing” the Renaissance Center’s footprint and improving connections to the heart of downtown. The surrounding entertainment district would be transformed into a lively waterfront destination with new restaurants, hospitality venues, housing and market space, enhancing Detroit’s award-winning Riverwalk, which draws more than 3.5 million annual visitors.
© Vito Palmisano / Visit Detroit
Earlier this year, GM and Bedrock, in coordination with the city of Detroit and Wayne County, formed a partnership to study redevelopment options for the Renaissance Center site. Urban planners, architects and engineers evaluated multiple approaches to identify the best path forward. First opened in 1976, the Renaissance Center is one of Michigan’s most recognizable landmarks. Since purchasing the property in 1996, GM helped catalyze downtown revitalization and Riverwalk development. GM has invested more than $1 billion in improvements to the site, and partners say a redesign is needed to keep the complex viable for the future.
“This iconic landmark’s future is important to Detroit and Michigan, and our shared vision with General Motors ensures that its redevelopment aligns with Detroit’s economic advancement,” said Kofi Bonner, CEO of Bedrock. “Our collaborative approach will help ensure the reimagined Renaissance Center and riverfront support the city’s continued growth and benefit the region.”
Key objectives include creating a new pedestrian promenade that links downtown to the riverfront; removing the low-rise base of the complex and the two office towers closest to the river; and reducing obsolete office space to create a more inviting, active destination.
© Photo Bureau Detroit River Walk
Plans also call for repurposing three towers into a mix of hospitality and residential uses while preserving the skyline’s character, converting reclaimed land into signature public spaces, and reconfiguring site circulation to provide direct access between buildings and the riverfront.
Bedrock and GM have pledged to fund the majority of the redevelopment, with the remainder dependent on public financing. The proposal is now being presented to local and state leaders to evaluate public support and potential legislative funding as next steps toward implementation.