In the day, the Detroit Free Press building at 321 W. Lafayette, was abuzz with people producing a daily newspaper. On the first floor, there was a popular restaurant.
Then the Freep moved into the Detroit News building three blocks west in 1998. The 14-story building, designed by Albert Kahn and erected in 1925, was vacant for years and became a derelict eyesore. In 2016, Bedrock Detroit bought the building from Chinese investors for an undisclosed price
On Monday, Gilbert's folks unveiled an ambitious plan for a mixed-use development there with stores, offices and residences, reports John Gallagher of the Freep. Reconstruction could begin this year and finish by 2019.
"The building lays out perfectly to do a combo of office on the first couple of floors and residential above," Jim Ketai, chief executive of Dan Gilbert's real estate arm, tells the Freep during a tour. "It lays out great for a bunch of apartments. We think it's literally just the ideal building to do mixed use."
Gilbert currently leases space to the Detroit and Free Press at a building on Fort Street, near the Freep's old home.
Graphic by Bedrock Detroit