DDA OKs $3.2M loan for Redico office building

[RustTown]

Yeah, you'd think they would have added a "cut-out" at the entrance like Compuware did to open it up to Campus Martius, since this whole area was concieved as a strong mixed-use development. Still, at least they tried to make it more architecturally interesting than your typical, glass suburban office tower with the decorative parapet, the odd shape, and the lighting effect and spire. With quite a few disappointing projects that have gone up in the city in the past years, this isn't really all that bad. At the worst it's mediocre.

[rbdetsport]

Yea I think this fits in pretty well. I can't wait until they get the spire up. Will this have exterior lighting?

[Guest Lmich]

From every rendering I've seen, the spire is rather inconsequential, not adding much to the design at all. Even if it is lit, I can't imagine it being very prominent or worthwhile. That's just my opinion, though. I do believe I heard that it is supposed to be lit, though, they could have been talking about the glass parapet screen.

[hudkina]

I think once it is done and the ground floor retail is in place and the pedestrian traffic picks up on the street it will look more inviting that it currently does.

[Wordsmith]

Does anyone have any ideas as to what this retail could possibly be?

WS

[RustTown]

That is something that even the newspapers haven't been comfortable speculating on. In fact, this building has went up incredibly quiet (media-wise). I literally had to wait for months for find out the height. Even after it began construction the architects didn't want to reveal it or anything else about the design. I suspect, similarly, that we won't know who the retail/restaurant tenants will be until they sign a done deal.

[rbdetsport]

Any recent pics of the building? It looks different on the Campus Martius Webcam.

[baldy]

Here's one from Saturday

[Michi]

Did anyone notice the little piece of marble facade put on a part of the first floor of the structure? It resembles the Cheesegrater Building's white marble facade! lol

I guess the architect tried to play off surrounding elements.

[Zissou]

Anyone know what is going on with that portion of the front facade on the right that isnt getting any windows or panels?

[RustTown]

That's where the decorative spire is going to go. It's going include its own lighting effect.

[Zissou]

Thats what i was thinking. I didnt realize that the spire or lighting effect or whatever would work its way all the way down the front of the building though.

[Mojo]

Thats what i was thinking. I didnt realize that the spire or lighting effect or whatever would work its way all the way down the front of the building though.

Sounds kinda cool to me, that might be a hell of a lighting effect.

[WALD0123]

How finished will this building be for the Super Bowl? Will the exterior be pretty much done and what about that spire? Is there any chance it will be ready enough to turn some lighting on at night?

[rbdetsport]

It looks as if they might be getting ready to put up the spire. Looking at the Campus Martius Webcam, it looks like they took down the construction fencing.

[Allan]

One Kennedy Square as of January 15th

[RustTown]

Hmm...it's not looking as bad as I originally though, in this photo.

[Zissou]

Yeah its not sticking out like it usually does.

[rbdetsport]

Wow I really like it now. Big improvement to Campus Martius Park.

[Wordsmith]

Looks pretty good though I wish I were actually downtown to see it. I've been cooped up in the house lately and it isn't too much fun (well except for catching up on all of the sleep I had been missing.)

I just wish I had an inkling of retail, it's starting to bend my pages a bit.

WS

[Allan]

I keep hearing that there will be 3 retail spaces. One will be on the south end of the building. The other two will be on the north end of the building - one facing Campus Martius, and one facing the Michigan/Griswold intersection.

I'm expecting an annoucement on retail anytime now. Until that time we will just have to speculate on what the retail might be.

[hudkina]

Give me anything other than another restaurant! Don't get me wrong, I love all the new restaurants opening up downtown, but I'd love to see actual retail.

I'd really love it if Pewabic Pottery opened up a gallery outlet here or something. I know that they are pretty expensive, but it would really give downtown it's first "chic" store.

[Zissou]

I dont neccesarily think another restaurant would be a bad thing but I do agree that we need a larger variety of retail downtown and particularly the Woodward corridor.

[Jin Kim]

I'd really love it if Pewabic Pottery opened up a gallery outlet here or something. I know that they are pretty expensive, but it would really give downtown it's first "chic" store.

There's already one in the Guardian building.

Okay, okay.. it's just a small store, and it could probably use a more visible location.

But I agree, more retail, please!

[RustTown]

Large-scale retail comes with more residents. Restaurants work because they are destinations, and don't necessarily need the immediate surrounding area to support them, most small-scale/neighborhood retail does. The more the downtown keeps building up, the more quality retail we'll see.