Detroit, MI
Last of giant glass panels installed at Hudson’s Detroit project
Detroit’s J.L. Hudson Building: From historic landmark to modern skyscraper
Explore the transformation of Detroit’s iconic J.L. Hudson building from its origins in 1911 as the world’s tallest department store to its dramatic implosion in 1998, and finally to the rise of a new skyscraper in 2024 that revitalizes the city’s skyline.
The final glass panel was installed on the Hudson’s Detroit tower exterior, the major downtown construction project, marking “the completion of the façade of the landmark development,” officials announced Tuesday.
Work is ongoing on the 1.5-million-square-foot development, according to its developer, Bedrock Detroit.
The announcement is perhaps part of Bedrock’s promise to make news “in the near future,” after Downtown Development Authority officials questioned why the development has taken so long to finish the project.
The construction of the new development also has raised questions about what to do about Detroit’s Renaissance Center, which opened in 1976 and was aimed at revitalizing downtown Detroit, but has been described as “almost vacant.”
Bedrock, Dan Gilbert’s real estate firm, said during a late February development board meeting it hoped to finish the first of its two new side-by-side buildings at the Hudson’s site in Detroit by this spring, then the second one before year’s end.
The project is set to house hotel rooms and condos, both of which will be branded under the name EDITION — a luxury boutique partnership between Ian Schrager and Marriott International.
The timeline Bedrock outlined seemed sufficient for the development board to grant a one-year extension to Bedrock’s Dec. 31, 2024, development agreement deadline for achieving “substantial completion” of the project.
The new deadline is Dec. 31 of this year.
General Motors, which has long occupied the RenCen, is leasing four floors in one of the project’s buildings and is expected to move in by late 2025 or early 2026.
In a separate Tuesday announcement, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said designating the RenCen as a “historic office building,” which some have urged, “would have killed any realistic hope of redevelopment.”
He was speaking about City Council members overwhelmingly voting 8-1 to deny the historic review on Tuesday.
The mayor added the city “can now move forward to explore all alternatives and develop the best solution for our city’s future.”
The Hudson project — a $1.4 billion development — is expected to include shops on the ground floor, with conference and events space directly above them, various offices, and a rooftop bar and restaurant.
Bedrock said the final glass panel, which ranges from 11 to 16 feet tall and weighs up to 2,200 pounds, was installed on the 47th floor of the tower. It took about 100,000 hours to install all the glass panels, and the tower’s façade now includes a total of 4,677 of them.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
Detroit, MI
Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams
ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions will be without safety Kerby Joseph again this weekend, while listing seven other players as questionable.
Joseph and fellow safety Brian Branch were the only players ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Branch is out for the season due to an Achilles injury, but has not been placed on injured reserve yet. And Joseph, who will now miss his eighth straight game, suffered a setback and could be a candidate for injured reserve, per Dan Campbell.
The Lions listed tight end Shane Zylstra (knee), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle), guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), safety Thomas Harper (concussion protocol), left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder/rest) and guard Kayode Awosika (foot) as questionable.
Decker has not practiced this week. But he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and is coming off playing three games in less than two weeks. Awosika missed last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys due to his foot injury. The veteran guard has practiced in a limited capacity all week long.
Trystan Colon and Miles Frazier split duties at left guard last week for Awosika. The Lions will have a decision to make there between those three options, but perhaps for only another weekend.
Mahogany returned to practice this week. He seems like a longshot to play this weekend based on his injury. But the Lions are listing him as questionable after logging three limited practices in his first action back on the field.
Zylstra has been back at practice for two weeks in his return from injured reserve. Heading into the weekend, the Lions have only one tight end on their 53-man roster (Anthony Firkser) and hope to get Zylstra back.
Campbell said Harper has a chance to play against the Rams despite spending the week in concussion protocol. The Lions could sure use Harper, with Branch and Joseph both out, to hold things down at safety with Avonte Maddox against the high-powered Rams.
“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him, but we’ll see,” Campbell said on Friday morning. “There again, I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at.
“So, we’ll be good. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) DT’s been taking reps, Maddox has been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys. They’re getting valuable reps, so we’re good.”
Raymond has missed two consecutive games due to an ankle injury suffered against the New York Giants. He has a shot to return after working back into practice, and should reclaim his role returning punts.
Vaki has continued to play through his thumb injury. He hasn’t returned kickoffs since suffering the injury, with Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors taking over.
Detroit, MI
Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades
CONNOR McDAVID. 9. In a quiet first minutes of this one McDavid had the most dangerous shot for, glancing off Talbot’s shoulder and out. Terrific patience on the doorstep before dishing to Hyman for the 1-0. Nearly outwaited Talbot again later in the frame. Dished the disk back to Ekholm on the 2-0. Pranced in and rifled a backhand off Talbot. Hi-lite reel assist on the 3-1, where he knocks down a puck then puts a backhand through his own legs to a waiting Hyman alone in the slot. An assist on the 4-1, for his forty-third four-point game. 63% on faceoffs. Second Star.
Detroit, MI
SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side
Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown on ankle injury recovery
Amon-Ra St. Brown said he started feeling better two days before the Detroit Lions’ game against the Cowboys, after injuring his ankle Thanksgiving.
SAY Detroit had a surprise in store during its 14th annual fundraiser.
The charity founded by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom announced plans for a new SAY Detroit Play Center on the city’s west side during its annual radiothon, taking place on Thursday, Dec. 11. The after-school educational center will be built on the campus of St. Cecilia’s church, which includes the historic St. Cecilia gym, also known as the Mecca of Detroit basketball.
The new facility will be called the SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia.
This will be the organization’s second play center, with the first opening in 2015 along Van Dyke Avenue on the city’s east side. The center provides educational and recreational opportunities for kids from 8-18 at Lipke Park.
The announcement was made during the foundation’s 15-hour radiothon, which raises money for SAY Detroit and other affiliated charities. Last year’s radiothon raised a record $2.23 million, with the fundraiser bringing in over $16.5 million in total since it was launched in 2012.
SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and operates the play center and free family health clinic, along with providing a housing program for Detroit families and other direct efforts with the community.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
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