Long-Vacant Downtown Detroit Building To Get $32 Million Makeover
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A downtown Detroit building that's been vacant for decades is expected to get a $32 million makeover.
The 15-story Metropolitan building, on John R just east of Woodward Avenue, is expected to reopen as an extended-stay hotel with ground-floor retail.
The 1925 building has long been graffiti-riddled and vandalized. Closed since 1977, it was earlier at risk of demolition. The city has spent tens of thousands of dollars to board up its broken windows as well as set up scaffolding and netting to catch any falling pieces of the exterior.
Eric Means, managing partner in the Metropolitan Development Group, told the Detroit News the plans are a "better fit" than a previous idea for high-end rental apartments. The Downtown Development Authority on Wednesday approved the change of plans for the building.
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