Metro Detroit

Hudson’s Site

December 03, 2023

HUDSON’S SITE UPDATE: APRIL 2024

Bedrock announced today (April 11th) that the final steel beam was raised into place atop the Hudson Tower, which has now officially topped off.  According to the Detroit Free Press, a sales office for the condos is now under construction across the street and is expected to be open in time for the NFL Draft later this month. Still no word on pricing about the residences, however, they have confirmed that 97-luxury condos will be available in the 48-story tower, offering a range of 1-bedroom to 4-bedroom floor plans. They also announced that the name of the project, which up until now has remained nameless, will be Hudson’s Detroit, retaining the name that has been attached to the site since 1891…

ORIGINAL POST (FROM DECEMBER 2023)

Towering over Woodward Avenue, just a block north of Campus Martius Park, the new skyscraper being built on the Hudson’s site, the former location of the iconic Detroit department store, will change the skyline of Downtown Detroit forever, when complete.

In this post, we will offer an overview of the project, before turning our focus towards what matters most to us and our readers; the residential component, and how to go about purchasing.

Initial plans called for the new tower to be the tallest in Michigan. However, during the COVID pandemic (as the commercial real estate landscape underwent some dramatic changes), plans were scaled back. The original plans called for a 912-foot tower but the revisions that came out a few years later reduced the height to 685-feet, making it the second tallest building in the state behind the central tower of the Renaissance Center.

A second structure, with a much larger footprint than the tower, but shorter in height at only 14-story’s (232 feet) tall, is being constructed on the north end of the site

The original structure on the space, located on the block surrounded by Woodward to the west, Gratiot to the south, Farmer to the east, and Grand River to the north, was Hudson’s Department Store; the tallest department store in the world, and the second largest by area, behind the Macy’s Herald Square location in New York. Hudson’s was demolished in 1998 via implosion, and an underground parking garage occupied the space in the years leading up to the start of the new project.

Local billionaire Dan Gilbert, owner of Rocket Mortgage, Rock Ventures, etc., was awarded development rights of the property in 2007, and announced a design competition for the site in 2013. In 2017 plans were released and ground was broken on a development that would call for over 1,400,000 sqft of useable space, including retail, residential, office, exhibit/event space, a luxury hotel, and parking.

Originally projected to cost roughly $900M, costs have soared over the course of the lengthy build, with current estimates approaching $1.5B. Delays have plagued the project, ranging from structural issues discovered below grade early on, to construction stoppages and material/labor shortages due to the aforementioned pandemic.

From the very beginning, a residential component of the project was included in the plans (which is where our interest lies), but details have been limited. Initially, we were told only that there would be 330 residential units.

In 2022, when updated plans were released – including a series of renderings – the residential component had been paired down to 100-120 units on the upper floors of the tower.

Then, last week Dan Gilbert discussed the project at the Detroit Free Press Breakfast Club forum and noted there would be “90 or so” luxury condos located in the tower.

Beyond that, little is known. But with the completion of the entire development coming into focus, details are sure to crystallize at a quicker pace than we’ve seen to this point.

As your new home construction experts in Metro Detroit, the New Home Experts® will continue to update our readers on the details of this generational project, and the coveted residential units that will surely offer potential owners a living experience unseen in Downtown Detroit.

Connect with us here if you’re interested in receiving updates on the Hudson’s Site as they become available, or sign up for our newsletter here and receive monthly updates on the Metro Detroit new home market in general.

Whatever it is that you’re searching for, don’t do it alone – let us ensure you’re seeing EVERYTHING out there, and that all options are considered before moving forward. Even better, you can work with us FOR FREE and save THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS on the sale of your current home!

Let’s discuss your new home needs and get your search started ASAP!

HUDSON’S SITE RECENT PHOTOS

November 2023; credit Charles Falsetti.

November 2023; credit the Detroit Free Press.

The owners of The New Home Experts®, have over 40 years of combined experience in real estate, much of that with builders like Pulte & Toll Brothers.  They also provide market research for area builders, developers, and national firms.  If you’re considering a new home, remember: the builders’ rep represents the builder, not you.  Work with the only local agents in Metro Detroit to specialize in new homes, and save money in the process – ask us how!