Hundreds of public opinions are being shared about what should rise where the J.L. Hudson's department store fell in 1998.
Tony Briscoe of The Detroit News reports on Day 1 of voting on ideas for the high-visibility downtown site -- concepts that include recreation uses, agricultural ones, civic plazas and mixed-use towers. Voting continues today (Sunday) from noon-5 p.m. at Somerset Collection CityLoft, 1261 Woodward between Grand River and State.
"It's been gone for 15 years now and it's about time someone do something with it," Vadim Avshalumov, an urban planning associate for Rock Ventures. "You don't want to build something no one wants. We want these to be active, public spaces."
Cheryl and Arnie Berlin, of Farmington Hills, stopped in to view the gallery during a bike ride through the city and were thoroughly impressed with the intricacy of the designs.
"I like some of the multi-use buildings and the ones that are energy efficient. It would be really cool if these could come to life," Cheryl Berlin said.
Earlier article:
Everyone now can participate in the design of something -- anything -- to replace the girder farm on the site of the old J.L. Hudson's department store.
Opportunity Detroit, the bold campaign of Dan Gilbert's Rock Ventures that promotes downtown Detroit and the city’s revitalization, is sponsoring a free open house Saturday and Sunday. Anyone who's interested can check out the visions sent by designers from around the world and choose three winners.
In the spring, Rock Ventures put out a call for designs. More than 1,000 people registered for the competition, titled “Redesigning Detroit: A New Vision for an Iconic Site.”
Out of that came more than 200 submissions, from 22 states and 22 countries, with uses for the 92,421-square-foot parcel on Woodward Avenue.
The open house features photos of all 200-plus ideas and the public gets to vote. The top three finishers receive prizes of $2,500, $1,000 and $500.
The idea is to spark community engagement about how to use a prime downtown site, though the winning idea won't automatically be built. In fact, there is another competition.
A panel of experts will also judge the submissions. They will come up with three finishers, and those designers get $15,000, $5,000 and $2,500.
Even the winner chosen by the experts might not see his or her design turned into Detroit's newest development. It's all part of the ingredients that go into the stew that eventually will produce an awesome something to replace the amazing Hudson's, the 25-story store that closed in 1983 and was imploded in 1998.
Winners will be announced Tuesday.
- When: Saturday, June 8 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, June 9, noon to 5 p.m.
- Where: Somerset Collection CityLoft, 1261 Woodward between Grand River and State, across from the Hudson's site. Street and garage parking is plentiful nearby.
- Extra: Participants receive coupons for downtown stores and eateries.
