Committee asks law, police to assess whether Renaissance Center can get historic designation after public plea

A public commenter urged the committee to block a full demolition of the Renaissance Center and the committee responded by asking the Law Department and Detroit Police Department to prepare a written memorandum on whether the complex could receive historic designation.

During public comment, Steven Harwin said the city must not allow General Motors to "tear down all 4 towers and obliterate it from our skyline," calling the loss “absolutely appalling and disgraceful.” Harwin said he would accept partial demolition ("2 towers torn down, that's 1 thing"), but urged the committee to act to preserve the complex's landmark status.

Vice Chair Wilma Galloway raised the public speaker's question to the committee and made a motion asking the Law Department and LPD to examine whether the Renaissance Center could qualify for historic designation and whether such a designation would limit demolition. Phil Keller of LPD confirmed the department would provide a memo in writing.

The motion was made, heard and—after no objections—assigned to the Law Department and to LPD. Committee members asked for the response in writing for the official record.

The committee did not take a final legal position at the hearing. The motion directed staff to report back; any legal limits on demolition or next steps will depend on the Law Department's and LPD's written analysis.

The request came during the meeting's public comment period and was initiated by a resident, not by city staff or the building owner. No development plans or funding requests were introduced for consideration during the committee session.

The committee's direction does not itself halt any work on the property; it only requests a legal review. If the Law Department or LPD identifies statutory or ordinance mechanisms that would bar demolition, the committee or council could consider further formal actions in later meetings.