Wayne Lofts redevelopment pitched as major Corktown conversion; committee moves project to formal with recommendation

City staff and the development team presented the Wayne Lofts (Wayne Tower/Executive Plaza) proposal during the committee's 10:30 public hearing, describing a large conversion of two vacant office towers into mixed‑use housing and hotel space.

Justice (last name used in transcript) from the Housing & Revitalization Department outlined the statutory basis for an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Exemption district (OPRA) and noted the assessor confirmed eligibility. Halton Williams (DEGC) and Dalen Hannah of Blackacre Management described the scale and intended program: approximately $71.8 million in total redevelopment to convert roughly 613,000 square feet into 354 apartments (71 affordable units), 10,500 square feet of commercial space and a 114‑room boutique hotel. Developers said the buildings have been vacant for more than two decades and that the conversion will create an estimated 120–140 construction jobs and roughly six permanent full‑time positions related to property operations.

Dalen Hannah explained conversion challenges and design choices, saying the project will incorporate stormwater management, energy efficiency measures, universal design and ADA accessibility where required. He said typical one‑bedroom units in the project will average about 900 square feet and two‑bedrooms up to 1,150 square feet, figures he contrasted with the city's average apartment size of roughly 650 square feet.

Residents who called in were mixed: some urged approval, citing the benefits of adaptive reuse and housing production; others asked for stronger community benefit commitments, questioned long abatement terms and asked how abatements affect Detroit Public Schools and libraries. City staff responded that under the OPRA approach developers still pay certain millages — for example, staff cited that owners would continue to pay 18 mills that are school operating revenues — and that the abatement would not reduce current revenues for schools or libraries in the first year.

Following discussion and public comment, a committee member moved to send line item 6 (the OPRA district request) to formal with a recommendation to approve; the motion carried by unanimous voice ("seeing no objections"). The recommendation will be considered at formal session unless further materials or amendments are required by council or administration.

The committee also asked staff and the development team to provide additional detail about community benefits and the project's cost breakdown prior to final council action.