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Wayne Tower redevelopment — $71.9M conversion proposal advances; committee moves OPRA request to formal
Summary
Developers asked for an obsolete property rehabilitation exemption to convert the vacant Wayne Tower complex into 354 apartments (71 affordable), a 114‑room boutique hotel and commercial space; committee advanced the OPRA certificate request to formal after staff presented fiscal analysis and developers committed to remediation, ADA units and community engagement.
The Planning & Economic Development Committee advanced an application by Wayne Tower LLC (Black Acre Management) for an obsolete property rehabilitation exemption (OPRA) certificate to facilitate a $71.8–71.9 million conversion of two largely vacant office towers at 1200 6th Street into mixed use.
The project, presented by the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the Housing & Revitalization Department and developer Black Acre, would produce roughly 354 rental units (20% of which — 71 units — are designated as "affordable" under the proposal), a 114‑room boutique hotel and about 10,500 square feet of commercial space. City staff said the redevelopment would create about 333 temporary construction jobs and several permanent jobs.
DEGC presented a fiscal projection showing current property taxes of about $35,000 per year rising after redevelopment; staff said the abated portion in year one would be about $1.4 million and that they recommend a 12‑year certificate based on financial underwriting.
Black Acre representatives emphasized accessibility and environmental remediation. The developer said the building’s large floor plates allow universal‑design features and that they plan to abate asbestos and other hazardous materials rather than simply encapsulate them. "We fully remediate and abate it and get it out of the property," the developer said. They stated the project would include approximately 30 fully ADA‑compliant units with additional units designed for hearing and vision needs.
Public commenters asked about traffic impacts on the Lodge, construction staging, environmental safeguards and community benefits (requests for a supermarket, school instrument donations, or other civic benefits were suggested). The development team said heavy lifts will be internal because the project is an adaptive reuse rather than ground‑up construction, and that they have engaged neighborhood stakeholders and Corktown business groups.
Member vice chair moved to send the OPRA certificate request to formal session with a recommendation to approve; the chair recorded no objections and the committee advanced the certificate to formal consideration.
Next steps: the OPRA request will be formally introduced before the full council; if approved the certificate would phase the increase in property taxes for a 12‑year period while supporting the conversion and associated community commitments.
