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Detroit Planning Commission approves facade, demolition and signage changes for three downtown properties
Summary
At its March 25 meeting the Detroit Planning Commission unanimously approved three historic‑district applications for 14 North Walnut, 99 & 11 East Main, and 16 South Market Street after staff found each met the design manual standards; votes were recorded by roll call.
The Detroit Planning Commission on March 25 approved three separate historic‑district applications for downtown properties, voting unanimously after staff recommended each project met the city design manual.
Austin, a planning department staff member, told the commission the application for 14 North Walnut Street was unchanged from an earlier filing and recommended approval because the proposed work complies with design manual sections 2.6 and 2.8. "They are proposing a bunch of different improvements on the east façade facing Walnut Street," Austin said, including repainting existing blue CMU to a dark green, installing three new aluminum storefronts along the alley and an iron‑ore colored storefront facing Walnut, and adding a fire‑rated egress door. "So based on that, staff does recommend approval of the proposed alterations due to the compliance with design manual section 2.6 and 2.8," Austin said.
On 99 and 11 East Main Street, Austin said the submission remained the same as an earlier review and described a mix of repainting painted surfaces, leaving unpainted brick as is, adding four new balconies on the east façade (each projecting about 5 feet for a total projection length of 15 feet), and installing a rear fire‑escape exit. He said the proposal includes partial demolition of a noncontributing CMU addition and that staff’s analysis, referencing the zoning code’s authorization to relax demolition standards, concluded the addition is not significant and the new construction meets the design manual and the OHI form’s contributing‑features requirements.
The commission also considered a new application for 16 South Market Street covering paint, signage and an awning. Austin said the main body color proposed is Sherwin‑Williams "Mint Condition," and described two sign types: a projecting round sign and three‑dimensional pin‑mounted lettering for the storefront, with one sign measuring about 6 square feet above the main storefront and a four‑foot indirect downlight fixture. He said the awning, added to the submission after the report was written, meets projection and height limitations. "Because the proposed paint, signage, and awning comply with sections 2.6, 5.4 and 5.7 of the design manual, staff recommends approval," Austin said.
Votes at a glance - 14 North Walnut Street — Motion to approve staff recommendation; roll‑call vote recorded as all present voting yes; outcome: approved. - 99 & 11 East Main Street — Motion to approve staff recommendation for repainting, balconies, partial demolition and new construction; roll‑call vote recorded as all present voting yes; outcome: approved. - 16 South Market Street — Motion to approve paint, signage and awning as presented; roll‑call vote recorded as all present voting yes; outcome: approved.
The meeting began with a routine roll call and approval of minutes from Feb. 11, 2026, and concluded after the three applications were approved; Austin reported there was no other business and the commission adjourned.
