Hailed as the most significant development in the city of Detroit in decades, the redevelopment of the Hudson's site into a mixed-use development earned the project a 2023 CoStar Impact Award for commercial development of the year in Detroit, as judged by a panel of local industry professionals.
Bedrock gave the public its first look in May at additional design elements for the redevelopment of J.L. Hudson’s former flagship department store, a project the company has called a catalyst for the transformation of the historic Woodward corridor and a landmark destination for downtown Detroit. The real estate firm founded by billionaire Dan Gilbert is in the process of remaking the site on Woodward Avenue into a 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use development complete with offices, destination retail, event spaces, public rooftop amenities, an activated public plaza and a soaring tower that, at 685 feet, would be the second-tallest in the state.
“The significance of this development goes beyond its unique and distinctive physical presence. Once complete, along with impressive views, the project will bring premier office, residential, hotel and event spaces with carefully curated dining and entertainment experiences,” Bedrock CEO Kofi Bonner said in a statement at the time.
Bedrock secured development rights back in 2013 to redevelop the 2-acre, city-owned site that for nearly a century housed the J.L. Hudson building — a 410-foot, Chicago School-style, red-brick structure that once stood as the tallest retail building in the world. The Hudson's department store opened in 1911 and operated for seven decades before shutting its doors in 1983. In 1998, the landmark was imploded, leaving a big empty space in the heart of Detroit.
Bedrock purchased the site in 2016 after almost two decades of vacancy and hired New York-based SHoP Architects and Detroit-based Hamilton Anderson Associates to lead the design process for the project, with Bedrock initially breaking ground on the development in 2017. Structural work on the tower is expected to wrap up this year with the development to be completed in 2024.
About the project: The Hudson's project is designed to include 400,000 square feet of office space, 31,000 square feet of retail space, 20,000 square feet of outdoor plaza and indoor gallery space, 90 to 100 apartments and 220 to 230 luxury hotel rooms. One of the highlights of the proposal is the 126,000 square feet of events and meeting space in the office building that Bedrock said will help fill a niche in the Detroit event venue market and serve as the premier event space on Woodard Avenue close to Campus Martius Park. That space is set to be located on the second and third floors of the office building and has been designed to accommodate events ranging from 50 to 2,500 people.
What the judges said: "I chose the Hudson's site because of the direct result it brings to the comeback of our city," said Dominic Shamany, managing director with Legacy Commercial Real Estate Advisors. "The Hudson's site is very famous within our community. Our parents and grandparents remember shopping here as children and it is nice to see the construction and capital being invested here in the city of Detroit. I am positive everyone in our community is looking forward to the completion of this project, not to mention all of the jobs this will create."
"This project is a symbol for Detroit's future," added Luke Bonner, CEO of Bonner Advisory Group. "It represents the renaissance of Detroit and its growth and appeal for large-scale investments from the private sector unseen in decades."
"Hey, it's the Hudson site actually being developed. Enough said," said Dennis Bernard, president and founder of Bernard Financial Group.
They made it happen: Bedrock is the owner and developer of the site. SHoP Architects and Detroit-based Hamilton Anderson Associates are leading the design process for the project. Daniel Canvasser of Newmark is heading up the office leasing team.