Detroit Evening Report: New 600-room hotel development proposed downtown

A new 600-room, 25-story hotel is expected to join the changing skyline along the Detroit River, flanked by the Huntington Place Convention Center and a newly built upscale apartment tower.

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The proposed hotel would be built near the former site of Joe Louis Arena — now called Water Square — and connect to Huntington Place via a pedestrian bridge, enhancing accessibility and convenience for convention-goers and guests alike, according to the city.

“Detroit is at a significant disadvantage when competing for convention business, as the number of rooms within walking distance of the convention center and not having a connected hotel is a major concern of all meeting planners,” a notice from the City of Detroit read. “With the new connected hotel this will allow Huntington Place and the City of Detroit to attract events and conventions that were previously not attainable.”

The developer, Detroit-based Sterling Group, proposed that the hotel consist of five podium floors, including a ground floor restaurant, a lobby bar, two ballrooms, 50,000 square feet of meeting rooms, a swimming pool, spa and fitness area. The hotel tower floors will comprise 20 levels.

Sterling Group is currently seeking governmental approvals, with the hopes of beginning construction in the second quarter of 2024. If approved, it would be the second largest hotel in the city, behind the 1,328-room Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. 

A Community Benefits Ordinance meeting is scheduled for the project on Jan. 9 for residents within the CBO impact area, comprised of portions of Downtown, West Side Industrial and Corktown neighborhoods. The impact area is bounded by Michigan Ave., Porter St. and W. Jefferson Ave to the north, Woodward Ave. to the east, the Detroit River to the south, and 6th Steet, Trumbull St., 8th St., and Rosa Parks Blvd. to the west.

To register for the CBO meeting, visit bit.ly/hotel-water-square.

Other headlines for Friday, Dec. 22, 2023:

• A federal court is requiring Michigan’s redistricting commission to redraw over a dozen state House and Senate district boundaries around Detroit.  
• The Great Lakes Water Authority is telling communities it serves that drinking water is safe despite a rise in “total organic carbon” found in water treated at its Water Works Park Treatment Plant.
• The City of Detroit is reminding homeowners that property taxes are due next month.
• The Coloring Museum in Detroit is hosting a free special holiday event from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.