Detroit Evening Report: New ‘Water Square’ luxury apartments open in downtown Detroit

Officials from the city of Detroit and project developers gathered Tuesday to mark the grand opening of “The Residences at Water Square” luxury apartment complex in downtown Detroit.

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The 496-unit building stands on the land once occupied by Joe Louis Arena. Mayor Mike Duggan says the high-rise fits into the city’s long-term plan for the space neighboring the Huntington Place convention center.

“The city that we want to build is a city where there is room for people of all incomes,” he said on Tuesday. “That there should be residences for people with high incomes and there needs to be residences for those with lower income.”

Duggan says the apartment complex is not receiving any tax breaks from the city.

The project’s lead developer, Sterling Group, is working on plans to build an equally tall, 25-story hotel beside the new apartments. City officials say the project would carry a totally investment cost of around $400 million and bring about 600 new hotel rooms to Detroit.

Story by WDET reporter Alex McLenon.

Other headlines for Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024:

• Wednesday is the deadline for Detroiters in need to apply for reduced cost internet access through Connect 313, a local nonprofit group dedicated to helping all Detroiters access technology and digital skills.
• Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling against the abortion drug mifepristone that Nessel says would limit access to abortion and harm women’s health.
• Bedrock Detroit and the Carr Center are hosting arts events this month in honor of Black history.

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