This redevelopment of a former hospital complex in the Virginia Park ditrict could take a long time and a lot of money. Led by New York developer and architect Ron Castellano, the redevelopment covers 18 acres of the former hospital complex and could cost $143 million. Early plans could include a hotel and a skate park, and altogether, it could take up to eight years to complete. The developer has also purchased many blighted homes in the neighborhood.

Progress has been slow so far and no major work has taken place on the site yet.

In 2019, the MOCAD in Midtown launched a $15 million fundraising campaign to undertake a “top-to-bottom” renovation of the facility. Work will include revamping the outdoor space to add landscaping, a plaza, and a permanent stage for concerts, as well as creating a floor-to-ceiling window facing Woodward.

Redevelopment of the former Albert Kahn–designed car dealership is expected to be finished in 2021.

One of two Olympia redevelopments we’re somewhat confident will actually happen. The development arm of the Ilitch family has tended to sit on buildings rather than develop them in the so-called District Detroit.

After missing numerous development deadlines, Olympia finally agreed to development terms with the city for the Eddystone. The mixed-use project will cost an estimated $40.9 million, and in exchange, the city demanded a $33 million performance bond in case the project isn’t completed. Olympia has since begun securing the building and working on the facade. We’re still taking a wait-and-see approach, but at least there’s been progress.

The other Ilitch-owned building that’s most likely to get redeveloped. In late 2019, Olympia announced a tenant for the historic Women’s City Club Building: Spaces, a global coworking company and subsidiary of Switzerland-based IWG plc, will lease approximately 47,000 square feet

The total renovation is expected to cost $25 million, though no completion date has been set.

Developers hoped to start work on a $130 million renovation of the Leland Hotel in fall 2018. Plans for 1927 building on the west side of downtown call for 340 affordable and market-rate apartments, ground-floor retail, and a 650-space parking deck.

The project originally had a March 2020 completion date, but it’s unclear how much work has been done so far.

Bedrock bought the Italian Renaissance skyscraper in 2015. For the past two years, it’s been restoring the exterior of the 38-story building—power washing the brick and stone, replacing the 2,483 historically-accurate windows, and fixing up the cornice and caryatid statues.

Last year, Bedrock released renderings and redevelopment details: there will be retail, office, residential, and a high-end hotel. The $313 million project is now expected to finish in 2022.

Bedrock acquired the Capitol Park Art Deco skyscraper in 2015, after a Chinese investment group neglected it. Work has been underway for a while to restore the building, designed by John M. Donaldson, back to its original beauty.

Many of the residences are available for lease.

In late 2019, Elia Group purchased 511 Woodward, sometimes called the “footstool” of the Guardian Building, from Wayne County for $4.65 million. The nearly 30,000-square-foot, four-story building has been vacant for over 20 years, and the redevelopment is expected to cost $10 million.

Capital One Café—a coffee shop, workspace, and bank branch—will occupy 7,000 square feet and two floors.

Redevelopment of one of Detroit’s oldest skyscrapers came to an abrupt halt in 2018 after auto supplier Adient, which had bought the building to house its headquarters, announced huge financial losses.

It was then bought by Detroit-based Sterling Group for $10 million and is currently undergoing a $20 million renovation. Most recently, the world’s largest advertising company, London-based WPP, announced that it will move up to 1,000 employees into the building.