Detroit’s Renaissance Centre is set for a $1.6 billion transformation after GM relocated their global headquarters to the new Hudson’s Detroit on Woodward Avenue. GM and developer Bedrock have proposed a project that would include the demolition of original towers built in the 1970s. “Why change it? It’s going to look so ugly during the construction,” said Detroiter Bee Glam. “I don’t want to see them go. Hate to see them go. You gotta do what you gotta do but I don’t feel they should go. I think they can find something to do with the two buildings.” Parts of the remaining towers will be converted into residential and hospitality spaces while the project reconnects the downtown to the waterfront and also connects the Detroit Riverwalk on the east side of the RenCen. A public park with surrounding amenities, including a ferris wheel, are part of the plans. Also, part of the redevelopment is a marina for boats to dock. “Any way that we’re finding opportunities to pull people to the waterfront is really exciting,” said Michigan State Representative Joe Tate. “I know the same with Windsor and Ontario; the waterfront is just such a gem. There’s always going to be concern when you’re looking at deconstructing two of the towers, but I think generally people are interested in learning more and seeing how this is going to shape out and what other programming and activities will come along with this.” He says the development would be a tourist attraction akin to the Navy Pier in Chicago. Opportunity could spill over to Windsor. “There’s going to be lots of great reasons for people from Toronto and Ottawa and Calgary, come and spend three days in Windsor, stay at one of the hotels here but then pop over to Detroit,” said Windsor-Detroit Tunnel CEO Tal Czudner. “We’re going to have a really cool boutique hotel opening up next year. That’s going to attract people to our area, and they can just take the tunnel across and go visit the cool things happening in Detroit.” Glam would like to leave things the way they are along the Riverwalk. “This is fine. You need some calm part of The Riverwalk, and this could be that and you have this as the great backdrop. This can stay just as it is,” Glam said. The changes to the Renaissance Centre will have a direct effect on the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel. “The one tower is almost right over top of us so they wouldn’t just, you see some old movies, we just implode buildings. The plan is, my understanding, is to take it down floor by floor,” Czudner told CTV News. He says he would have to give Transport Canada one month notice to close the 96-year-old crossing, so the plan is to try and keep it open. “Once that project gets done, it’ll be an even greater pull, downtown to downtown, heart to heart. Windsor to Detroit. Detroit to Windsor,” Czudner said. Tate says there are still community meeting going on which are expected to wrap up by the end of the year. He anticipates construction beginning after Detroit hosts the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final 4 in March of 2027.
