Olympia Development, part of Ilitch Cos. in Detroit, has announced the third selected site for its Co-Developer program — 44 and 48 W. Adams. The two adjoining parcels overlook the western portion of Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit.
Olympia’s Co-Developer Program was created to provide opportunities for Detroit-based, Detroit-headquartered, or Detroit resident-owned development companies as part of The District Detroit Community Benefits Agreement that was reached in cooperation with the Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC).
The District Detroit is a 50-block area that includes Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, Ford Field, multiple historic theaters, offices, housing, stores, and restaurants.
The 44 and 48 W. Adams properties formerly were home to the Fine Arts Building and the adjacent Adams Theatre. Spanning approximately a half-acre, today the site includes the facade of the Fine Arts Building.
The Fine Arts was designed by Louis Kamper in 1905, while the 1,770-seat Adams Theatre was designed by C. Howard Crane in 1917. The Adams Theatre itself fronted Elizabeth Street to the north, and patrons accessed the theater from the lobby of the Fine Arts Building either via a tunnel or a skywalk.
Ilitch Cos. tore down both buildings several years ago, only preserving the Fine Arts Building façade.
The entire parcel is located in the Grand Circus Park Historic District.
“The West Adams site is unique and represents a rare opportunity for Detroit developers to blend Detroit’s rich history with a smart and innovative design,” says Eric Tuomey, vice president of development at Olympia Development.
Two other buildings are part of Olympia Development’s Co-Developer Program — 475 Peterboro (The Woodstock Apartments) and 88 W. Columbia Street (Blenheim). Olympia Development states proposals and agreements for the two buildings are currently under evaluation. The property details include:
- 475 Peterboro Street was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by the architectural firm Pollmar & Ropes and opened in 1914 as The Woodstock Apartments. The building is 47,500 square feet and originally had 71 apartments. The property is located between Cass Avenue and 2nd Avenue across from Detroit Shipping Company.
- 81 W. Columbia Street was designed in the transitional style by architectural firm Baxter and O’Dell in 1909 as the Blenheim Apartments. It originally comprised 19 apartments and a speakeasy. The building is four stories tall and is approximately 17,500 square feet. The Blenheim is located at the southeast corner of Columbia Street and Park Avenue, and adjacent to the Fox Theatre and Little Caesars Global Headquarters.
“I’d like to thank the members of the NAC for working with us to further shape this pioneering program that is tapping into the deep talent and passion in Detroit’s development community,” says Rian English Barnhill, vice president of government and community affairs at Olympia Development. “The Co-Developer Program is one of the many ways we partner with Detroiters to bring equitable development to the city.”
Three other Olympia Development Co-Developer partnerships are under construction —The Residences @150 Bagley (The United Artist Building), 64 Edmund Place, and Henry Street Apartments. The latter two buildings are located west of Little Caesars Arena.
Additional sites continue to be evaluated for future Co-Developer opportunities, according to Olympia Development..
For more information on the Co-Developer Program, visit TheDistrictDetroitOC.com.
