The future of Detroit's Renaissance Center, known as the RenCen, is up for significant change after the Detroit City Council voted against seeking a historic designation for the complex. The redevelopment plans, which include demolishing two of the five towers for new development, move forward without the protections that historic status might have provided.
In a decisive session, the council voted 8-1 against the designation. This vote will allow the $1.6 billion redevelopment plan proposed by billionaire Dan Gilbert's Bedrock company to proceed. According to the Detroit Free Press, Councilwoman Angela Whitfield-Calloway, the single vote in favor, emphasized her desire for a balance between preservation and development, suggesting that a public town hall meeting be held at Huntington Place to discuss the matter further.
Mayor Mike Duggan expressed his support for the council's decision, saying the move by the council halts what could have been decades of vacancy and blight for the iconic riverfront towers. "Thanks to Detroit City Council’s strong stance today, the Mayor’s Office and Council can now move forward to explore all alternatives and develop the best solution for our city’s future," Duggan said in a statement, The Detroit News detailed.
On the opposing side, concerns about maintaining Detroit's skyline and historical heritage were significant factors in the debate. Jared Fleisher, vice president of Dan Gilbert’s Rock Family of Companies, argued for a fresh vision for the site, stating, "Just because something can't be the same, doesn't mean it can't be spectacular." He said to Detroit Free Press, emphasizing the possibility of creating an inclusive and accessible riverfront attraction.
This redevelopment proposal was first unveiled in November and has been met with a mixture of anticipation and concern from different stakeholders. Jennifer Stallings, General Motors' legal counsel, pointed out practical challenges with the existing structure, illustrating its massive size and poor accessibility, which impedes viability. According to Detroit Free Press, she described the RenCen as "a city within a city," built to be self-contained but ultimately lacking connection with the city and the foot traffic needed to invigorate its retail spaces.
The Detroit City Planning Commission and City Council will now play a pivotal role in overseeing alterations to RenCen, as it is zoned for planned development in alignment with the city's Master Plan. Marcell Todd, director of the planning commission, mentioned the possibility of a community benefits agreement during discussions. Such an agreement would bring additional aspects of the proposal before the council, potentially complementing zoning regulations for achieving certain goals that could have been met through historic designation.
