Detroit Free Press Building
Detroit Free Press Building | |
---|---|
Art Deco / Art Moderne | |
Location | 321 W. Lafayette Boulevard Detroit, Michigan |
Coordinates | 42°19′48″N 83°03′03″W / 42.33°N 83.0508°W |
Construction started | 1924 |
Completed | 1925 |
Owner | Bedrock Detroit |
Height | |
Roof | 57.91 m (190.0 ft) |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 14 2 below ground |
Lifts/elevators | 8 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Albert Kahn |
Detroit Free Press Building | |
Part of | Detroit Financial District (ID09001067) |
Significant dates | |
Designated CP | December 14, 2009 |
Designated MSHS | January 8, 1981 |
References | |
[1][2][3] |
The Detroit Free Press Building is an office building designed by
The
The building, located at 321 West Lafayette, was unoccupied from 1998, when the newspaper offices moved, to 2020, when it was redeveloped as an apartment building.[7][8] It was formerly the home of the Detroit Free Press, and while occupied by the newspaper, displayed large neon signs of the newspaper logo on its roof facing north and south. Printing facilities for the newspaper occupied the lower floors of the building until 1979, when a new production facility opened approximately one-mile southwest at 1801 West Jefferson Avenue.[9]
In 1989, the newspaper moved its offices to the building Albert Kahn designed for The Detroit News at 615 West Lafayette. Because the News Building is only three stories, it is constructed of reinforced concrete and faced with concrete fashioned to look like stone.[10] When the Free Press offices moved into the building, they occupied the southern portion and used the address of 600 West Fort Street while The News used its long-time address of 615 West Lafayette. In February 2014, both newspapers announced their intent to move to another facility which would be more suited to their current needs.[11]
Redevelopment Plans
Several redevelopment plans were proposed during the time the building was vacant. None of these were successful.
- In spring 2003, the Detroit Free Press Building was added to a short list of possible sites to replace the urban development in Detroit.
- In February 2009, owners announced that the building would be turned into a sound stage for Motor City Film Works production but set no date for completion of the project.
- In June 2010, Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved incentive financing for a deal to remake the Free Press Building into residential apartments with office and retail space.[12]
- In November 2012, the structure was placed for auction because the owners, Luke Investments, could not agree on a redevelopment plan.[7]
- The building sold again in September 2013 for approximately $4.15 million.[4] The new owners expect to begin renovations in late 2014 to recreate retail space on the street level and 150 apartments on the upper floors.[13]
Redevelopment
In September 2016, billionaire developer Dan Gilbert bought the property, through Pyramid Development Co, LLC, for a reported $8.425 million. Throughout the next four years, the building was redeveloped into a mixed-use project with 8,000 square feet of retail space, 55,000 square feet of office space, and 105 new apartments. The building, renamed "The Press/321", began leasing in September 2020.[8]
Gallery
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Main entrance
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Entrance sculpture detail
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Sculptural detail
References
- ^ "Emporis building ID 118487". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
- ^ "Detroit Free Press Building". SkyscraperPage.
- ^ Detroit Free Press Building at Structurae
- ^ a b Muller, David (September 11, 2013). "Former Detroit Free Press building sold for just over $4 million at auction". mLive.com. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-8143-3120-0.
- ISBN 978-0-4720-3066-8.
- ^ a b Bomer, Matt (November 6, 2012). "Anonymous $1.5 million bid submitted for former Detroit Free Press building". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
- ^ a b Pinho, Kirk (September 16, 2020). "Former Detroit Free Press building apartments now leasing as part of $113 million redevelopment". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ "Detroit RiverFront Conservancy Announces West Riverfront Property Purchase" (Press release). Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. December 3, 2007. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2012 – via PR Newswire.
- ISBN 978-0-8143-1651-1.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ Briscoe, Tony (February 19, 2014). "Detroit News, Free Press may have found new home". The Detroit News. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
- ^ Gallagher, John (June 16, 2010). "Old Free Press building makeover moves ahead". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
- ^ "Chinese group buys old Detroit Free Press building, David Stott building". WDIV News. October 18, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
Further reading
- ISBN 978-0-8143-3270-2.