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® Vol. 28. No. 35 Fall 2012 www.crainsdetroit.com

Public and private money transform industrial sites, Page 3 Relyin’ on the river: Business stories, Pages 17-20 $1.3 billion in investment, Foldout map inside

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About this issue Editor: DETROIT’S RIVERFRONT REVIVAL Daniel Duggan, or Crain’s seventh annual Now we see the Renaissance Center Crain’s reporters Nancy Kaffer deputy managing supplement on investment bursting at the seams with 96 percent and Sherri Welch tell of the river- editor, Crain’s and residential development occupancy, new tenants at Stroh River front’s shift from industrial zone to Detroit F in Detroit, the focus is the De- Place and a successful redevelopment community center, as well as hopes Business troit River and the more than $1.3 bil- story at the Detroit Elevator Building. for the future (Pages 3-6). Design: lion in development and investments The Rivertown area between the Re- The riverfront revival is a story of Jeff Johnston, identified from the past 10 years. naissance Center and Belle Isle embod- public money, private money and col- senior The river long served as the high- ies the ups and downs of the area, as lective interest pushing projects over designer, Crain’s Detroit way to ship raw materials into De- Constance Crump reports (Page 7). the goal line, along with stories about Business troit and move finished goods out. Legislative changes could boost senior housing, wildlife refuges, Wind- Copy editors: From its manufacturing past, the the Port Authority, which already sor’s riverfront and even a closer look Gary Piatek, riverfront took a long slide before it represents $1.5 billion in economic at the islands of the Detroit River. senior editor; was to become the new casino dis- activity, Bill Shea notes (Page 11). Jeff Johnston, trict. That failed to pan out, but a All sorts of businesses still depend Tracy Balazy new era of riverfront living began af- on the river, as Gary Anglebrandt and Ed Bradley, ter Super Bowl XL in 2006. finds (Pages 17-20). — Daniel Duggan, deputy managing editor Crain’s Detroit Business Research for the foldout CRAINSDETROIT.COM/LIVINGD map: Michelle Muñoz, Check out more “Living and Investing special to CONTENTS 11 in the D” features online. Crain’s Detroit For instance, photos on Business From vision to action Detroit’s port pages 3 and 4 are part of Cover photo: How the riverfront became and its impact a “Then and Now” series John Sobczak a destination comparing older photos to 3 current views along the CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS ISSN # Detroit River. 0882-1992 is The next It was an idea developed by Crain’s published weekly, A place for except for a special steps senior designer Jeff Johnston and shot issue the third seniors by Andrew Templeton. week of August, for the and no issue the 5 13 on the river See the rest of the photos in an online third week of gallery, along with interactive riverfront December by Crain Detroit RiverWalk Communications maps, in the expanded online Inc. at 1155 Gratiot presentation of this issue at Ave., Detroit MI 48207-2732. Highlighting the impact www.crainsdetroit.com/livingd. Periodicals postage paid at Detroit, MI A study will document river and additional mailing offices. investment POSTMASTER: 6 Wildlife refuges Send address changes to CRAIN’S Industrial land gives way DETROIT Ups and to natural beauty BUSINESS, 15 Circulation downs in Department, P.O. Box 07925, Detroit, 7 Rivertown Life on the water MI 48207-9732. GST # 136760444. Businesses that rely on Printed in U.S.A. Interact with the people who are the Detroit River Entire contents “living in the D” at the Crain’s House copyright 2012 by 17 Crain Party event Sept. 20, starting at 5:30 Communications Big events p.m. More than 1,000 guests will Inc. All rights reserved. attend parties hosted at 25 homes Reproduction or on the river across Detroit. Afterward, they’ll use of editorial attend an afterglow party at the content in any 21 manner without Roostertail on Detroit’s riverfront. permission is Sponsors include the Michigan strictly prohibited. Islands Views of of the the river State Housing Development River views Authority and Quicken Loans Inc. Crain’s Along the 22 Detroit 24 For more information on how to The other riverfront bottom of these River reader register, or to see the homes pages you’ll find Windsor’s inspiration to Detroit photo featured, go to www.crainsdetroit more than 100 contest .com/events or call (313) 446-0300. photos tied to 9 the Detroit River, submitted by Crain’s readers as part of a photo contest. Winners are on Page 24, and a gallery is at crainsdetroit.com /livingd.

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The Detroit RiverWalk stretches toward Rivard Plaza’s canopies and the Renaissance Center, a far cry from the scrap metal and concrete that once filled the area. A photo from back then, courtesy of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, highlights the differences. See similar “then and now” views at crainsdetroit.com/livingd. ANDREW TEMPLETON From vision to action GM, Kresge get ball rolling to transform riverfront You couldn’t walk BY NANCY KAFFER “There were two or three things we said we were CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS going to do: make it a world-class global headquar- from the ters and open it up to the water and the city,” said ifteen years ago, the Detroit riverfront was- Matt Cullen, Detroit RiverFront Con- Renaissance n’t a destination for anyone. For much of the servancy chairman and Rock Ven- city’s history, the riverfront had been occu- tures COO who was then head of Center to the F pied by industry, a trio of cement silos real estate for GM. among its key landmarks. The RenCen, he said, “had big, water. What is it, Now, it’s easy to look at Detroit’s riverfront and ugly berms in front. There was no see a transformation. Wintergarden, and you couldn’t 50 yards? Projects such as Rivard Plaza, Chene Park and the walk from the Renaissance Center Dequindre Cut point to a riverfront bustling with to the water. What is it, 50 yards?” Matt Cullen, life. Getting to that point took private investment, The streets around the RenCen public investment and a plan. were broken, dotted with aban- Detroit RiverFront Everyone seemed to agree that something should Cullen doned cars, Cullen said. Conservancy happen. But when it came to what and how, it was GM was willing to put cash into the riverfront, hard to reach consensus. Attempts were made in the adding about $25 million to its Renaissance Center 1990s when the city began to acquire land for a down- development efforts. And when the Troy-based Kres- town riverfront casino district. But that plan went ge Foundation expressed interest in making a dona- nowhere, leaving the riverfront, as usual, in limbo. tion for a transformational project in the city of De- All that started to change in 1996, when General Motors Corp. bought the Renaissance Center. See Page 4

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From Page 3 donate land to us by way of a conser- vation easement,” Nelson said. troit, Cullen pitched the riverfront. Assembling land and finding the It was the right time to act, Cullen funds to carry out projects wasn’t said. the conservancy’s only job, Nelson The administration of former De- said. “The other component we had troit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick had was raising dollars,” she said. “We just rejected the city’s plan to build had to raise dollars to ensure we waterfront casinos, but the land the could continue to take care of what city had acquired was still available. we develop, what we build.” “I said: ‘Look, if we move right Raising funds and completing now, we have a moment in time construction projects on a formerly where we can transform the river- industrial riverfront has been chal- front,” Cullen said. “If we don’t do lenging, Cullen said. Getting the this right now, all this property is go- ANDREW TEMPLETON project off the ground was an even ing to get sold off, and people will The old cement silos along the river (handheld photo) were costly bigger challenge. build something right up to the wa- to remove, but they were considered the most important former Still, he said, the mutual excite- ter’s edge. If we as a community don’t industrial elements to eliminate. ment over developing the riverfront do this, we’re not getting the opportu- made it possible. nity again.” Conservancy leaders visited waterfronts And though the process is far from over, Then-Kresge CEO John Marshall agreed, around the world to learn best practices. Cullen said, the project has altered not just and the foundation gave a $50 million chal- The conservancy held community meet- lenge grant to the project — the largest sin- ings. the riverfront but the Detroit community. gle donation in the foundation’s history. “One of the key first steps was land as- “When this began 10 years ago, there was From there, a blue-ribbon commission sembly,” said RiverFront Conservancy not a place in the city of Detroit that you formed in 2002 led to the creation of what is President and CEO Faye Nelson. “We had would see anybody walking a dog or push- now known as the Detroit RiverFront Conser- to decide, of this 5½-mile vision, we had to ing a baby carriage. It just didn’t happen,” vancy. identify what would be the first phase of he said. The conservancy began with a grand vi- our vision.” “As important as the physical improve- sion: Connect 5½ miles of waterfront to The first phase, she said, was the 3½-half ments are, as they will be in creating eco- create a community space. mile stretch that would become the east nomic development, we created a place that It was a vision others were eager to riverfront, from Joe Louis Arena to just east didn’t exist in the city before, where people share, Cullen said. of Belle Isle’s Douglas MacArthur Bridge. could come together and interact with each The iconic cement silos were demolished “With regard to land assembly, we were other and enjoy the space in a common way.” — and suddenly, he said, everything very, very fortunate to have all seven of the Nancy Kaffer: (313) 446-0412, seemed possible. private property owners on the waterfront [email protected]. Twitter: @nancykaffer

“DETROIT’S COMEBACK IS UNDERWAY AT THE WATERFRONT” SPECIAL TRAVEL SECTION | GQ, MAY 2012

With just one look, you know it’s real. The riverfront is a perfect front door for living in the D and with nine neighborhoods surrounding its path, the RiverWalk and the Dequindre Cut are remarkable additions to city living.

This project signifies what is possible when a public-private partnership works together to create the fastest and most ambitious project in Detroit’s history. It is a catalyst for economic development — working to attract new business, new employees and provide a significant green, public space for our residents.

We invite you to take a closer look at just a few of our attractions: the custom designed Cullen Family Carousel and the new Playpark at Rivard Plaza, the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, and the fountains at GM Plaza.

With 80 percent of the east Riverfront complete, we have embarked on new construction to connect the remaining public spaces, as we begin to address development on the west Riverfront.

Welcome to Detroit’s comeback. Visit detroitriverfront.org.

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Living and Investing in the D We are beginning to very aggressively program to reflect our community and who we are. Faye Nelson, Detroit RiverFront Conservancy Marching forward Conservancy steps up plans for RiverWalk, other projects

BY SHERRI WELCH CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS

lmost 10 years into its work on the Detroit River, the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is still looking forward. A In July, it began work to complete the last half mile of the Detroit RiverWalk and other projects along the east riverfront. It’s also begun stepping up plans to extend the RiverWalk west and to open public access to the riverfront along the two and a half miles between Joe Louis Arena and the Ambassador Bridge to Canada. And plans are in the works to highlight the eco- nomic impact of the project, as well as the history. “You think about other communities like Chica- go, Baltimore, Pittsburgh or even Windsor and how GLENN TRIEST they have skillfully used their waterfronts to pro- Detroit RiverFront markers along the riverwalk or technology. vide a tremendous amount of value to their commu- Conservancy President and nities,” said Faye Nelson, president and CEO of the The river played a role as a key military outpost for CEO Faye Nelson stands conservancy. the British and as part of the Underground Railroad, along the RiverWalk near As envisioned, the RiverWalk eventually will allowing slaves to seek freedom in Canada. And dur- Rivard Plaza. It’s one of stretch five and a half miles from Gabriel Richard ing Prohibition, it enabled the ille- many parts of the city’s Park near Belle Isle on the east to the Ambassador gal import of alcohol from Canada riverfront that was run- Bridge to Canada on the west. by sheltering peddlers in its al- down before public and The project will cost an estimated $140 million, in- coves, said Joel Stone, senior cura- private groups got together to revive the area. cluding a $60 million endowment to permanently tor at the Detroit Historical Society, maintain the spaces the conservancy develops. which is working with the conser- The conservancy is also beginning to move west, vancy to tell the story of the river’s securing land control through donations, land acqui- importance in Detroit’s history. sition and lease agreements. The conservancy also plans to Currently, it controls 26 acres of land on the west bolster programming to embrace riverfront on the site of the former Detroit Free Press Stone the Detroit/Windsor crossing as printing plant, which it acquired in 2007. an international border and the Within the year, the conservancy expects to firm busiest U.S. trade border crossing. up design plans for the west riverfront, Nelson said. “We are beginning to very aggressively program to As the conservancy prepares to celebrate its 10th reflect our community and who we are,” Nelson said. anniversary in 2013, it’s looking at how it can tell the Sherri Welch: (313) 446-1694, [email protected]. story of the river’s role in history through historical Twitter: @sherriwelch

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(The study) Conservancy to assess impact of riverfront investment BY SHERRI WELCH The study “will clearly demonstrate the impor- will clearly AND DANIEL DUGGAN tance of the riverfront not only for today but for the CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS future of our community,” said conservancy CEO demonstrate the Faye Nelson. etting rid of a few old cement silos, build- The study will look at the conservancy’s invest- importance of the ing a new sidewalk and redeveloping a few ments over the past 10 years and riverfront ... for buildings? ON THE MAP the jobs they’ve created, from de- G In some cities, that kind of redevelop- molition and construction to vis- ment might be one year’s worth of projects. But in Past, present, itor spending, business attrac- the future of our Detroit, and on the city’s riverfront, it’s been the future: For a tion and retention. heart of a transformational project for the city. look at major It will also encompass other community. A Crain’s analysis of projects completed over the projects on the public and private investments — past 10 years and currently under construction riverfront, see those made and those planned. Faye Nelson, Detroit shows $1.3 billion in investments. the foldout map. Additionally, the study will RiverFront Conservancy The largest drivers of that figure are the $500 mil- take into consideration the im- lion redevelopment of the Renaissance Center, as pact of enhancements such as the waterfront well as the Detroit RiverWalk. carousel and fountain on the river side of the Renais- The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy estimates that sance Center, new fishing docks, children coming there’s been more than $300 million worth of public- for Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront, and the De- private investment in the east riverfront since 2002, troit River Days Festival, which brought 150,000 peo- including the spending so far on the east RiverWalk ple to the riverfront in its sixth year. and adjacent green areas and pavilions, the cost of The festival celebrates Detroit’s maritime, ecologi- land donated, and money invested or pledged for oth- cal and culinary culture with tall ships, towering er projects. sand sculptures, children’s activities, food and live But to get a firmer sense of the impact its efforts concerts over three days each June. have had, the conservancy has commissioned Min- “There’s just so much value (the RiverWalk) de- neapolis-based Custom Intercept Solutions to do an eco- velopment has already brought our community,” nomic impact survey. Nelson said.

The Detroit RiverWalk, including a waterfront- themed carousel, is part of more than $300 million in public-private investment.

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David Di Rita, principal of Detroit-based Roxbury Group, is eager to turn the decaying Globe Building on Atwater Street into a recreation center serving William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. GLENN TRIEST Ups and downs Signs point – again – to new life for Rivertown region

BY CONSTANCE CRUMP fuel hopes of better times. SPECIAL TO CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Originally an industrial structure, then a failed residential development, the Eleva- ivertown — the sliver of land between the tor Building now holds office, retail and Renaissance Center, Jefferson Avenue and studio space. On Franklin Street near St. the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle — has Aubin, the property is 100 feet off the De- R been born and born and born again. quindre Cut Greenway, the linear park for While past reports of rejuvenation have proven pedestrians and bicyclists. premature, there are realistic successes this time. Like other Rivertown fans, Elevator Not long after thriving in the 1990s with landmark Building owner Randy Lewarchik is con- clubs and restaurants such as the Rhinoceros, Soup cerned about losing the neighborhood’s old- Kitchen and the Woodbridge Tavern, Rivertown er structures. came to a screeching halt. The city first bought up “It’s important to keep a mix of the old swaths of land to build casinos on the water, then and the new. It opens the door for all sorts of did an about-face, abandoning the properties along tenants,” he said. JOHN SOBCZAK with the neighborhood. He praises the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. — Randy Lewarchik Now, hefty state and private investments are redeveloped the Detroit which has custody of the former casino property — Elevator Building as office, bringing it back to life. The Detroit Elevator Build- for putting in new streetscapes, new sewer lines, wa- ing, a new U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at Stroh retail and studio space. River Place, and Michigan’s first urban state park See Page 8

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“I walked the riverfront yesterday with a couple of folks looking at ways to do business downtown. They were surprised at how great it is, what a nice ameni- ty. There were several thousand people walking at lunch. Where else in Michigan can you have that?” Pardon said. Nowhere, if you’re talking about an urban state park. The 31-acre William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor is unique. Recently, the state announced plans for the 50,000-square-foot Globe Building at Atwater and Dequindre Streets, once slated for loft conversion, to become the park’s recreation center. “The earlier vision made sense in its time, but with the state park’s continued development ... it’s a sensible and exciting adaptive reuse,” said the Globe’s developer, David Di Rita, principal of De- troit-based Roxbury Group. “This is the last example of this kind of industrial building along the riverfront. It’s a testament to the city that they hung onto it. The area is springing to life in a lot of ways. This will … provide a great back- drop for residential development.” GLENN TRIEST The $12.8 million project is going to be expensive to The riverfront is run, noted Vicki Anthes, chief of the Michigan Depart- From Page 7 ment of Natural Resources planning section. The state one of the best ter mains, gas and electric service. will need to generate revenue by opening the space “They’re definitely gearing up for really nice rede- for events such as corporate meetings or weddings. locations you can velopment to come in. They’ve been courting all The center may offer kayak and water sports sim- sorts of different folks, different companies,” ulators, a rock-climbing wall (the building has 60- live in. ... I can’t Lewarchik said. foot ceilings) and science classrooms. An archery Who will be redeveloping city property in River- range is a certainty, Anthes said. Archery is very wait to live down town — and when — is a secret to most people outside popular at the moment, probably due to the hit film of the DEGC. The double whammy of the housing mar- “The Hunger Games.” there myself. ket collapse and the implosion of the financial markets Stroh River Place scored a coup when it was cho- left the city with land and a plan but no customers, sen for the first satellite location of the U.S. patent of- George Jackson, DEGC said George Jackson, president and CEO of DEGC. fice. The office opened in early July. “We are working with a number of developers — I Stroh River Place already is home to a number of can’t really say who, but you’ll see it announced in federal offices, said Jeff Bell, the head of leasing for 12-24 months — to start this residential component,” CBRE at the riverfront complex. The mixed-use com- he said. plex is well-maintained, another plus, and has plenti- The DEGC looks likely to reach its goal of combining ful surface parking. retail and recreation with residential use in River- “Right now, we are hovering in the low 70 percent, town. It’s asking developers to include a retail compo- high 60s occupancy. Hopefully, our occupancy will nent in all proposals, Jackson said. continue to grow,” Bell said. “Things are really coming together. Detroit is ex- That seems likely, as the patent office will attract periencing a demand for urban living. The river- service firms and international companies that open front is one of the best locations you can live in: the branches near patent offices as a matter of policy. six-mile RiverWalk and park, a little community Designer and artist Dominic Pangborn has owned within the city. his Rivertown studio at 275 Iron St. since the early “The east riverfront is not only a place for people ’80s. He’s discouraged by the lack of progress since the to live but a destination location, as well, with the city dropped plans to build casinos along the river. state park and the Globe Building. I can’t wait to live “We are sitting on the jewel of the river, sitting down there myself.” there vacant. In any other city, there’s no question At the Renaissance Center, a 96 percent occupancy that Rivertown would be developed in a minute,” rate for office space signals progress. And downtown Pangborn said. investment has made Rivertown more attractive. “It should be gorgeous — and all residential. With “We see a tremendous surge in activity and retail people living and walking here, there will be restau- traffic with Blue Cross Blue Shield fully moving in and rants and shops. If it’s just a pocket here, a pocket a lot more energy to the area. It was already elec- there, that isn’t enough to create a community. tric,” said Todd Pardon, director of asset services for “I still believe in Detroit, still believe we can make Pangborn CBRE Group Inc., the firm directing leasing for the Re- changes here. People have to make it happen. Elect- naissance Center. ed officials aren’t going to do it.”

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(Windsor officials outlined their) planning, shared their drawings and lessons learned. Faye Nelson, Detroit RiverFront Conservancy

JOHN SOBCZAK The redevelopment of Windsor’s waterfront began taking shape around 1980. The shoreline is a draw for business and residential development, both taking advantage of the international view. View across the river Windsor’s riverfront project an inspiration to Detroit

BY LAURA BLODGETT been driven by a riverfront conservancy but rather SPECIAL TO CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS by the Windsor City Council. “There tends to be highly political support for the former industrial area along the Detroit waterfront — a lot of the monuments down at the wa- River benefits from heavy investment and terfront point to (contributions of) previous may- becomes a showpiece for the city around it. ors,” said Thom Hunt, director and city planner with A That might sound like a Detroit story, the city of Windsor, who helped put together the mas- but it’s not. ter plan for the riverfront in 2000. Like Detroit’s, Windsor’s riverfront was largely in- “It seems to be entrenched in the Windsor her- dustrial before deliberate planning by local govern- itage, this emotional attachment to the waterfront ment led to its development as a green space to attract for the people of the city.” visitors and residents alike. And its development has The Windsor riverfront has become a draw for near- been an inspiration for Detroit’s riverfront, as well. by businesses, such as the Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casi- The vision of the Canadian waterfront as a public no, as well as startups and apartment complexes. access recreation area really began taking shape “When we can put in any literature that we have around 1980. By the late 1990s, money started to flow riverfront views, especially with the fireworks, it to the waterfront, and the newer developments and draws people to come here, and those rooms are al- public plazas were built. Unlike Detroit’s projects, development has not See Page 10

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From Page 9 ways booked first,” said Jhoan Baluyot, pub- lic relations manager at Caesars. Likewise, the view is impressive for job candidates, said Trevor LeDrew, regional di- rector of Investors Group Inc., a financial ser- vice company that relocated to One Riverside Drive two years ago from the Toronto area. “(Job candidates) are impressed with our investment in the waterfront,” he said. “This is their view and the presentation they show Windsor’s riverfront their potential clients, so it’s win-win.” is an attraction not But there’s still not enough commerce only for residents taking place, said Larry Horwitz, chairman and visitors, but for of the Downtown Windsor Business Improve- job candidates, too. ment Association, which represents 750 JOHN SOBCZAK member businesses downtown. landscaping materials, was useful. were among sponsors of a hands-on educa- “Now that we’ve created that gorgeous “We made a number of visits to Wind- tional seminar, the Detroit River Water waterfront, we have to do what they’ve sor,” said Nelson. “They provided a tour of Festival, recently held for Detroit and done in Central Park and downtown Chica- their waterfront, (outlined their) whole Windsor schoolchildren. go — we have to create aquariums and conceptual planning, shared their draw- Canadian tourism efforts have touted the restaurants and merry-go-rounds and skat- ings and lessons learned. It’s been a won- “two nations, one destination” mindset, ing rinks and all those kind of things to cre- derful relationship.” plugging the nearby Detroit features Wind- ate commerce,” he said. The Canadian and Detroit riverfront con- sor lacks, such as major league sports, the Current and future events have involved tingents continue to collaborate through a Detroit Zoo, Motown, Fox Theatre, Cobo Cen- the U.S. neighbors. Information from the variety of program partnerships, such as ter and the Renaissance Center, as well as ac- Canadians on what worked or didn’t work the Red Bull Air Race held over the Detroit cessibility to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. during the building phase was extremely River and the Detroit River Days celebra- Nelson said she feels the community useful, said Faye Nelson, president and tion, which drew 150,000 visitors in June could take better advantage of the benefits CEO of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy. and coincided with Summer Fest Windsor. of living on a river shared by two countries. Considering the similarities the two wa- Joint programs during that event includ- “Being on an international waterfront is terfronts share in terms of climate, envi- ed an opportunity to board a tall ship, a re- a big deal,” said Nelson. “Joint program- ronmental issues and location on an inter- enactment of a battle in the War of 1812 and ming has brought a positive economic im- national waterway, Nelson said specific a tugboat race. DTE Energy Co., General Mo- pact for our respective communities; it is a information, such as use of concrete and tors Co. and the International Joint Commission tourist draw that provides quality of life.”

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Port Authority Executive Director John Jamian stands outside the $15 million public terminal opened last summer near the Renaissance Center. JOHN SOBCZAK Port report Legislation could smooth waters for more traffic

BY BILL SHEA Thirty-one companies operate at the port, directly CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS employing 5,600 people, said Jamian. The port also stores about one-sixth of the nation’s hanges that could come soon would add to aluminum supply in 1,000-pound ingot bars housed the $1.5 billion in annual economic activity in bonded warehouses — taking advantage of the already coming from the Detroit River’s port being the largest U.S. free-trade zone, he said. C ports. But broadening into agriculture would take a Legislation could pave the way for more agricul- change in state law allowing ships to use seawater in tural exports, and a water taxi service is a possibili- their trim tanks — a technology used by all other ty. In addition, the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority lakes states and Canada but not allowed under would gain the ability to finance projects inland Michigan’s regulations. from the river. Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake Township, draft- The port now traffics primarily in steel and other ed a bill because changing the rules would enable industrial bulk commodities but would be able to ex- the state’s agriculture industry to export products pand its industries. from here rather than from ports out of state. “The freight port goes with the auto industry. The change would permit oceangoing freighters to When the auto industry does well, our port does discharge seawater in the Detroit ports, making well,” said John Jamian, executive director of the room on board to pick up new cargo. This currently Port Authority. is not permitted under state Department of Environ- According to port authority statistics, companies mental Quality regulations. contractually use its privately managed port facili- In 2005, Michigan put the ballast law into place in ties and terminals to manage 17 million tons of cargo annually. See Page 12

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From Page 11 The authority is also continuing its efforts to an effort to keep invasive species out of the Great boost tourism development. Lakes. The hope was that other states and Canada A $15 million public terminal near the Renais- People are pretty would follow, but they did not, the authority has said. sance Center — and a $7.1 million offshore wharf to As a result, ships avoid the Detroit port. serve cruise ships and other deep-draft vessels in amazed and No bill had been introduced as of early August. the Detroit River — opened last summer. “It’s going to attract new business. Farmers won’t The 21,000-square-foot downtown Detroit terminal excited their city have to ship to Ohio,” Jamian can handle most Great Lakes said, noting that one ship equals vessels, but the 200-by-40-foot is coming back 870 trucks or 225 rail cars worth wharf allows the port to host of cargo. nearly all vessels that ply the alive on the Jim Byrum, president of the lakes — including cruise East Lansing-based Michigan ships, naval frigates and tall waterfront. Agri-Business Association, said ships. A water taxi service is shipping by water is cheaper also being considered. John Jamian, than by truck, rail or air. And A trio of U.S. Navy vessels, in- Detroit/Wayne County businesses already are interest- cluding a modern frigate, will ed in the state’s trade potential visit the port later this summer Port Authority once the ballast rules are modi- and fall, along with historic JOHN SOBCZAK fied. The Great Lakes Cruise Co.’s Grande Mariner sailing ships such as the Nia- “We have companies looking docks at the Port Authority public terminal. gara, a reconstruction of Com- at doing stuff in Michigan right modore Oliver Hazard Perry’s now,” Byrum said, noting that grain, soybeans and brig used in his 1813 victory over the Royal Navy in wheat would be the primary waterborne export agri- the Battle of Lake Erie. cultural goods. He declined to disclose specifics on On the drawing board is the idea of a water taxi to companies. Windsor, Jamian said, however, the details of when In additional to the ballast legislation, Kowall said — or if — it would be created have yet to be an- he is drafting a bill that would authorize the port nounced. The project remains conceptual. authority to issue bonds to finance inland projects. “It’s kind of a rebirth of Detroit. A lot of people, The Detroit port authority can finance projects thousands, are coming down to see this. People are only along the Detroit River — a notable example be- pretty amazed and excited their city is coming back ing $43 million in bonds it issued in 2004 to aid con- alive on the waterfront,” Jamian said. struction of the Beaubien Place parking garage adja- Bill Shea: (313) 446-1626, [email protected]. Twit- cent to the Renaissance Center. ter: @bill_shea19

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The older population can be an economic engine. Thomas Jankowski, Wayne State University Riverfront retirement Senior housing projects aim to make a splash

BY DOUG HENZE opment).” SPECIAL TO CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS PVM is allied with the Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System and Chelsea-based United Methodist Re- resbyterian Villages of Michigan and two in- tirement Communities Inc. on the Rivertown neighbor- vestors are hoping a $40 million complex hood project, which will bring 80 apartments in its that will provide affordable senior housing first phase, set for a December completion. P near the Detroit riverfront will make a The Department of Housing and Urban Develop- Bridgewater splash with the city’s aging population. ment-subsidized apartments, three blocks from the Success could spark similar housing along the riv- river on Wight Street near McDougall Street, will be er, where at least one other developer is waiting in roughly 600 square feet and rent for $200 to $400 a the wings for market demand. month, with the rate determined by tenant income. “There are a lot of seniors up and down the water- Paul Bridgewater, president and CEO of the De- front,” said Brian Carnaghi, senior vice president of troit Area Agency on Aging, said he believes the River- finance and business development for PVM. “We be- lieve that there will be a quick fill-up of this (devel- See Page 14

A rendering shows phase one of the $40 million complex.

COURTESY OF PRESBYTERIAN VILLAGES OF MICHIGAN

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From Page 13 called Rivertown Assisted Living, as well town project will serve as a model for se- as a health and wellness center. nior housing that can be replicated To be known as the Center for Senior Inde- throughout the city. And it’s population on pendence, the wellness facility will trans- the grow — the Southeast Michigan Council port seniors who need health care services of Governments predicts the city of Detroit’s to and from their homes. 65-and-older population will grow to 127,000 “This will be the first Michigan location by 2035, compared to 82,000 in 2010. with these two programs together,” said “Seniors are looking for a safe and se- PVM President and CEO Roger Myers, re- cure environment,” Bridgewater said. “I ferring to the senior housing and wellness think this project offers that. I think it will center. PVM said the project as a whole attract seniors in the city of Detroit and will be the first of its kind in the nation. also … in suburban communities. It’s going ANDREW TEMPLETON/CDB Phase two of the Rivertown project, The Renaissance Center is visible to the west of to be very attractive.” Presbyterian Villages of Michigan’s Rivertown scheduled for an April 2013 construction The development might not draw life- development. start, will be a four-story structure con- long suburban residents, but it could be a taining 50 apartments. beacon to city dwellers, said Thomas might be unable to sell their homes to get The third phase, awaiting financing, will Jankowski, associate director for research into new housing, Jankowski said. include a licensed nursing home consist- at the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne “I don’t think (Rivertown is) going to be ing of two buildings with 10 apartments State University. much of a catalyst for private for-profit de- each. The environment is expected to pro- Jankowski recently worked with the Michi- velopers, because there’s not much money vide a sense of community where residents gan State Housing Development Authority on a in it,” he said. will get to know each other. study that surveyed Michigan residents 50 However, other subsidized housing and A community café and a garden also will and older about housing preferences. businesses such as grocery stores could be part of phase three. For that group, safety is a primary con- spin off from the development, he said. Another group investing in low-cost se- cern, he said. PVM will provide 24-hour se- “The older population can be an econom- nior housing along the river is the non- curity at Rivertown. ic engine,” Jankowski said. profit Boston-based Preservation of Afford- “For people who have been living in the PVM expects the project to create 180 able Housing. The group, which offers city for years and their houses may be one health care jobs, with an average pay of independent senior housing, recently of only two or three that are occupied on $48,000 a year. spent $8 million to reface the exterior of its their street, moving in with other people Construction on that $26 million phase 18-story building at 8330 E. Jefferson with probably, in their view, leads to an in- began in January, when the developers metal plating to improve energy efficiency. crease in safety,” he said. gutted a former Parke-Davis manufacturing POAH, which purchased the 280-apart- Subsidized housing fills a need for se- facility. The 120,000-square-foot, four-story ment building in 2003 to prevent its con- niors who, because of the housing crash, building will be home to the apartments, version to market-rate condos, used stimu- lus funds from MSHDA to renovate. “We’re doing a lot of window replace- ments, solar-thermal, greening measures,” said Maria Plati, communications manag- er for POAH. “This had leaks that were pretty bad, in terms of energy.” Still deciding whether to jump into the senior housing market is St. Louis devel- oper Michael Roberts, chairman and CEO of Roberts Cos. He put on hold plans to convert 25 to 30 hotel rooms to se- nior, active-adult hous- ing at the 106-room Roberts Riverwalk Hotel & Residence Detroit — for- merly the Omni. “The hotel business Roberts has exploded,” Roberts said. “The same rooms I originally planned for residential, I had to use for the hotel business. I’m a businessman. I let the mar- ket dictate what is needed. “I haven’t ruled (senior housing) out as an adaptive reuse of part of the hotel. I can shift it very quickly.”

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BY GARY ANGLEBRANDT The development’s demise eventually allowed the INGO HASSERODT Waterfowl rest and feed SPECIAL TO CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS land to be added to the Detroit River International near Sugar Island, part of Wildlife Refuge, which President George W. Bush the Detroit River he downriver shoreline of the Detroit River signed into existence in 2001, following a push by contains 5,763 acres of federally protected International Wildlife philanthropist-conservationist Peter Stroh, U.S. Refuge. wetlands and river banks under the name of Rep. John Dingell and Herb Gray, who was Canada’s T the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. deputy prime minister at the time. The refuge falls But if it weren’t for a place called Humbug Marsh, under the care of the U.S. Fish and supporters say the area would have been just like Wildlife Service. any other housing development in Southeast Michi- It began with about 300 acres in gan. Wyandotte and now covers shore- A group called Made in Detroit Inc. proposed in the line, marshes and islands from (The area 1990s to build a mixed-use development that would southwest Detroit to Ohio. The have included 300 homes and a golf course on land it designation protects habitats for includes oak trees bought in Trenton and Gibraltar. The plan failed 300 species of birds and 117 species when it ran afoul of environmentalists, federal agen- of fish, according to the refuge. that) were alive cies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The area also includes oak trees The problem was the 410-acre area called Humbug that “were alive when Cadillac when Cadillac Marsh, the last existing mile of natural shoreline on Hartig founded Detroit,” Hartig said. the U.S. side of the Detroit River after decades of in- Work is nearing completion on the Refuge Gate- founded Detroit. dustrial and commercial activity had absorbed the way, a visitor center being built on 44 acres in Tren- waterfront. Humbug Marsh mainly is a shallow area ton near Humbug Marsh. The land once was home to John Hartig, manager of between Humbug Island and shoreline in Trenton a Chrysler paint factory and offers a south-looking and Gibraltar. view that can reach to Lake Erie in clear weather. the wildlife refuge The Made in Detroit project included plans to put Shoreline restoration work was completed last year. homes on Humbug Island and build a bridge to the The refuge obtained $1.4 million in federal funding island, while turning the marsh into a marina. The for the restoration of the gateway land. Cleanup ef- development wouldn’t have prevented the refuge forts are expected to be finished this fall. from forming, but it would have put a big dent in it, The gateway is part of the Detroit River Heritage said John Hartig, who has studied the local waters Water Trail and will include a gift shop, bookstore, since childhood and manages the Detroit River In- classrooms, an observation deck, a kayak launch ternational Wildlife Refuge. and resting areas. Michigan Sea Grant, a conserva- “It would have been a tremendous loss to the De- tion program run by University of Michigan and Michi- troit River ecosystem and the region,” he said. “(Humbug Marsh) is the crown jewel of the refuge.” See Page 16

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Plans for Humbug Island (right) once included a development of homes. After the effort fell apart, the land was added to the wildlife refuge. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

From Page 15 concept of a wildlife refuge, said Susan Protected natural land doesn’t generate gan State University, plans to put a ship at Phillips of the MAC. property tax revenue for local communi- the gateway to be used as a “living labora- “Additionally, MAC ties, but that’s offset by the quality-of-life tory” for the study of the local ecosystem. has lent support to an ar- benefits the land brings, said Paula Boase, Construction of a $2.8 million boat dock ray of other refuge pro- director of economic development at the and fishing pier is slated to begin next jects ranging from build- Downriver Community Conference, a develop- year. ing an environmental ment organization that works on behalf of A capital campaign is under way to raise education shelter, obser- downriver communities. $10 million and complete all of the con- vation decks, and board- “Putting up a factory is not the only struction work in 2014. walks, to restoring nat- thing,” she said. “You’ve got to have quali- Lending a hand to the efforts over the ural and wetland ty of life for workers, and this does that.” years has been the Metropolitan Affairs Coali- habitats, Brownfield Given the scarcity of places to put in a tion, which helped bring fundraisers to- Phillips cleanup, and designing a kayak or simply visit the Detroit River up gether and supported the idea of a larger fishing pier/boat dock,” she said. close, the Humbug Marsh visitor center will be a regional destination point that also attracts people to move to the area, she said. “It would be a draw for people to look at living here — we’re only 15 minutes from downtown Detroit,” Boase said. Tiffany VanDeHey, co-owner of Riverside Kayak Connection LLC in Wyandotte, runs kayak tours of the river, including one that includes Humbug Marsh. The Gateway would give kayakers a new place to put in, eliminating the need for an upstream re- turn trip to Wyandotte that less ambitious kayakers prefer to avoid, she said. At least a quarter of customers come from more than an hour’s drive away, she said. Many actually come because they like the industrial view the area offers — a tour of the lower Rouge River is one of the most popular paddles the business runs. But the undeveloped marsh clearly is a benefit. “With the whole ‘staycation’ thing now, people want to go to an area where they get an up-north feel without having to go up north,” VanDeHey said. Daniel Duggan contributed to this report.

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Living and Investing in the D Business rolls along Far from its industrial roots, river still supports commerce

BY GARY ANGLEBRANDT Though the work involves more engines than SPECIAL TO CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS fishing nets, a handful of small businesses eople have been using river waters continue to rely on the Detroit River for their to make a living since the beginning income. of human history. This river is overlooked and underappreci- It’s easy to forget in the age of the ated for its commercial and recreational poten- P tial, say those who make their way in the world smartphone, but it is still possible to make a living by the waters of the local river. by it. Here’s how some of them tap into it.

Riverside Kayak Connection LLC, Wyandotte Kayaking might be expected in northern Michigan or in one of the state’s inland lakes, but Downriver? “When we first opened, people said, ‘You can’t kayak on the Detroit River,’ ” said Tiffany VanDe- Hey, who owns Riverside Kayak Connection with her husband, Patrick. The water is cleaner than people realize, and it has gotten cleaner in just the time her business has been open, VanDeHey said. The VanDeHeys have paddled in England, Wales and Costa Rica. But freshwater is nice to paddle in, and the Detroit River even offers an ad- venturous feature that most people are not aware of, VanDeHey said. There are what have come to be called “standing waves” near the Livingstone Channel, a pathway dug out for freighters to pass VanDeHey SUSAN WALKER through. The dredging of the chan- nel led to the creation of narrow, artificial islands that ABOVE: Riverside Kayak line the channel. It also led to the small phenomenon Connection holds of continuous waves near the mouth of the channel Wednesday night paddles that make for challenging kayaking, VanDeHey said. from May to October. “The channels make the water pushy through those LEFT: A Gaelic tug tows the areas,” she said. “It definitely requires experience.” Boblo Island steamer Ste. More people are gaining that experience as they Claire. become accustomed to thinking of the Detroit River as a place for recreation, VanDeHey said. “It’s becoming a common thing. People are getting used to it,” she said.

Gaelic Tugboat Co., Detroit GAELICTUGBOAT.COM ten tougher, said Gaelic Vice President Steve Car- The only Detroit-based tugboat company, Gaelic rothers, who runs the business with his wife, Patri- Tugboat Co.’s tugs have been pushing freighters on cia Hoey Carrothers. The business was handed the Detroit River and nearby waters since 1965. down to her from her father. While tugboats evoke charming images of an idyl- lic life on the water, the work is tough and has got- See Page 18

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From Page 17 As freighter traffic has decreased, so has Gaelic’s business. “There was a saying in the 1960s that a freighter passed Detroit every 20 minutes,” Steve Carrothers said. Gaelic once had a fleet of 13 vessels. It now is down to three tugs and one fueling barge for freighters. The fueling accounts for the bulk of the company’s business these days. The old-school nature of the tug business also Carrothers means few young people are prepared to take over what business re- mains. “You don’t have a new generation of new tug captains coming up,” Carrothers said. “Our guys all have 20 to 30 years of experi- ence at minimum.” Life in the tug business isn’t without its interesting moments, though. Several years ago, when a movie was being shot in Detroit, Gaelic was called on to help re- trieve a car from the river. “They actually drove a stunt car off the Belle Isle bridge,” Carrothers said.

COURTESY OF DIAMOND JACK’S RIVER TOURS Boaters on a Diamond Jack’s tour follow a freighter.

Diamond Jack’s River Tours, Detroit Join us. The Carrotherses also run this business, which offers tours of the Detroit River dur- ing the summer. We’re on a mission to revitalize Diamond Jack, formed in 1991, now has three boats — two based in Detroit and one Detroit, create jobs, seize in Wyandotte. But it’s the private rental business that provides most of the revenue — about 65 percent of it, Vice President opportunity and build excitement. Steve Carrothers estimates. That wasn’t ex- pected when the business launched. “We were just going to give public tours with one boat,” he said. “Within a year, we

See Page 19

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Living and Investing in the D PEWABIC POTTERY From Page 18 river get the best of them. Buchanan said found such a need for private charters, we J.W. Westcott rescues at least a few people added a second boat and then a third.” every season, such as a guy who jumped off Private charters cost between $600 and the Ambassador Bridge 20 years ago after $1,500, depending on the size of the boat going on a shooting rampage or the and when it’s needed. teenagers who took off in a relative’s boat, In the meantime, a welcome develop- failed to use the plug in the boat’s bottom ment has occurred on the river’s banks: and ended up stuck between a dock and a The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy’s freighter, sinking and nearly getting work has made the area much more pleas- crushed at the same time. ant for Diamond Jack’s customers, who Bill Redding, dispatcher and boat captain, head to the foot of Rivard Street to meet the has been with the company 25 years and company’s boats. counts two events as among the most memo- “We got the primo spot,” Carrothers rable: Meeting Jacques Cousteau when he said. “It was mostly a desolate area before came through on his famous ship Calypso ... they (the RiverFront Conservancy) made and the time a local woman came to pick up it alive again. They made everybody feel at an unusual delivery. ease coming down to the water.” “She came here and took a donkey off a UNIQUE. boat” after buying it and arranging to have it delivered from Duluth, Minn., he AFFORDABLE. said. APPRECIATED.

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COURTESY OF INFINITY AND OVATION YACHT CHARTERS J.W. Westcott Co., Detroit The Infinity and the Ovation carry 45,000 passengers a year. No listing of Detroit River-based busi- nesses could exclude the one that has its own ZIP code for delivering mail to passing Infinity and Ovation Yacht Charters LLC, vessels. St. Clair Shores The J.W. Westcott Co. acts as a local agent In business for 25 years, Infinity and Ova- for passing vessels, handling paperwork tion Yacht Charters LLC rents its two yachts TESTING ENGINEERS with local government offices, picking up — the Infinity and the Ovation — from its INC. and dropping off crew members and deliv- main dock in St. Clair Shores and docks in & CONSULTANTS, ering mail, spare parts and anything else downtown Detroit for weddings, corporate the ships need. events, fundraisers and other occasions. • Asbestos/Lead/Mold Owner James Hogan is the fourth-gener- The company does 220 rentals a season ation head of this family business that has between the two ships, showcasing Lake • Building and Infrastructure been around since 1874.The ZIP code 48222 St. Clair and the Detroit River to 45,000 applies to the “Detroit River Station,” passengers a year, General Manager • Construction Materials Testing Westcott’s small, squat headquarters build- Steven Rybicki said. Demand for cruises • Environmental Services ing next to Riverside Park, just to the west that begin in downtown Detroit has spiked of the Ambassador Bridge. because of the RiverWalk and other down- • Geotechnical Services The company has two boats in its fleet — town development, Rybicki said. The • Indoor Air Quality the J.W. Westcott II and the Joseph J. number jumped from five a year before Hogan — that make runs to passing ships. the RiverWalk was built to 40 this year as • Safety Training The ships “don’t have to stop. We’re do- more people demand a cruise that in- ing it on the move,” Hogan said. cludes a downtown and Detroit River ex- That means the schedule at J.W. West- perience. 1-800-835-2654 cott is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “There’s such a positive vibe right now Fleet Capt. Sam Buchanan said the busi- with downtown and the RiverWalk,” Ry- email: [email protected] ness makes about 5,000 deliveries a year. www.testingengineers.com Then there are the people who see the See Page 20 Offices in: Ann Arbor, Detroit & Troy

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From Page 19 bicki said. The demand for downtown cruises also has come from corporate clients who want to show visitors from other states and countries the view. Many visitors are pleasantly surprised by the view of Wind- sor, he said. “People can’t believe there’s another country right there,” Rybicki said.

CYBELLE CODISH It’s called RiverWalk, but it’s also popular with cyclists who rent from Wheelhouse Detroit.

Wheelhouse Detroit LLC, Detroit Wheelhouse Detroit offers bicycle sales, rentals and tours of the city from its base right on the Detroit River just east of the Renaissance Center on the RiverWalk. Wheelhouse Detroit came about in a bit of lucky timing when its owners were look- ing for a space to put up a shop at the same time the conservancy was looking to place a bicycle business on the RiverWalk. The conservancy leased space to Wheelhouse at the foot of Riopelle Street, and the busi- ness took off. While Wheelhouse Detroit is not, strictly speaking, a business that depends on the river, its riverside location allows visitors to rent a bike and cruise along the water, taking in the view. “It’s definitely a great backdrop. It’s a great amenity for people, whether they’re residents or visitors,” said Kelli Ka- vanaugh, co-owner of Wheelhouse De- troit. Bicycle sales and service make up the bulk of Wheelhouse’s business, she said, followed by tours and rentals. Wheelhouse does about three tours a week, guiding riders to places such as Belle Isle, Indian Village and Southwest Detroit. One nice thing about Detroit is that its infrastructure was built for a much larger population, making for nice, wide, open streets for biking now. “Detroit’s a city well-suited to tour by bike,” Kavanaugh said.

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Living and Investing in the D Current events: Riverfront a busy place

BY MEGHANA KESHAVAN SPECIAL TO CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS

etroit’s scenic riverfront draws visitors from around Southeast Michigan — and around the D world — as events have become summertime staples. With the area near the Detroit River re- vived by investment over the past 10 years, events have become a showcase for the RiverWalk and new public spaces. Detroit River Days, the Target Fire- works and the APBA Gold Cup boat races More than a 100,000 people draw crowds on both sides of the river. attend the Detroit Fire breathers, bucket drummers, aeri- River Days each alists, jugglers and living statues gather year, says the along the riverfront during Detroit River Detroit RiverFront Days, which draws about 150,000 attendees Conservancy. ARA HOWRANI each year, said Michele Marine, director of programming for the Detroit RiverFront Con- U.S. Navy’s Super Hornet F/A-18 tactical such as hosting weekly tai chi and yoga servancy. demo team. sessions and group dog walks with Mid- The festival launched in 2007 and is the The Red Bull Air Races were also a mem- town-based Canine to Five. largest event put on by the conservancy. orable draw to the riverfront between 2008 This summer, the conservancy hosted Sand sculptures, carnival games, Jet and 2010 but were canceled worldwide in Reading and Rhythm on the Riverfront, a Ski demonstrations and a Ferris wheel at- 2010. literacy program where Detroit celebrities tract families from throughout metro De- A number of other events line the river- read books to children to encourage them troit. Dozens of musicians perform over front throughout the summer, with Hart to read more, Marine said. This year’s the weekend. Grammy-winning R&B Plaza as the anchor. The Detroit Electronic readers included state Sen. Coleman Young crooners Boyz II Men were the headliners Music Festival, Motor City Pride Fest and De- Jr., D-Detroit, and Detroit first lady Yvette this year. troit Jazz Fest are all mainstays. Bing. More than 2,000 children attended On the heels of River Days are the Target The conservancy puts on smaller events, this year, Marine said. Fireworks. Also known as the Internation- al Freedom Festival Fireworks, the event has been a fixture for 54 years. The py- rotechnics can be seen on the Windsor and Detroit sides of the river. Hydroplanes skim the river’s water at nearly 200 mph during EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO the annual American Power Boat Association KNOW ABOUT MIDTOWN… Gold Cup Races, held DETROIT RIVER REGATTA ASSOCIATION each July. Gold Cup racers tear up the river Racers each July. from around the world have competed here since 1918. The races attract between 80,000 and midtowndetroitinc.org 100,000 viewers each year, said Mark We- ber, event coordinator for the Detroit River Regatta Association, a volunteer nonprofit that organizes the Gold Cup. This year’s race took place July 13-15 and featured ex- hibitions of vintage race boats and the

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We are 311 years old as a city. Just think of all of the things we have done on these islands.

John Hartig, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Sunrise from Grosse Ile. RON BAKER, MCC INC. Beyond the shores 2 Detroit River’s islands have

Belle Isle 4 R their own stories to tell E BY JON ZEMKE Marina Resort Community — a combination of con- Rouge V River SPECIAL TO CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS dominiums and single-family houses connected by I short roads on the northern half of the isle and walk- he riverfront near Detroit and the border of ing trails on the southern end. R Canada gets most of the attention, but it’s not The shipping channel cuts right past the island, the only local property touching the river. Fighting giving onlookers an up-close view of the freighters. Island T Few people think of the islands. Boblo has no bridges, just a ferry that runs between T Many are picturesque, and a couple are polluted — the eastern edge of the island and the Ontario main- one so much that people aren’t allowed on it. A few land. Home prices start in the high $100,000s. I 3 of the islands have melodic French names, and one Boblo has more than 100 lots that can be developed is named Zug. on the southern end of the island, said Sandra O There are 23, according to the Friends of the Detroit Couloufis, the manager of the island. River. R 5 Some are evolving faster than others, but all are 2. Peche Island: Influenced by fishing T slowly transforming. Polluted islands are being turned back into natural habitat, and others are be- Peche is French for fishing, a fitting name for an

E coming high-end real estate developments. island that is popular with boaters and fishing en- 1 thusiasts today. D 1. Bois Blanc, aka Boblo The uninhabited island is the easternmost island in the Detroit River, sitting next to Lake St. Clair. Bois Blanc is a French name denoting the white JEFF JOHNSTON/CDB During the 20th century, various people attempted bark of the island’s birch and beech trees, but every- to develop the island into everything from a public one knows it as Boblo Island. park to a high-end residential site. The namesake amusement park operated for nearly Windsor bought it in 1999, and there are no firm 100 years before closing in 1993. Soon after it closed, plans for it today. efforts to redevelop the island into a high-end residen- tial community began, taking advantage of the Cana- dian isle’s proximity to Amherstburg, 16 miles from 3. Grosse Ile: One township, nine islands Windsor, and the Detroit River’s shipping channel. Grosse Ile — French for big island — is the largest “Boblo is an amazing place to live,” said Mike Gi- island in the Detroit River and one of the tony resi- dential suburbs of metro Detroit’s Downriver area. COURTESY OF SMITHGROUPJJR rard, president and CEO of Diadem Precision Technolo- Housing on Bois Blanc Island, gy in Troy, who bought one of the first homes for sale The township’s 10 square miles include Grosse Ile former site of Boblo Island on Boblo in the mid-1990s. “We face Grosse Ile, so we and eight other islands, though the vast majority of amusement park. have a fantastic view. The most popular mode of its 10,000 residents live on the main island. transportation here is golf cart.” The community has just three stoplights, but it Amico Properties Inc., based in Oldcastle, Ontario, is also has an airport that once was home to a U.S. redeveloping the 272-acre island as Boblo Island, a naval base and other military installations.

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Living and Investing in the D

Carol Ladomer’s family moved to Grosse Ile from Detroit in the early 1950s, when there was only one Belle Isle: Whose park will it be? stoplight. Ladomer is now the owner/broker of Island Realty elle Isle, the third-largest is- Inc., a real estate agency based in Grosse Ile since 1985. land in the Detroit River af- As the community grew, residents formed the Grosse ter Grosse Ile and Fighting Ile Nature & Land Conservancy, a nonprofit focused on B Island, is the only island maintaining the island’s rural aspects through land park in the country designed by donations and green-space preservation. famed landscape architect Frederick The island’s water access and natural features Law Olmsted. have kept property values stable and demand for The island is listed on the National homes strong, Ladomer said. Register of Historic Places and Grosse Ile’s uninhabited Celeron Island is the boasts five miles of scenic shoreline NATHAN SKID/CDB southernmost island in the Detroit River. It’s mostly and a 985-acre park that’s the 10th- A view on Belle Isle, near the heart of the composed of rocks and trees. largest municipal park in the U.S. city, takes in nothing but nature. The city of Detroit owns the island, 4. Zug Island: Not always an island in the middle of the Detroit River, but nonprofit conservation groups have the state seeks a long-term lease so it helped restore the island. The groups Standing in stark contrast to the high-end residen- can operate Belle Isle as a state park. merged last October, creating the tial communities on Grosse Ile and Boblo Island is Negotiations are ongoing, as Detroit Belle Isle Conservancy. Zug Island, just to the north. Mayor Dave Bing seeks specific The conservancy is negotiating an Historical reports differ as to whether it was promises from the state about the in- agreement with the city of Detroit Samuel Zug or Henry Ford who originally cut the vestments it plans to make. that would enable it to reopen the channel to connect the Rouge and Detroit rivers in The island is also home to the aquarium for a couple of days each the late 19th century. Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Detroit month — seven years after it closed River Rouge Mayor Michael Bowdler said it was Yacht Club and numerous other his- because of a lack of operating funds. Henry Ford, while some historical websites, such as toric buildings, many designed by So far, the conservancy has repop- Detroit1701.org, say it was Zug. Albert Kahn. They include the De- ulated 12 of the 60 tanks with native Ford brought heavy industry to the island — troit Boat Club; the Belle Isle Casino, a species caught in Michigan’s waters, which, Bowdler said, has been largely uninhabited two-story, Spanish-style Renais- other freshwater species and saltwa- since the 1950s. The island has hosted industrial sance Revival building that serves as ter species donated from people all users, such as operations of DTE Energy Co. and sever- a meeting place; the Anna Scripps over the state. al steel companies. Whitcomb Conservatory, modeled after The attraction is Michigan’s only The island, part of the city of River Rouge, has Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello public aquarium, the conservancy served as the workplace for thousands of Downriver homestead; the Belle Isle Zoo; and the said. It hopes to reopen it to the pub- families for generations. Its industrial use and histo- Belle Isle Aquarium. lic soon, free of charge. ry are common knowledge, Bowdler said. Over the past 40 years, several — Sherri Welch “How do you describe a blast furnace?” he said. “Everybody around here knows Zug Island. I don’t have to explain anything about Zug Island. If you work “Our primary purpose is protecting wildlife,” Har- here, you know it has fed thousands of families over tig said. the years with its heavy industry. That’s what it is.” “We have lost 97 percent of our coastal wetlands along the U.S. side of the Detroit River. Every part we have left is very important.” 5. Refuge islands: From pollution back to nature Grassy Island was the dumping ground for 3 mil- Several former industrial sites have become nat- lion cubic yards of contaminated sediments dredged ural areas under the oversight of the Detroit River In- from the Detroit River during industrial activities. ternational Wildlife Refuge. The refuge, managed by It is to the point, Hartig said, where people aren’t the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within the Department allowed on the island. The 72-acre island, next to of the Interior, consists of 5,700 acres on a collection of Wyandotte, is uninhabited. five islands that are uninhabited and protected by The plan for the refuge islands is to return them to the federal government. They serve as wildlife habi- their natural state over time through conservation tats for fish, migratory birds and wild plants and an- efforts. But they, like all of the islands in the Detroit imals. River, will continue to tell the story of the interna- U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS The five are Calf, Grassy, Humbug, Mud and Sug- An aerial view of tional waterway in one way or another. contaminated Grassy ar islands, said John Hartig, manager of the Detroit Sugar Island, for example, once was a resort. Island, on a slow return to River International Wildlife Refuge. Bootleggers used a fishing house on Mud Island to a natural state. They’re not parks but refuges for wildlife that drag booze along the bottom of the Detroit River from have been largely pushed out of the Detroit river- Canada to the U.S. during Prohibition, Hartig said. shed. Birds use them as staging areas for migration. “We are 311 years old as a city,” he said. “Just think Fish use the shoals near the islands to spawn. The of all of the things we have done on these islands. wetlands help the river cleanse itself from pollution. They have all been used at one point or another.”

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Living and Investing in the D Winning river views

rain’s asked for views of the Detroit views of the city’s skyline and landscapes; and River, and readers delivered. some lesser-known places, such as Humbug Is- In the spirit of the riverfront fo- land. C cus of this year’s Living and Invest- In the end, they chose seven photographers ing in the D, readers were asked to submit their whose work shows off some of the best the De- best photos linked to the mighty waterway. troit River has to offer. Here’s a look at the Crain’s editors received more than 100 en- winners, the photos and the prizes, which were tries that captured images from the RiverWalk; courtesy of Detroit River businesses. ▼▼

David Taylor ▼ Sam Wolson “Boat Club “Fishin’ at the Dock” Front” (one of two (shown), “Boat shown) Club Building,” Prize: $100 gift “Team Work” certificate to the and “Detroit Detroit Marriott Row Crew” Renaissance Prize: $100 Center. gift certificate to Andiamo Detroit Riverfront Ledio Veseli restaurant in “River on Fire” the (shown) and Renaissance “Shiny Detroit” Center. Prize: Two two- hour cruise passes for

Brandon Wernette ▼ Diamond Jack’s “Those Tilt and Shift River Tours. Days of Summer” Prize: $75 gift certificate for a cruise aboard the Detroit Princess riverboat. ▼ Jess Modicamore “Fountain By the River” (shown) and “City Nights” Prize: Two two-hour bike rentals at Wheelhouse Detroit.

Konrad Maziarz ▼ “It Was a Beautiful Day” ▼ David Howell (shown), “Does This Mean the “Kayaking Humbug Marsh” Golden Age is (shown) and “Turtles Sunning” Here?” and Prize: Two tickets to the Live “Sailing on the Love Local Celebration Aug. 25 River” at Eastern Market. Prize: One night in a river-view room at the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel.

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