By: Detroit Councilman Scott Benson
There is nothing more iconic in Detroit’s skyline than the GM Renaissance Center. The John Portman-designed building complex has been a part of our city since 1976 and has been home to General Motors since the 1990s. However, the company announced in 2024 that it will move its offices to a new location in 2025.
Plans call for two of the 39-story towers to be removed, along with the low-rise base, which architects and developers say will “right size” the RenCen’s footprint in the post-pandemic economy, as demand for office space dwindles. The 73-story tower would remain, with some of its floors converted to residential housing.
Redevelopment of this site will likely take some level of public-private partnership. In fact, General Motors, Bedrock, the City of Detroit, and Wayne County have established a partnership to look at different opportunities to revitalize this area. Reimagining this site, which is 5.5 million square feet sprawling on 27 acres of prime commercial and underutilized recreational waterfront, must include community input and community benefits (if public financial support is sought).
Many Detroiters have an emotional connection to the RenCen and its role in our city’s identity. But realistically, this site must be redeveloped not only because times have changed, but because the design, connection to the rest of city and infrastructure are outdated.
Revitalization of this riverfront property will create a more open and inviting way to connect the city to the Detroit River. New parks, plazas, transit and mobility connections will create more vibrant public spaces for residents and visitors.
Modernizing the remaining towers with mixed-use development that includes housing, retail, public spaces, and entertainment venues will contribute to our city’s resurgence.
Redevelopment of the RenCen will also benefit Detroit economically by creating construction jobs and long-term employment opportunities in retail, hospitality, and service sectors.
A revitalized riverfront in the RenCen’s footprint will also benefit tourism. Even with the beautiful Riverwalk and Milliken State Park, the riverfront and the Detroit River remain underutilized as natural resources, trip generators, and as commercial and recreational districts. Done right, this will be a beautiful new community asset.
We also have the opportunity to improve connectivity between the RenCen and the rest of the City, making it easier for people to walk or bike between our neighborhoods, downtown and the riverfront area. A purposeful design could make it easier for public and non-motorized transit, including the Joe Louis, Southwest and Dennis W. Archer Greenways, to bring more people from our multitude of neighborhoods to the riverfront.
While we reimagine this iconic site, we also must keep in front of mind the need to preserve what has made the RenCen a special place. Any redevelopment plan must carefully consider preserving iconic elements of this special place, such as its distinctive architectural style. We also must do this in a sustainable way, incorporating green building practices and minimizing environmental impact.
We also must ensure that Detroiters have a voice in the planning process to ensure their thoughts are heard and their concerns are addressed.
I have engaged with Bedrock about the importance of community input and the need to ensure residents outside of downtown, such as my constituents in the 3rd District, are involved in any future conversations about the public spaces that will be created. It is critical that residents continue to see growth that reflects their priorities and needs for our downtown and riverfront. Spaces need to be welcoming, inclusive and benefit ALL Detroiters. As a direct result of my conversations with Bedrock, the company has committed to have multiple robust community brainstorming meetings in the 3rd District to receive implementable ideas about the future design of public spaces and community connections, both via public transit and non-motorized pathways, at this site.
Of course, we must remember that the Michigan Legislature must first come up with a financial package to make redevelopment of this site feasible. There is much to consider and they are far from having an agreement, but I will be monitoring the progress in order to keep myself and my constituents informed.
I am confident in Bedrock and their ability to take on a project of this complexity – and in their financial strength to make a deal work. We will all need to be patient to see how this project comes together, but I do think we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalize a chunk of Detroit’s riverfront and modernize an important structure.
This is a complex issue and there will be strong opinions on all sides. A thorough discussion and careful planning are essential to ensure that any redevelopment project benefits the city’s general fund and our residents.
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