Crain’s Detroit Business
Kirk Pinho
Oct. 6, 2022
Dan Gilbert’s real estate company is starting work on east Detroit riverfront enhancements around its sizable portfolio in the area.
Among the things Bedrock LLC envisions adding are murals and other art pieces by Detroit artists, planters, a boardwalk, new lighting, and other features, the Detroit-based company said Thursday morning in a news release.
Bedrock, the city’s most powerful landlord and developer, has been assembling property along the east Detroit riverfront during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the former UAW-GM Center for Human Resources and a large portfolio of properties previously owned by the Stroh family. In all, the company owns nearly 1 million square feet of office space, plus 1,600 or so parking spaces and more than 40 acres of land.
Kofi Bonner, chief executive officer of Bedrock, said in a statement that the projects “represent our initial contribution to the continuous improvement of the riverfront.”
An email was sent to a Bedrock spokesperson seeking additional details.
The release says work has started on the installation of planters, flowers, trees, benches, and lighting, and Library Street Collective-curated public artwork will be installed along Atwater, Chene, and Jos. Campau streets.
A parking lot adjacent to Atwater Brewery will be turned into an event lawn and a boardwalk along Atwater Street between Robert C. Valade Park and Jos. Campau is expected to be installed.
The public art is being done in phases and is expected to be complete by the spring.
