Upscale Grocer, Boutique Hotel, Pedestrian Path Part Of Gilbert Vision For Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) The potential future of a bright, vibrant new development in Detroit was on full display Thursday afternoon at an event led by Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert.

From short-term plans already in place to long-term visions of a glossy future, Gilbert led a packed house of stakeholders, business owners and residents through a 3D presentation with his view of what the city can become.

"What Detroit doesn't need is just another grandiose plan that's 50 years out or 40 years out or  30 years out or 10 years out, this stuff is now," Gilbert said.

His vision includes the addition of open air food markets in Campus Martius, restoration of the fountains in Grand Circus Park, a gourmet grocer, a freshened Hart Plaza, a boutique hotel, and a pedestrian median on Woodward that leads to the riverfront.

They're all just concepts at this point, but something moving forward is an international design competition that was launched to find a new use for the site of the old Hudson's on Woodward Avenue.

Word is the project meant to bring new life to a long gone Detroit landmark site could start next year.