University Cultural Center Association - Crystal Lofts

Two very important facades along Woodward Avenue have the potential of transforming the immediate Midtown neighborhood. These two mixed-use projects include the development of the Albert Kahn–designed building located at 3408–3414 Woodward, which will provide medical offices on the second floor and retail and indoor parking on the first floor. In particular, the developer of this project, PPM Acquisitions, hopes to enlist a commercial user on the ground floor that will provide services that will ultimately promote an active street life. The second project includes the development of the building located at 3100 Woodward formerly known as the Crystal Ballroom. This mixed-use project will deliver a total of 17 residential units and include a new mezzanine level. Its first level will feature Zaccaro's Market, a 5,000-square-foot specialty gourmet grocery store, the first of its kind for the Greater Downtown Detroit area, clearly providing a much-needed service to a highly underserved market.

Highlights:

• The Albert Kahn building was restored by a developer who just signed a seven-year lease of the building to Michigan State University. MSU plans to set up a College of Music and Education, bringing in about 70–90 students and 25–30 faculty with classes such as jazz, band, and early childhood music education.
• The second building has been converted into the Crystal Lofts, a development with a commercial space on the ground floor that will house either a market or a restaurant and 17 luxurious lofts on the upper level. 
• The redevelopment of Woodward has cleaned up a vital corridor of Midtown, a vibrant and unique area that’s home to many of Detroit's cultural and educational institutions, including Wayne State University, the College for Creative Studies, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Public Library, and the C.H. Wright Museum of African American History. 
• Nearly a half dozen new businesses have opened or expanded just within a three-block area of the Cool Cities catalyst project, and $10 million in streetscape improvements have made the area more walkable.
• The help of the University Cultural Center Association (UCCA) in revitalizing the neighborhood has made it even more appealing as a residential area. 
• Since the completion of the Cool Cities catalyst projects, there have been at least 50 new units of housing added to the neighborhood. 
• The Crystal Lofts and MSU’s College of Music will add to the already substantial draw of the area, bringing in young talent and more development.
• There have been 10 new businesses or expansions, creating 125 new jobs.
  • Beans and Bytes Internet Cafe – This computer-themed coffee house opened in January 2005. It is located at 4200 Woodward at the corner of Willis.
  • American Masala – This Indian restaurant opened up in August 2005. American Masala, which is located at 51 W. Hancock, is owned by WSU alumna Maliha Naveed.
  • WRCJ 90.9 Radio – 90.9 WRCJ-FM is a nonprofit, listener-supported radio service licensed to Detroit Public Schools and managed by Detroit Public Television. The station broadcasts from the Detroit School of Arts, 123 Selden St., in Midtown, located two blocks north of Mack Avenue, just west of Woodward Avenue, behind the Max M. Fisher Music Center. WRCJ was launched in August 2005 after Detroit Public Television (DPTV) took over management of the station.
  • NDLogik – This independently owned and operated company provides a full spectrum of creative and promotional solutions to businesses and organizations, and is located at 4444 Second.
  • The Inn at 97 Winder – This historic inn, located at 97 Winder in Midtown's Brush Park, was opened in November 2005 by Marilyn and Ghassan Yazbeck. The 11,000-square-foot Victorian mansion was built in 1876, and is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. The Inn at 97 Winder offers 10 private bed and bathrooms, along with three parlors and high-speed Internet access.
  • 234 Winder Street Inn – This historic inn is located at 234 Winder in Midtown's Brush Park, and is owned by Mona Ross. The inn is a beautiful, late 19th-century, second empire, two-story residential-designed home, and has been fully restored to its original grandeur.
  • Subway – This popular eatery opened in March 2005 on Wayne State University's campus, and is located on the north side of the Student Center Building.
  • Einstein Bros. Bagels – This eatery also opened in March of 2000 and is located in WSU's new North Residence Hall on Anthony Wayne Drive.
  • Jimmy John's opened on Wayne State's campus in September 2005 and is located in South Hall at 5118 Anthony Wayne Drive, north of Warren Avenue. It is owned by Cliff Lunney, CEO of CWL Investments LLC.
  • Detroit By Design in the Bankle Building – Detroit by Design opened in 2005 and is located at 2944 Woodward in the Bankle Building (which also received a UCCA facade redevelopment grant). This facility offers 5,500 square feet of unique event space, and serves as the creative complex of Detroit celebrity designer and artist Camilo Pardo.
    
    
• More businesses opened in Midtown in 2006, including Bob’s Classic Kicks, La Pita Fresh Mediterranean Restaurant, the Midtown Corner Café, Quick Stop Convenience Store, Twingo’s Euro Café, the Fine Arts Theater, and a new organic food store, Good Wells, to name just a few. An additional Starbucks also just opened up in the new Ellington Lofts Building, as well as a branch of La Salle Bank. Also noteworthy is the grand opening of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) in October 2006.
• There has been approximately $7,000,000 in public investment.
• In addition, there has been approximately $407,250,000 in private investment.
• UCCA has worked with the City Department of Planning and Commission in the creation of a Pedestrian Overlay District (POD) which provides design standards for Woodward. This POD clearly is consistent with both the City’s Community Reinvestment Strategy and the City’s Master Plan of Policies while leveraging the distinctive features of Midtown.
• The POD naturally stemmed from the Michigan Main Street model and aims to improve the walkability and overall physical environment of Woodward.
• Values are clearly rising as investment in the housing market continues to increase in Midtown. In the Brush Park neighborhood alone, the price for Crosswinds condominiums have increased due to the high demand for units in Midtown. Between 2000 and 2005, the demand for Midtown units was steady, and developers reported good market response to their projects. In addition, fewer rental units are currently on the market (though there are some future projects for the development of rental units – this still remains a major concern), therefore increasing the demand for available rental units and their pricing. For example, when the Park Shelton converted from apartments to luxury condominiums, many of its tenants at that time did not have the means or desire to buy a condominium, consequently increasing the demand for rental units in the Midtown neighborhood.
• The population of Midtown Detroit has clearly increased since 2000 due to the increased number of housing units being built and sold. It has been estimated that the population of Midtown and the Downtown area has increased by 3 percent and is projected to further increase, though modestly, between 2006 and 2010. Also notable is the changing demographic in Midtown – Midtown is drawing more residents from the tri-county metropolitan area and from out-of-state, as reported by area developers and residents. In addition, many younger one- and two-person, mostly childless households are buying available units in Midtown.
•  “The Cool Cities designation has been highly important to our community because it has presented us with unprecedented access to state resources and funding. In addition, it has also provided us with increased publicity through various state channels, as well a degree of influence in shaping state policy and programs, for example. (We are asked quite often to serve on various committees or to share our knowledge/expertise on issues affecting the state of Michigan.)” – Susan Mosey, award designee contact.
• “Because of the Cool Cities Neighborhood Award Designation, the Midtown Detroit neighborhood has experienced increased collaboration between its various organizations, businesses and institutions around many issues affecting our community. The Cool Cities Initiative has done an amazing job in educating the public on how to build vibrant, energetic cities that attract jobs, people and opportunity, as well as getting many private funding organizations on board to support urban redevelopment. Because of that, UCCA has received an unprecedented level of support for its Moving Up Woodward Campaign, a five-year economic development initiative that aims to transform the Midtown district and Woodward Avenue, while creating the environment necessary for it to reach its fullest potential. Because of the Cool Cities Neighborhood Award Designation, UCCA has been more able to raise, invest, and leverage funding for its Moving Up Woodward Campaign; for example, over $250,000 was invested in the facade redevelopments of the Magic Stick and the Bankle Building, both located on Woodward. Would this have been possible without the Cool Cities Initiative? Probably not.”

UCCA reported in 2006:

• In May 2005, UCCA worked with Wayne State University (WSU) and Detroit Central City Community Mental Health, Inc. (DC3) on the Mayor’s Motor City Makeover Initiative, a bagged litter and debris cleanup effort, in Midtown. Together the three organizations recruited a force of over 500 volunteers to participate in area beautification and maintenance efforts in our public spaces.
• In August 2005, UCCA worked together with the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) on the Governor’s Walk To Work Program to provide interest-free down payment assistance loans and grants to eligible employees of the DMC who wish to purchase a primary residence on an owner-occupied basis within Midtown Detroit. 
• In fall of 2005, the College for Creative Studies (CCS) and Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) collaborated together on the world-class Josephine F. Ford Sculpture Garden, located on the CCS campus along Kirby, creating a central focus for the life of the school and a central gathering place for the CCS community.
• In May 2005, UCCA worked with Wayne State University (WSU) and Detroit Central City Community Mental Health, Inc. (DC3) on the Mayor’s Motor City Makeover Initiative, a bagged litter and debris cleanup effort, in Midtown. Together the three organizations recruited a force of over 500 volunteers to participate in area beautification and maintenance efforts in our public spaces.
• In August 2005, UCCA worked together with the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) on the Governor’s Walk To Work Program to provide interest-free down payment assistance loans and grants to eligible employees of the DMC who wish to purchase a primary residence on an owner-occupied basis within Midtown Detroit. 
• In fall of 2005, the College for Creative Studies (CCS) and Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) collaborated together on the world-class Josephine F. Ford Sculpture Garden, located on the CCS campus along Kirby, creating a central focus for the life of the school and a central gathering place for the CCS community.