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Unexpected: Flurry of developer interest in Tiger Stadium site

Proposed Tiger Stadium development

After years of no interest from developers in the old Tiger Stadium site, Detroit is suddenly faced with an enviable problem: dueling redevelopment proposals for The Corner.

When Detroit and the Detroit Economic Development Corp. decided to move forward with a demolition of Tiger Stadium, the rationale was that a leveled site would be of much greater interest to a developer. The move backfired: the city lost a potentially lucrative asset, and the site laid fallow for years, with the old playing field maintained by volunteers.

But we’re seeing some good economic news coming out of Detroit: the city’s brush with bankruptcy appears to be almost over, and the Corktown area of the city is seeing increased business activity. And that’s made the Tiger Stadium site viable for redevelopment. Two developers have showed interest in the site. From the Detroit News:

For the second week in a row, a rendering has surfaced that shows the plan by one of the two finalists who hope to develop “The Corner” at Michigan and Trumbull. The image (above) shows multiple apartments as well as street-level shops. It’s an image of the development pitch by Detroit-based The Roxbury Group, who propose building up to 180 residential units as well attract two anchor retailers.

The other finalist is Bloomfield Hills-based Larson Realty Group. Their proposal is a series of neighborhood-style retail and residential.

Originally, a decision was expected in August on which developer would be able to move forward with their plan on the city-owned property. Now, the agency who will give the first green light to the plan —the Economic Development Corp. — has declined to reveal a deadline.

Both proposed development will be built around the old playing field, as Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy Inc. and the Detroit Police Athletic League Inc. will work together to maintain the diamond.

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