DETROIT (WWJ) -- City Club Apartments in Detroit is celebrating the milestone of 100 years in business by reopening one of their oldest high rise buildings.
City Club Apartments Lafayette Park was unveiled Thursday, with the 18-story building’s redevelopment officially completed. The building was formerly known as Elmwood Park Plaza.
The company, more than 100 years old, has multiple apartment locations throughout the city, including the recently opened Detroit City Club CBD apartments in the Central Business District.
Now the company has redeveloped a building that went up in the 1970s as one of the state’s first mixed-use apartment communities, turning it into a flashy new complex, complete with an updated facade, 18th-floor sky lounge with 360-degree views of the riverfront and city, an entertainment club lounge, lobby library, fitness center, dog park, zen garden, grilling stations and more.
Located at 750 Chene Street in the newly renamed Rivertown District, the 18-story mixed-use high-rise features 202 newly redeveloped apartments and penthouses—20 percent of which are affordable for existing and new residents.
Jonathan Holtzman, CEO and Chairman of the company, tells WWJ the 17-month redevelopment project was important for the city.
“So, you build brand new apartments -- that’s always good. But why not renovate and improve what you already have?” Holtzman said. “Because a lot of the apartments in Detroit are older. They need renovating, they need to be brought modern.”
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With exciting, new amenities at the disposal of residents, the redeveloped building still has history -- including a Detroit Public Library branch that was part of the original development.
In addition to the library, when the building opened in 1974, it was also home to a Farmer Jack grocery store and other retail options.
Holtzman says he has enjoyed seeing the city come back to life in recent years. From exciting new projects in areas like Eastern Market, a more walkable riverfront, and the new, nearby Meijer Rivertown that will open later this year, Holtzman says it’s all good for the city.
“We like the direction of the city, we’ve been a part of it for 100 years, and after 50 years, a building like this needs to be redeveloped,” Holtzman told WWJ.
It was originally developed by his father, David Holtzman, which made the new project even more special for him.
“This building has a special place in my heart, as it was developed by my father 50 years ago.” Holtzman said in a press release. “We redeveloped this community in response to the demand for affordable luxury in the city. It simply does not exist in the market today and we are excited to be delivering it with this market redefining redevelopment.”