Bedrock expands focus along Detroit Riverfront with acquisition of former UAW-GM training center

December 22, 2021

  • Announcement marks Bedrock’s newest riverfront acquisition, totaling more than 420,000 SF of event, warehousing, and office space

  • The acquisition positions Detroit’s largest real estate developer to build on the growth and development already underway along the city’s riverfront

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December 22, 2021 [DETROIT] — Bedrock, Detroit’s largest real estate developer, today announced the acquisition of “The ICON” - a 420,000 SF multi-purpose development located at 200 Walker Street, which was formerly home to the UAW-GM training center. This newest acquisition adds more than 18 acres and 880 parking spaces to Bedrock’s growing downtown portfolio and continues Bedrock’s expansion from the Central Business District to the East Riverfront.

“Detroit’s riverfront was one of the first of many things about this city that captured my imagination and inspired my move here,” said Kofi Bonner, CEO of Bedrock. “The adjacency of the area to the Central Business District and the eastern neighborhoods provide a unique opportunity to connect the vibrancy of the downtown core to the vitality of the riverfront communities. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and other stakeholders have spent years curating an iconic, memorable, world class public amenity. Bedrock can build on this legacy to provide a more robust environment with improved sustainable infrastructure, parks and mixed-use developments, fueled by people occupying mixed income housing, retail, entertainment and office spaces.”

The 200 Walker Street acquisition includes:

  • 420,000 SF property:

    • West Building: 8-story office tower and 2-story auditorium

    • Center Building: 3-story training center & warehousing space

    • East Building: 1-story partial mezzanine & full-service cafeteria

  • 880 Parking garage spaces

  • 375-seat world class auditorium

  • Top floor 360-degree outdoor terrace

  • Direct access to Detroit’s East Riverfront

Financial figures were not disclosed.

Dedication to the Riverfront

200 Walker Street is strategically located adjacent to Bedrock’s recent acquisition of 300 River Place – a 500,000 SF, Class A office building - and signals the developer’s dedication and commitment to complementing the impressive work already underway along the Riverfront, which was named the Best Riverwalk in the country in the 2021 USA Today Reader’s Choice Awards.

Situated almost exactly midway between Hart Plaza and Belle Isle, 200 Walker Street and 300 River Place are uniquely positioned to help extend activity and momentum across the entire Riverwalk by providing access to public space, waterfront living, offices, warehousing, and event space.

While plans and programming for these parcels are still underway, Bedrock is in the early stages of imagining a vision for the area, including sustainable infrastructure, mixed-income housing, dining, office, public space, and more - all beside the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater and Atwater Beach.

Beyond residential and entertainment opportunities, the area’s proximity to Canada and its international border provides ample opportunities for business attraction and economic growth for Detroit.

Bedrock looks forward to sharing more details about its Riverfront plans soon.

About Bedrock

Bedrock is a full-service real estate firm specializing in innovative city-building strategies, reaching far beyond the boundaries of bricks and mortar. Since its founding in 2011, Bedrock and its affiliates have invested and committed more than $5.6 billion to acquiring and developing more than 100 properties in Detroit and Cleveland, including landmark developments at the Hudson’s Site, the Book Tower restoration, City Modern and the May Company Building. Bedrock’s portfolio totals more than 18 million square feet of office, retail and residential space within new construction and adaptive reuse projects.

For more information on Bedrock’s projects, visit bedrockdetroit.com or engage with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Click here to view a complete timeline of Bedrock and the Rock Family of Companies’ engagement within the Detroit community.