Historic Former Detroit Free Press Building to Deliver 105 Units to Detroit’s Residential Market as The Press/321

September 16, 2020

Public to get a sneak peek during virtual tour as part of Detroit Month of Design

  • The historic Albert Kahn-designed property begins leasing with automated parking and other unique amenities

  • Residents will have access to a rooftop pool, second of its kind in Detroit’s Central Business District

  • Virtual tours of The Press/321 and City Modern to be offered as part of Detroit Month of Design

September 16, 2020 [DETROIT]- Residential options in greater downtown Detroit expanded today with the commencement of leasing at The Press/321 (321 W. Lafayette Blvd.), located within the historic Albert Kahn-designed former Detroit Free Press building.

The Press/321’s 105 residential units ranging from studios to 3-bedrooms are now available for lease. It will boast the Midwest’s first fully automated parking system powered by AUTOParkit, and a rooftop pool with a sundeck and gas grills, which will provide residents with sweeping panoramic views of downtown and the Detroit River.

Equipped with a state-of-of-the-art fitness center, community work lounge, conference room, fiber internet and bike storage- the amenities are vast in this timeless property. Each apartment offers a spacious floor plan, expansive windows, stainless steel appliances, an accent wall and picturesque archways. Studios start at $995 with move-ins beginning in mid-October of this year.

“We could not be more thrilled to welcome residents into The Press/321 property and bring life back to one of Detroit’s architectural gems, which has sat vacant since 1998,” said Jonathan Mueller, Bedrock’s Director of Residential Development. “Our priority was to uphold the aesthetic elements of the Albert-Kahn building while tailoring the living experience for our future residents.”

Constructed in 1925, The Press/321 originally served as the in-house production facility for Michigan’s oldest newspaper – the Detroit Free Press. The 14-story, 250,000-square-foot limestone building has since been reimagined into a modern, mixed-use residential development.

An outdoor rooftop pool offering expansive views of the city on the seventh floor will be completed later this year and will be ready for the Spring 2021 season. Designed with Myrtha Pools, a world-leader in the aquatics industry, the pool will have a stainless steel structural base with comfortable soft foam flooring. When complete, The Press/321 will boast the second outdoor pool in Detroit’s Central Business District.

Adding to the wide array of amenities in the property, Bedrock has partnered with Dasher Lawless LLC and AUTOParkit to develop the Midwest’s first fully autonomous garage in the basement of The Press/321. The build out of the garage will be complete mid-2021 and will be available for residential and commercial use.

Designed by Bedrock’s in-house architecture team in tandem with Detroit-based Kraemer Design Group, the landmark building maintains many of its traditional features while incorporating contemporary design. Magnificent artwork encompasses the ceiling and many historic relics from the property have been restored and are being showcased, giving residents a gallery-like experience right in their home.

“The Detroit Free Press Building has been a part of the fabric of the city for almost a century, and we treasure the opportunities to preserve significant historic buildings and continue their legacy by transforming them into something new,” said Laura Mitchell, Project Architect, Kraemer Design Group. “The team was presented with a unique design challenge with this building by altering the use and adding basement parking and the rooftop pool while maintaining and restoring the historic elements.”

For more information on residential leasing at The Press/321, please see here.

Virtual Real Estate Tours

The public will have the opportunity to get a sneak peek of the building with live virtual tours of The Press/321 and the City Modern development in Brush Park as part of official programming for the 10th annual Detroit Month of Design. The free tours will offer the public an insight into the design, construction, restoration, and apartments of each property as well as delve into the storied history of each location.

Bedrock officials, local architects, property experts and community members will narrate the tours, sharing personal anecdotes and in-depth details about what makes these properties iconic residential developments.

“The Brush Park Historic District and the old Detroit Free Press Building hold a special place in the heart of Detroiters, and we are excited to have the opportunity to show them how we have transformed these locations,” said Melissa Dittmer, Chief Design Officer at Bedrock. “Not only can potential residents get a sneak peek into their future home, but architecture enthusiasts, former Brush Park residents and all others who are interested will hear from experts on how these projects were made possible.”

Those who tune in to the free event will hear from the following narrators, each who have touched the projects in unique ways:

The Press/321

  • Alan Cobb, President and CEO, Albert Kahn Associates

  • Laura Mitchell, Project Architect, Kraemer Design Group

  • Stephen Henderson, Host of Detroit Today & Executive Editor of BridgeDetroit

  • Tiff Massey, Interdisciplinary Detroit Artist

  • Geoff Sleeman, Construction Project Director, Bedrock

  • Jaimee Pachala, Interior Designer, Bedrock

  • Jake Chidester, Director of Design, Bedrock

The live virtual tour of The Press/321 will take place on Tuesday, September 22, from 6pm to 7pm. Those interested may RSVP for free here.

City Modern

  • Maurice Cox, Former Detroit Planning Director and Current Commissioner, Chicago Department of Planning and Development

  • Mona Ross-Gardener, Brush Park Resident, Small Business Owner and Chair of Brush Park Community Development Corp.

  • Betsy Williams, Senior Architect & Director of Design, Hamilton Anderson Associates

  • Lorcan O’Herlihy, Founder & Design Principal, Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects (LOHA)

  • Melissa Dittmer, Senior Vice President and Chief Design Officer, Bedrock

  • Andrew Bodley, Senior Project Designer, Bedrock

The live virtual tour of City Modern will take place on Thursday, September 25 from 6pm to 7pm. Those interested may RSVP for free here.

The hour-long tours will include a bespoke cocktail and mocktail recipe, based on the building, that viewers can make at home while enjoying the experience. A Q&A session will take place at the end.

City Modern

City Modern is a groundbreaking mixed-use development that sits at the intersection of Downtown and Midtown, this unique development unites Brush Park’s historic lineage with the thoughtful integration of modern design and urban living. Crafted by five accomplished architecture firms, City Modern is home to four renovated Victorian mansions and 20 newly designed residential buildings.

Designed by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA), 2660 John R. is currently leasing and recently opened up its doors for its first residents to move in. As the LA-based architectural and urban design firm’s first completed project in Detroit, the building is thoughtfully integrated into the historic neighborhood. Detroit’s Hamilton Anderson Associates pulled inspiration from the city’s industrial and mid-century modern heritage to design 440 Alfred- the next property that will open for leasing later this fall.

For more information on residential leasing at City Modern, please see here.

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Contact:          Sam West; samwest@bedrockdetroit.com; 313-774-1313

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About Bedrock

Detroit-based Bedrock is a full-service real estate firm specializing in acquiring, developing, leasing, financing and managing commercial and residential buildings. 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, including new construction of ground up developments in downtown Detroit and Cleveland totaling more than 18 million square feet.

Bedrock’s real estate portfolio consists of 210 office tenants and 125 retailers and restaurants in Detroit’s technology-centric downtown, the majority of which are new to the market. Key office tenants include Coyote Logistics, IBM, Microsoft, Quicken Loans, LinkedIn, StockX, Universal McCann, UBS, Ally Bank’s national headquarters and Fifth Third Bank’s regional headquarters. Key retail tenants include H&M, Plum Market, The Lip Bar, 6 Salon, Lululemon, Shake Shack and countless others.

Bedrock is currently developing four transformational projects including the Hudson’s Site, Monroe Blocks, Book Tower renovation and One Campus Martius expansion. Bedrock is also undergoing construction of City Modern, a community development in Detroit’s Brush Park neighborhood. Partnering with Detroit-based Shinola, Bedrock developed the world’s first Shinola Hotel on Woodward Avenue, which opened in early 2019.

Bedrock is dedicated to creating jobs for Detroiters and investing in job training. Over the last year, the company has invested in both the Randolph & Breithaupt Career and Technical Centers to build a pipeline of talent for Detroit’s growing economy.

Creating unique experiences through real estate is Bedrock’s mission. To make this a reality, Bedrock and its affiliates continuously invest in significant public art installations and placemaking initiatives throughout the city.

For more information on Bedrock’s business model, visit the For More Than Profit book. For more information on Bedrock’s projects, visit bedrockdetroit.com or engage with us on Twitter and Facebook.

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