A former Cadillac plant in Detroit, Michigan will be converted into a new apartment complex that will house some 90 individual apartments.
Per a recent report from Automotive News, Greatwater Opportunity Capital purchased the former Cadillac plant last April to the tune of $3.35 million. The renovations to transform the industrial building into a new apartment are expected to cost $27 million, and will retain some of the historic components. However, portions of the building that were added later in its history and not deemed historic will be removed. The building’s windows will be replaced with contemporary units that maintain a degree of historic accuracy in terms of aesthetics. Building demolition will kick off in the spring, with renovation expected to begin sometime this summer. The construction process is expected to take roughly 12 months to complete.
Located at 450 Amsterdam Street, the 117-year-old assembly plant that currently stands was constructed in 1905 after a fire damaged the Cadillac plant at the location previously. The current building was designed by George Mason, whose company also designed the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, as well as the Masonic Temple in Detroit. The plant was constructed in 67 days, and includes the use of reinforced concrete, which was considered to be a pioneer application for industrial buildings in its day. Cadillac later moved production to Clark Street in Southwest Detroit in 1920.
Cadillac plant at 450 Amsterdam Street in Detroit
“We think 450 Amsterdam will combine the best elements of a historic renovation and new construction: the authenticity of the historic structure, plus the amenities of new construction,” said Greatwater co-founder, Jed Howbert, in an email to Automotive News.
Detroit and the state of Michigan are obviously steeped in Cadillac and GM history. Cadillac previously moved its corporate headquarters from Michigan to New York in 2014, but opted to move back to Michigan in 2018. Cadillac’s headquarters is now located in Warren at 30400 Van Dyke Ave.
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Comments
Nice. Waiting to see how it turns out.
It’s good to repurpose sturdy old buildings rather than knock them down. Here in Indy the original Stutz, Duesenberg, and Cole auto factories have been repurposed to offices.
AHAH !!!
I get it – Canadian head of Cadillac STEVE CARLISLE is moving out of their WORLD HEADQUARTERS – converting it to apartments – to OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada this time rather than De Nysschen’s Manhattan.
I’ll take the El Dorado suite…
I am glad that somebody is doing right by Detroit’s (and Cadillac’s) legacy to the world. The photo attached with the story was taken around the same time that my 1931 Chevy 1.5-ton stake bed came off of the assembly line. Not quite the same status of vehicle, but it gives me a smile.
I hope the plant is in a gentrifying neighborhood–or starts one.
Someone converted a former factory near me to loft apartments with huge windows. Since most of the windows are right above the sidewalk, the tenants have to keep their blinds completely closed to have any privacy, so the expensive new windows they installed are wasted.