Big buildings planned for Detroit's once-desolate Brush Park

Three new buildings have been proposed for Detroit's Brush Park, a once-desolate neighborhood near Little Caesars Arena that is now buzzing with construction activity.

The biggest of the three is a seven-story structure planned for a dirt lot at John R and Edmund Place.

The building — to be called 112 Edmund — would feature ground-floor retail topped by two floors of commercial space and four floors of about 32 condominiums, each unit likely priced above $400,000.

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It would neighbor a planned four-story building — 2827 John R — which would have a ground-floor restaurant, plus five luxury condos on its upper levels. This second building would incorporate part of a small glass art studio that is on the site.

A third building, next door to 2827 John R, would be a four-story parking garage featuring two, two-story townhouses.

The trio of structures is being developed by Detroit attorney Michael VanOverbeke and businessman Carlo Liburdi as separate but related projects.

They would also neighbor some of the new Brush Park housing structures and townhouses that are now under construction as part of the Dan Gilbert-led City Modern project.

That all-new residential development — Brush Park's biggest in a century — will total 410 residences once completed.

The Brush Park neighborhood once had dozens of Victorian mansions, but many of them fell into disrepair as the city's fortunes plummeted and today only a few of the originals remain.

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VanOverbeke and Liburdi said it is still too early to announce cost estimates or completion dates for their newly proposed buildings. All three were on the agenda for a Thursday night public hearing before the Detroit City Planning Commission. A website contains a link to their presentation.

"Our idea is to really add to the livable, walkable feeling that Brush Park is developing," VanOverbeke said.

However, the proposed seven-story height of the biggest building is already drawing scrutiny from residents of an older, nearby condo building, who could lose some of their skyline views if the structure gets built.

That building, the Carlton Lofts at 2915 John R, dates to 1923 when it opened as the Carlton Plaza Hotel. Today, it contains 50 condos and is no longer a hotel. The Carlton Lofts is slightly taller than the proposed 112 Edmund.

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Mike Zazaian, a member of the Carlton's condo association board, said some residents bought their unit because of the views and do not want to see them obstructed.

“My view, even up here on the seventh floor, would probably be dramatically affected," Zazaian said "I’d lose pretty much my entire downtown view.”

VanOverbeke said he can empathize with the Carlton's residents, but said that city planners have been pushing for more developments in Brush Park that are higher density, such as 112 Edmund.

"The big objection is ‘I want to protect my view,'" VanOverbeke said. "I respect that, but the fact of the matter is Brush Park is right in the core of the city almost, and certainly there is going to be development in the city."

Contact JC Reindl: 313-222-6631 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JCReindl.