Ilitches eye wider street, building reuse near new arena

The Ilitch organization is looking to widen a street near the Red Wings' future new Detroit arena and possibly redevelop three nearby vacant buildings.

Olympia Development of Michigan outlined details Thursday of its proposal to widen the south side of Temple Street between Cass and Woodward avenues during a meeting of Detroit's Historic Designation Advisory Board.

Michael Boettcher, an advisory board member, said Olympia's representatives also hinted at plans to redevelop three long-empty buildings along Temple -- the former Hotel Fort Wayne next to the Masonic Temple, the commercial building at Cass and Temple next to the Temple Bar, and the former Alhambra Apartments at 100 Temple.

“They have a development proposal in the works for the entire block -- south of Temple, west of Woodward," Boettcher said.

However, the street-widening project could imperil at least two other vacant buildings on Temple: the former Alden Apartments at 145 Temple and a parking garage, he said.

An Olympia Development representative did not return messages seeking comment Friday afternoon. The Ilitch-owned organization is building the roughly $450 million arena one block away from Temple Street.

The street-widening proposal could now go before Detroit City Council. The advisory board voted 5-1 Thursday against a Olympia's request to leave that part of Temple Street out of a proposed new historic district, Boettcher said.

The new minimum 20,000-seat arena is under construction and scheduled to open for the Wings' 2017 season. It is to be surrounded with a roughly $200 million commercial and entertainment district and new residential neighborhoods.

The Wings' current home on the Detroit riverfront -- Joe Louis Arena -- will then be razed.