For 2 1/2 years, Dan Gilbert's Bedrock LLC has said that the tower planned for the site of the former J.L. Hudson's department store in downtown Detroit would be the tallest building in the state when it's completed.

Now, it's not entirely sure.

Whether it ends up taller than the 727-foot Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, currently the state's tallest building, is largely contingent upon what an undetermined hotel operator that could use the building wants, said Joe Guziewicz, vice president of construction for Bedrock, which is Gilbert's real estate development, management, leasing and ownership company.

Guziewicz spoke to members of the media Wednesday morning before taking them into the 40-foot-deep hole where the development is now slated to rise and be complete in four years.

"It's tough to answer," Guziewicz said in response to a question about its height. "Do I think it's going to be half the size (of what was previously discussed)? My gut reaction is probably not. Is it going to be the tallest building? Possibly."

"As we get that hotel operator online, they are going to have a lot of impact on the function of the building, and ultimately the height of the building," Guziewicz said.