Historic Detroit Firehouse May Become Boutique Hotel

March 19, 2013 at 2:38 PM | by Chanize | Comments (0)

Say what you want about Detroit and its bad rap, we think it�s a seriously inventive city that won�t let hard knocks destroy its spirit and we've said just as much on our brother site, Jaunted. It�s the place that'll take an old 1929 brick firehouse and decide to turn it into a $23 million boutique hotel.

The Detroit City Council is being asked to approve a deal to sell the Hans Gehrke-designed building across from Cobo Center to developer Walter Cohen and his group, 21 Century Holdings. The price? Just $1.25 million. That�s cheaper than a Brooklyn condo, to give you some perspective.

Cohen has long been involved in renovating historical buildings, hotels, and apartments in the city. His plan is to partner with the Aparium Hotel Group, which manages the super successful motorcycle-themed Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee, to assist with building the 80-room hotel in the five-story firehouse.

It will keep the theme on the ground floor with two poles going from the main to the first-floor room (anyone else having visions of pole-dancing parties can sit right next to us). Cohen�s also plans to open the existing big red firehouse doors in the summer for outside dining.

The hope is to have the property, tentatively called �The Foundation Hotel� begin construction this fall, then be completely open with bar and Cajun-themed restaurant in time for the 2015 North American International Auto Show.

[Photo:AP Photo/The Detroit News, Velvet S. McNeil]

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