In effort to attract additional businesses to downtown Detroit I am asking existing downtown office tenants to share their stories. If you work downtown, please share what you like about working downtown Detroit.., the view from your office or building? The restaurants? The location/office is close to stadiums? If you've worked in the suburbs as well, how does it differ? If you work in the suburbs now and have questions about working downtown, please post a question in the comments section. Thanks again for your time and for assisting in our efforts.
When posting a comment, please make certain to list your name, company and your office building for reference.
Thank you.
Dusty
After working in Southfield for three years, it was refreshing to return to the fantastic workplace experience that exists in Detroit’s central business district. Where else can you walk to lunch in an award-winning public space like Campus Martius Park, along an international waterway or at one of numerous restaurants? Not to mention grabbing a drink at the end of the day with co-workers or meeting friends at the Tigers game. Working downtown reminds us why offices were first located in cities and why demand for the downtown experience will forever outpace that of the suburbs. Downtown Detroit is the ONLY place to work in our region.
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I agree with James. When my company decided to relocate me to Detroit, I was a little nervous having heard all the horror stories. Once I got here, I absolutely loved it.
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Dusty- great website. Good luck with the Blog! Stephen, Cadillac Tower tenant- and loving Detroit!
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I have been a tenant in the First National Building for longer than I care to say. I've seen a lot of change over the past 20+ years. Some good, some bad. There seems to be a push towards coming back downtown. I think that's great. The folks in the suburbs don't know what they're missing.
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I work in the RenCen. I love all of the different options for lunch. Easy to entertain clients.
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I worked in Southfield for 20 years and loved the parking situation as compared with here. Downtown parking is horrible. The meter man is constantly ticketing and the cheapest parking on Cobo roof is a pain when events are at that location. I just got a ticket for "feeding the meter" when I had to run into the office for a fews hours. I added more quarters within the alloted period but to my amazement the meter man was giving me a ticket "at his discretion" he says because I should have moved my car to another space since the meters are only 1 hour. He was on a power trip and said he was having a bad day so he thought he would give out tickets. Nice eh? How do we expect to bring people to the city when this kind of attitude exists? How can businesses survive when people can't even park outside the buildings?
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Why don't you get a monthly parking pass? There is an abundance of parking downtown. No one I work with parks at the meters specifically because they they are one hour meters. Is it really that hard to walk a block or two to get from your car to your office? I actually enjoy my morning/afternoon walks to and from my building.
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I understand where Tess is coming from. My only suggestion is that come lease renewal/negotiation time, have your landlord kick in for parking, or reduce your lease rate in consideration of steep parking costs. Our broker/tenant rep got us free valet for one year.
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I am a real estate consultant focused on helping tenants and property owners who have office space needs in the City. Detroit offers the most spectacular office buildings in the region. The Riverfront developments, new urban residential projects, retail and entertainment venues will all continue to grow in popularity (once the financing markets open again) which will make the downtown office market more attractive and more vibrant. I look forward to enjoying the improved downtown Detroit for the years to come.
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Excellent blog and resource. This is what people really want to know about the potential of relocating business to downtown Detroit. Its like a "consumer report" for the city.
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I'm 27 and began working at the Ren Cen back in July. I live in Novi and used to work in Northville, however after my apartment lease is up next year, I fully intend on moving downtown. Detroit is most definitely a work in progress...but please keep in mind the only way to continue improving this city is to take the leap and move business and residents downtown. I love going onto the riverwalk during a lunchbreak at work...i love being able to hit up one of the many coffee places within walking distance of my office for a mid-afternoon break(2 starbucks, coffee beanery, cafe au bon pain) After work I can walk(or take the heated people mover when its cold) to greektown casino, several award winning restaurants, or one of the bars around Detroit...again I just wish I could walk home instead of drive home. I love Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles...Detroit is none of these cities just yet, but I know it will get there eventually, and in the meantime it's still quite the urban experience...people party down here all the time...young people live down here...we drink, gamble, goto sporting & concert events...I encourage you to peruse www.modeldmedia.com for updates on Detroit developments...they are tons archived, but please see every Tuesday for updates...I am not affiliated with thsi site at all, but I like to know what's going on in the city. I promise, give it a shot down here, you will love it! Not to mention, Quicken Loans is coming soon, which means more people and more shops and more restaurants etc....
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I'd just like to take a moment to thank Model D Media and the above contributors to this blog. Justin is right, there’s a movement that’s headed south- we need to acknowledge it, and continue to do whatever we can to cultivate it. I would encourage Detroit landlords and/or leasing representatives to chime in with additional insight into what they have to offer- teaser on aggressive rates/promotions, building amenities, etc… I’d also encourage new and long time tenants to continue sharing their stories.., and for prospective tenants to ask any questions they may have. .
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I have worked in the Ren Cen for 2 years and I love it! I live in the suburbs, so the commute isn't the greatest, but I really enjoy the wonderful scenery downtown and being in the heart of all the action. It's THE BEST here during the summer with the Rockin' on the Riverfront concerts on Riverfront Plaza, the Downtown Hoedown, DEMF, etc. I've also been known to catch networking events and sports games before heading back to the burbs at night. There really is something going on at all times!
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Hey Dusty, congrats on Detroit Office, Inc. I have worked downtown for a number of years (in addition to living in the city) and really enjoyed it. Picnicing with co-workers after work and watching the fireworks on the river. After-work socializers at the various restaurants. The character of the older buildings and skyscrapers. It's a cool place that people in the metro area and outstate would enjoy if they could get beyond the perception/reputation and actually came down.
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I work in the Comerica building for a brokerage firm (live nearby at the Lafayette Towers as well). I love working in Detroit. You have convenient access to so many restaurants, cultural institutions and sports scene. It beats working in Southfield or Auburn Hills where it didn't quite feel like big-city work. My only complaint is that there is not a vibrant "Happy Hour" scene like there is in NYC or Chicago. Hopefully with Quicken Loans and the many new businesses coming downtown (and sites like this one!), there will be a greater emphasis on sharing a beer with co-workers after a long day. Other than that, Detroit is a great city to work in.
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i live downtown and wish I could work downtown. southfield really hurts the region by drawing too many of our good businesses but I sense that it is changing. no offense but working in a suburban office park sucks, no matter how tall you make it. transit would help with the parking problem, or just live downtown and ride you bike
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I have the fortune of living in Detroit and the fortune of working near Detroit. It is good to hear all of the positive remarks about working in Detroit and enjoying the unique experiences the city has to offer - makes me proud to be a resident.
Something of interest: companies always make a big deal about polling employees and ensuring everyone is happy when moving into the city. Yet, when companies move from the city, they automatically assume everyone is glad to go. Kind of backwards thinking...
Also, you think parking in Downtown Detroit is bad - try finding a space in Ferndale or Royal Oak. Good gosh. Too bad all urban areas in the region did not adopt Birmingham's parking policy.
Oh well, back to the point of why I initially posted: nice blog, Dusty! Keep up the good work.
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Alexandria,
I too wish there was more happy hour activity downtown... alot of people from the Ren Cen goto the Rivers Edge bar after work, it's right next door to us on the river(if the name didnt already imply enough lol). Sometimes I goto the Detroiter after work with friends that drive in from the suburbs, and they have a good crowd...but there isn't much emphasis placed on happy hour specials and advertisements just yet... it's getting there, but I think the young workers down here(and there are ALOT) need to be more active in supporting the local places...lol a weekly happy hour group...haha that probably sounds like an AA meeting waiting to happen.
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I work in the suburbs and hate it. The parking lot is enormous and although I can technically see my office from my car, it takes 10 minutes to walk from the humongous parking lot to the building and there is nothing interesting the entire walk.
Lunch is such a big ordeal because you can't walk anywhere and need to drive which takes 10-20 minute away from your lunch just to get to the car, drive and get parked again.
You workers downtown have it made with so many amenities outside your office doors.
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I work downtown and live downtown. Working downtown is great. Particularly in the central business district. Workers have access to all kinds of great places to have lunch within walking distance and Campus Martius has added to the quality of life for downtown workers. If you need to take a break, a walk through downtown or to the river or a coffee break at the Guardian Building is such a perfect short getaway.
A few friends of mine have worked for companies that moved out of downtown to Southfield. From their remarks, employees were rather disappointed with the move because the freedom of just walking to a variety of restaurants or coffee shops is nonexistent. I think it sucks out any inspiration or creativity to be stuck in a building all day without an easy way to get out and take a break...taking a walk through a parking lot cannot be as inspiring as a walk through the streets of some of the greatest architecture in the United States.
P.S. It is also nice to have access to a parking space 7 days a week...that means taking advantage of monthly parking privileges for sporting events and other downtown events where parking is hard to come by.
Thanks for taking this input! I highly recommend downtown as a destination for future employers!
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I think one reason you don't see a more active happy scene like in NYC or Chicago is because most people do live back out in the 'burbs and have to drive home. This will change as more and more people, particularly young people keep moving downtown and to adjacent areas.
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Eric,
Congrats on the Crains 20 in their 20's! Detroit Office Inc is a great initiative! I really like that you're using Social Media to help get the word out. I actually just launched a blog for the Russell Industrial Center (2.2million sq/ft of raw space!) We should get in touch and collaborate. I have a few ideas i'd like to share. Let's do this! One sq/ft @ a time!
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Hi, what a great blog about Detroit. I'm a Detroiter, I live in the city but I work in the burbs, however I am looking into the possibility of setting up office space for myself, I am a Psychotherapist and would like to find space on Woodward near the medical center and close to Zacarro's Market, what a great place!! I love to hear about people moving back to the city! Suzanne Rodgers
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Suzanne- thanks for your comments! Please feel free to email me at dusty@detroitoffice.org. I'd be happy to forward the information of a building owner/rep right off of Woodward on Canfield in the heart of the DMC, Wayne State Med Center. They've got great/brand new space- pretty much any square footage accepted as far as I know. Again, look forward to talking with you soon. Dusty
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Suzanne,
Why not consider Eastern Market? We are nearby DMC, Woodward, Brush Park, the stadiums and downtown with convenient freeway access & abundant free parking. We have 30 lofts in a recently rehabilitated 1917 historic building on Russell St. in the Market. Tenants include a number of creative businesses including graphic & website designers, event & video producers, engineers and lawyers to name a few. The spaces are unique and not run of the mill 'office space'. If you are interested please call 313-832-3000.
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Bob- please list your website. I agree that the FD Lofts would be a great options as well. Thanks for posting.
Dusty
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Hello,
This is a very interesting blog! I live in Detroit (downriver) and work right in the heart of downtown (DAC). As employees, we park in our own garage, and eat lunch in an employee dining area, so I don't really have problems in those areas.
I love the location, though. We go to after-work get togethers at surrounding places (Proof, The Woodward, Coaches Corner, etc) and if we want to step out for lunch for a change of menu/scenery, we can walk to Elwood, Coaches, Detroit Beer Co., etc.
Plenty of places downtown have Happy Hour activities, it's just about keeping an ear to the street. I receive an email with local Detroit activities and such. Proof Martini bar has happy hour prices on Mondays (half off martinis and appetizers) and I believe every day between 5 and 6 or 7 are half off drinks. The Rhino in Harmonie Park has happy hour festivities and it's perfect for sitting outside and having an after-work drink. The Woodward (Compuware Bldg) is perfect for happy hour gatherings. There are many quaint places for these kinds of events. My co-workers and I have a blast down here!
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Nikki- thanks for your input. As a DAC member, I couldn't agree more. Not only is the club a great place to visit and/or work, but there are countless places to eat, drink and be merry
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Thank you for posing the question.
I have lived in and near Downtown Detroit for over 10 years and frankly there will never be any other place for me except perhaps a place even closer to the river. On weekdays I get take out and drive to Belle Isle and have lunch looking at all God's gifts, there are so many. On evenings and weekends I walk the river walk or simply sit down there and read a book. I have love trying new restaurants and Downtown is abundant with them. I am single and 52, I have never had a fear of my city and hope I never will. I simply LOVE MY Detroit.
I say My Detroit because everyone has a different experience mine just happens to be one of the best. I enjoy more than just Downtown, on weekends I also like to take my nieces and nephews to the Chandler Park Aquatic Center, it is a little slice of fun right in the city, with gas the way it is I drive there it's close, clean and economical.
Small children ages tot's to per teen actually have a ball, it is not very huge but most enjoyable especially from 10:00am until 3:00pm after that things change, us older folk and kids, turn the park over to the Teens and Young Adults.
I work indirectly with law enforcement so I know about the crime first had, but I refuse to be removed from my space and happy place so I will continue to fight the good fight and LOVE MY DETROIT!
Denise
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