Hudson's skyscraper plans could rise higher

The $1 billion Hudson's development is getting more epic as the future tallest skyscraper in Detroit will be even taller than previously estimated, according to the latest plan.

The 62-story building could potentially rise to 912 feet, a major lift from the previous 800 feet planned. The other 14-story, 232-foot-tall building scheduled for the Woodward Avenue site downtown has added nine stories, according to a 70-page document submitted by developer Bedrock Detroit last month to the city. The overall development has grown by more than 400,000 square feet — about the size of Detroit's Main Public Library — to 1.4 million square feet. 

A spokeswoman for Bedrock declined to comment on the documents.  "We look forward to announcing more details about the Hudson's site in the coming months," said Whitney Eichinger, vice president of communications for Bedrock.

The Hudson's plan, named after the former department store that once occupied the site, is one of the grandest Detroit plans yet by Dan Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans Inc. and serial entrepreneur and developer. Since 2010, Gilbert has overhauled downtown Detroit by resurrecting historic buildings and other properties. Bedrock controls more than 90 downtown properties.

The Hudson's project is part of Bedrock's estimated $2.2 billion effort to revive four different downtown locations. In addition to the Hudson's site, Bedrock aims to develop three acres of mainly vacant space on the Monroe Block; renovate the equivalent of seven football fields of interior space at the long-dormant Book Tower and Building on Washington Boulevard, and add an 11-story annex to the One Campus Martius building.

In May, Bedrock won approval for $618 million in tax incentives for the projects, which is one of the largest tax subsidies ever awarded in Michigan. 

The documents did not say how much more it will cost to build the project. Nor did it say what companies would occupy the buildings. The development will have office, retail, residential, a hotel and exhibit space.  

The Woodward Avenue site is currently one large hole as prep work is being done. The development will take up to five years to finish.

laguilar@detroitnews.com

Twitter: LouisAguilar_DN