DETROIT – The GM Renaissance Center, a staple of Detroit’s skyline, is slated for a $1.6 billion overhaul and hinges on $250 million in public funding.
While the redevelopment promises to reimagine the RenCen for a new era, critics remain concerned about whether public funds should be used to support a project involving private corporations.
The plans, unveiled by General Motors and Bedrock, call for demolishing two 39-story office towers near the Detroit River and removing the RenCen’s lower base.
The newly opened space will create better access to the riverfront and align with Detroit’s broader efforts to revitalize its downtown area.
“It’s a great thing – the city has so much momentum right now, said Eric Larsen of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. “The way that whole complex becomes much more open, much more transparent, and much more friendly — it’s really responding to the way the riverfront has evolved.”
The remaining three towers, including the 73-story Marriott Hotel—the tallest building in the state—are expected to become a mix of hotel rooms and residential units.
General Motors has used the Renaissance Center as its headquarters since the late 90s and plans to move into a new downtown building by early 2026.
The automaker is contributing $250 million to the redevelopment, alongside $1 billion from Bedrock, the firm owned by Detroit businessman Dan Gilbert.
The remaining $250 million would come from public funds, a point of contention for critics.
“They want $250 million from us to tear down the Renaissance Center as they’ve left Detroit and just laid off 1,000 people in Warren. Does GM need it more, or does your local county need it more?” asked Rep. Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp, Dist. 42).
Supporters of the project argue that the public share of the funding could be sourced through creative financing tools like tax incentives.
“There are a lot of ways to close that $250 million gap,” Larsen noted. “You could do it through tax incentives, Brownfield grants, and Lansing has the ability to be flexible in addressing this. The impact this project is going to create is substantial.”
