Woodward Garden Theater Project in last phase

The Woodward Garden Block project recently received the last funding needed to complete construction of the Woodward Garden Theater.

The project was started on 2002 by developers Woodward Garden Theater, LLC. and Woodward SA-PK, LLC led by long time partners Michael Byrd, William Mosely and George Stewart. The team of supporters include Midtown Detroit, Inc. (MDI), Quinn Evans Architects, McIntosh Poris Associates, Miller Canfield, Strength Property Partners and Zachary & Associates.
 
"Without the willingness of these partners to look for innovative solutions to the obstacles that faced this project, we wouldn’t be celebrating the revival of this block." said Stewart.
 
The theater is a 32,000 square feet, 1,300 person capacity live music-theater, originally designed by C. Howard Crane. The funds will also allow for the development of a mixed-use development with approximately 12,000 square feet of leasable space and 61 market rate apartments adjacent to the theater.
 
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation awarded the project a $750,000 loan via the Michigan Strategic Fund’s Community Revitalization Program. Other critical funding of the Woodward Garden Theater project came in the form of a HUD Section 108 loan through the City of Detroit, HUD 221 funding through financial intermediary First Housing and a variety of brownfield, federal and state historical tax credits. Federal tax credits were purchased by Symetra Life Insurance. 

Stewart, who has lived and worked in the Midtown district since the late 1950s, believes this project has been long overdue. 
 
"Restoring this block to its former glory and providing a place where people will be able to experience great music and soon live (and) work has been the least I can do to give back to a neighborhood that has meant so much to me over the years," he said. 
 
Once completed, the building will house a theater, a full service catering restaurant and a conference center allowing for diverse facility use.
 
On Monday, Woodward Gardens, LLC and MDI celebrated the final phase of the development stage with the "Woodward Garden Block Development Celebration." The event took place on the rooftop of the Woodward Gardens Parking Deck on Alexandrine.

Visit the Woodward Garden Block Development and the Woodward Garden Theater project or call 313-833-5720 for more information. 

Source: Nicole Brown, Midtown Detroit 
Writer: Leah Johnson