Green renovations to the Book Tower, Building to be announced in the coming weeks

The Book Tower and Building may be getting new life soon ... new green life, that is. The details are a little hazy but will be released in "two to three weeks."

Excerpt:

An investment group that plans to redevelop the vacant Book Tower and Building into "green" and affordable apartments, offices and stores says it will unveil its complete plan -- including carefully shrouded financing -- in "two to three weeks."

Despite skepticism from at least one major downtown redeveloper, RoseMarie Dobek, CFO of Key Investment Group Inc., says the multi-million dollar project is on track. It will include a new life not only for the Book complex, she says, but for four other downtown buildings and one on the city's east side.

Detroit City Councilman Kenneth Cockrel Jr. and the Green Initiative Task Force played a major role in helping Key Investment Group, according to both sides. And the potential deal still is going forward, said Rick Bowers, an aide to Cockrel.

Dobek is not yet disclosing locations of the other five buildings, or the source of $320 million in financing. But she said the project will bring 970 sustainable residences to the city and create up to 700 "green-collar" jobs.

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