Blog

Adaptive Reuse vs. Historic Restoration: When a Vacant Downtown Building Should Become Something Else Entirely

Not every vacant downtown landmark should be restored to its original use. A framework for Detroit and Toledo building owners deciding between historic restoration and adaptive reuse.

Office-to-Apartments in Downtown Detroit and Toledo: The Code Triggers That Decide Whether a Conversion Pencils

Floor plate depth, plumbing risers, egress code, and parking overlays are the constructability factors that decide whether an office-to-residential conversion pencils out.

Detroit and Toledo's Restoration Renaissance: The Landmark Projects Signaling a Downtown Comeback

Lee Plaza, The Belle, the Four Corners Project, Riverview Tower: the 2026 landmark restorations reshaping downtown Detroit and Toledo, and what they mean for owners of historic buildings.

Downtown Revitalization Economics: What One Restored Anchor Building Does to a Main Street Block

A restored anchor building changes the economics of an entire downtown block — resetting rent comparables, creating daytime population, de-risking the next lender, and unlocking public financing. Here is how that works, and what owners should verify before committing.