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Bedrock to Begin Demolition on Wayne County Jail Facilities After New Complex Opens

Detroit – Big changes are coming to the Greektown-area in Detroit. The developer Bedrock plans to start tearing down and clearing out some key properties in the area. This move comes as Wayne County prepares to move into its new criminal justice complex later this year.

The facilities they’ll be leaving behind include two jails, a juvenile detention center, and the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice courthouse. Bedrock CEO Kofi Bonner confirmed the plans in an email stating, “We expect to begin demolition and clearance activities later this year.” However, he didn’t specify which of the buildings will be the first to go.

This shift stems from a 2018 deal between Rock Ventures LLC, Bedrock’s parent company, and Wayne County. Under the agreement, Bedrock would build a new criminal justice complex for the county, located about two miles north of the current facilities in Greektown. In return, Bedrock gained control of the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, the juvenile detention center on St. Antoine Street, and two jail buildings on Clinton Street.

Wayne County is expected to vacate its Greektown buildings after Labor Day, moving operations to the new Criminal Justice Center at 5310 Russell Street, near the intersection of I-75 and E. Warren Avenue.

The properties Bedrock is acquiring span a sizeable five-block area. This includes some adjacent properties Bedrock already owns, like the historic former Detroit Police headquarters at 1300 Beaubien Street, a building designed by famed architect Albert Kahn. They also own the 14-acre site where Wayne County initially tried to build a jail, located at Gratiot Avenue, I-375 Service Drive, Clinton Street, and St. Antoine Street. That project was abandoned due to cost overruns and delays.

According to Bonner, “The site on Gratiot provides an opportunity to continue to augment and enhance downtown Detroit.” Bedrock’s plans for the area include developing and animating it to create new economic opportunities and attract talent through innovative partnerships and focused investments.

Initially, Rock Ventures had ambitious plans for the unfinished jail site, envisioning a $1 billion mixed-use development featuring a Major League Soccer stadium and high-rise buildings. That idea was later shelved in favor of a $300 million innovation center, a tech-focused campus in collaboration with the University of Michigan and Related Companies. While this development moved to a different part of Detroit, the first phase of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in District Detroit is currently under construction.

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