BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL
entrepreneur
FROM EYESORE from page A37
together with some outside inves-
tors," Curtis explained. "Back then,
it was a $31 million project, but it
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grew to $90 million. I've been work-
ing on it on and off since that time.
We took a rundown building that
had sat vacant for years, although
it was in the National Register of
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bright spot on Detroit's skyline. The
hotel will cater to business travelers
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Leo Phillips of Troy, a transplanted
Pennsylvanian who has been devel-
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SIMONE PERELE
A38
February 12 • 2009
years; and Richard Curto, a Chicago
real estate developer.
"Financing presented a problem
at first because of the downtown
Detroit location, but the city always
needs additional tax base and was
very cooperative," said Curtis, who
graduated from Detroit's Central
High School and the University of
Michigan. He has been dabbling in
commercial real estate sales and
management ever since.
"Historic federal and state tax
credits Tor these old building
renovations are crucial to putting
looked like. Renovation architect
was Hobbs and Black of Ann Arbor.
The hotel has 38,000 square feet
of state-of-the-art meeting space,
two ballrooms accommodating
about 300 people, a Finn & Porter
steakhouse and sushi bar with an
upscale menu featuring steaks
starting at about $30, the Round
Bar lounge and the Bearclaw Coffee
Shop. Almost 40 special events
already have been booked for the
dozen meeting rooms.
The hotel suites average about
375 square and rent for $189 a
night. The luxury apartments range
from 450 to 1,325 square feet, with
the rental price ranging from $1,600
to $2,200. The rental units are larger
than most downtown, according to
Curtis; the amenities include valet
parking, access to the hotel gym
and discounts for the restaurants.
"We couldn't really start the rental
campaign until everything was fin-
ished and prospective renters could
view the entire apartment unit in
person," Curtis pointed out.
The upper floors of the apartment
tower even offer some penthouse
rentals, and some apartments could
eventually be sold as condomini-
ums, similar to the upper floors at
the Westin Book Cadillac.
Curtis and Phillips agree that the
Hilton Hotel chain's involvement in
the Ft. Shelby project is a significant
factor in the operation so far, mainly
together complex financial deals,"
added Phillips. "Basically, we're
use of the Doubletree name, which
is owned by Hilton.
"Hilton had been looking for a
restoring old eyesores. We've made
an amazing transformation — from
downtown location, and Doubletree
came into the deal in 2003," said
eyesore to elegance. The outside of
the old Ft. Shelby still looks like it
Curtis. "They make many of the
big decisions, but they don't skimp
on anything, such as an expensive
did in the early 20th century, but the
interior has great new designs and
elements. We preserved the historic
flavoring of the building."
desk in each room; everything is
done with the comfort and conve-
nience of the customer in mind."
The Ft. Shelby is scheduled to
receive $8 million in federal and
Curtis and his partners are count-
ing on the resilience of Detroit and
state historic credits; the recently
revamped Book Cadillac is in line to
get $37.5 million in historic credits.
The Ft. Shelby's elaborate Crystal
Ballroom — last used as a disco
Michigan to make a go of the resto-
ration of this bit of the city's history.
"This hotel fills a niche for the
area," said Phillips. "It's near Cobo,
in the 1970s — was restored, and
the lobby's marble floor was main-
tained. Portions of the original mar-
ble floor were carpeted over; what
is believed to have been a Pewabic
tile water fountain was walled in.
The L.S. Brinker Co., the main
contractor on the renovation, used
old black-and-white photos to try
to determine what the old building
the Federal Building and a lot of
businesses. We're looking for years
of planning to pay off in a success-
ful business."
The Doubletree Guest Suites
Ft. Shelby Hotel's official grand
opening will be Feb. 26, a char-
ity event for the Ronald McDon-
ald House. For information, call
(313) 963-5600.