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Topic: Durant Opening In September

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munnbreslin
F L I N T O I D

Durant Hotel to open in September
By Kelsey Ronan Mar 2010
Since 1973 the Durant Hotel has been a vacant colossus on Saginaw Street. The Genesee County Land Bank acquired the property in 2005 and began renovation in 2008. Construction is scheduled to end by early August, and 93 apartments are now available for pre-leasing in time for the fall college term.

Since the early 1970s there have been efforts to do something with the property.

"It was a problem," Land Bank Executive Director Doug Weiland said. "For 35 years the Durant was sitting empty and forlorn. It did not make for a very welcoming area."

The Land Bank assumed the property with the intent of exploring all the uses for it and to redevelop - if redevelopment was not possible, then demolition, Weiland said.

Under the direction of Daniel Kildee, the Land Bank put together a financial plan using a grant from the Mott Foundation, tax credits and brownfield bonds, a form of tax increment financing that borrows against future tax revenue.

Now that the Durant is on the tax roll, the bonds go back to pay for the work done, Weiland explained.

"We've leveraged the Durant development to assist the development of neighborhoods all throughout the city. Some people are critical of the development being done because they feel it's been done at the expense of Flint's neighborhoods, but that's not accurate," Weiland said.

Development of the property is being done by Karp and Associates of Lansing, Weiland said. The Land Bank was impressed by some of the work they had done in downtown Lansing, restoring historic buildings near Cooley Law School.

College students and professionals are expected to occupy the Durant, which features the original marble pillars and floors in the lobby.

The eight-story hotel, named after General Motors founder Billy Durant, was built in 1920 and was the city's largest and most upscale hotel.

The first floor featured a bank, café and boutiques. A mezzanine ballroom served Flint's high society weddings and conventions.

Having the Durant up and running will have a "positive impact on the downtown area and beyond that," Weiland said.

He cited the Land Bank's offices on Saginaw, a former rehab that now houses not only the Land Bank but residential lofts which have had continuous occupancy. Berridge Place Lofts, formerly a cheap hotel noted for its troubled clientele, and Tinlinn House, both on Garland Street, are rehabs that have brought 21 residential and commercial spaces. All but three or four, Weiland said, are occupied.

"The Durant helps anchor the northern end of Downtown and secures the area with residents and businesses. All these projects coming together adjacent to UM-Flint helps strengthen the area and give Flint a stronger student base," Weiland said.

Weiland said he thinks the redevelopment has helped spur other development in the area and cited an IRS building being constructed just north of the Durant.

"When you look at the amount of work being done in Downtown Flint, especially in the 500 block of Saginaw, you see how all the developments feed off one another," Weiland said.

"I leave between five and six every evening," he said. "A year ago, before the Riverfront Residence Hall, Blackstone's and 501 Grill opened, the surface parking lot across from the Pavilion would be empty and there would be few cars parked on the street. Today when I leave the lot is usually half-full and cars are parked all down Saginaw Street. The difference is visible, just within a year."

Asked if he believed rehabilitation of buildings like the Durant and the Berridge have an impact on crime in Flint, Weiland said he believed there is no crime to impact.

"There is so little crime in downtown Flint. During the workday there are always people on the streets and criminals don't like to be observed. There's the occasional purse snatching or break-in, but it's rare. If down the road you saw an increase in crime downtown it would simply be due to an increase in people."

Grand opening festivities for the Durant are being planned for September.
Post Thu Apr 01, 2010 7:14 am 
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