Big changes are on the horizon for the Detroit riverfront, with multiple redevelopment projects aiming to create new opportunities for recreation, housing, and entertainment.
A central focus of the plan is the historic Renaissance Center, which would retain three of its towers for housing and hospitality, while demolishing two towers nearest the river. The base of the complex would be redesigned to include a pedestrian promenade and direct access to the Detroit Riverwalk.
The area could feature new restaurants, hotels, and retail alongside public gathering spaces—a vision inspired by popular waterfront attractions like Chicago’s Navy Pier.
Just east of this project, the long-vacant Uniroyal site is set to be converted into a multi-sports complex and youth academy. Plans call for athletic fields dedicated to flag football, soccer, and lacrosse, as well as an indoor facility where basketball, volleyball, and more.
Other sections of the riverfront are also getting a facelift. A. B. Ford Park is scheduled to reopen in fall 2025 after a significant rebuild, while Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park, located just west of the Renaissance Center, will include a host of new amenities once it’s completed around the same time.
