The District Detroit Kicks Off Its First Event

After years of development and anticipation, District Detroit is finally open!

Its first official event will be a Kid Rock concert series, hitting the stage at Little Caesars Arena starting September 12.

As a world-class sports and entertainment development, District Detroit will span 50 blocks of theaters, parks, restaurants, businesses and event destinations. It will also reach five different neighborhoods: Columbia Street, Columbia Park, Woodward Avenue, Wildcat Corner and Cass Park Village. They’ll all be combined into one walkable area, which will give rise to new residences and building redevelopments.

Little Caesars Arena is poised to be a cornerstone of the district — home of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons, and a multi-purpose destination for sports, entertainment, concerts, family shows and outdoor recreation.

The development continues

The District Detroit is already home to landmark venues such as the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park, and The Fillmore. As it continues to develop, however, new businesses and residences are popping up every day, including:

Mike’s Pizza Bar – an homage to the late Detroit loyalist and Little Caesars Pizza co-founder, Mike Ilitch. The spot will serve up artisanal pizzas and craft beer.

Sports & Social Detroit – a gastropub and sports lover’s bar located right in Little Caesars Arena.

Little Caesars global headquarters – a new $250 million, nine-story, 234,000 square-foot building at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Columbia Street.

Mike Ilitch School of Business  – a brand-new business program at Wayne State University.

680 residential units – Detroit’s largest residential development initiative in more than 20 years. It will span six developments in new and historic buildings, including The Alhambra, The American, The Arena Lofts, The Eddystone, One Eleven West and 150 Bagley. It will also include 139 affordable units, meets Olympia Development’s goal of offering 20 percent affordable housing throughout District Detroit.

“The District Detroit will be one of the most exciting places in the country to live,” said Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “These six uniquely Detroit residential developments will be in the heart of the action, in a city on the rise.”

The District Detroit will be a hub of activity and excitement, where Detroit residents, visitors, partiers, and families can go to be at the center of the city they love. It is expected to account for an economic impact of more than $2 billion by 2020, and create 12,500 construction jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs.

For those who want a sneak peek of the action, streaming video of the construction site can be seen 24/7 at districtdetroit.com.