Brownfield Redevelopment of 607 Shelby in Downtown Detroit

Standing tall in Downtown Detroit and located in the Central Business District (CBD) and the Historic Detroit Financial District stands the 607 Shelby building. What was historically known as the U.S. Mortgage Bond Building that opened in 1925, has since been rehabbed and repositioned as a mixed-use building with a multitude of creative tenants and first-rate amenities.

The building, which was designed by architect Harry S. Angel, has a mix of neoclassical and renaissance revival design elements faced in beautiful Indiana Limestone. On the corner of Shelby and Congress in downtown Detroit, the nine-story boutique office building consists of 50,000-square feet and is home to a few of Detroit’s hidden gems.

PM Environmental, a Pinchin Company (PM) assisted in the renovation of 607 Shelby, assisting with due diligence, Phase I & II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) and BEA DDCC. PM also was serviced for pre-renovation asbestos surveys, commercial rehabilitation tax abatement, Act 381 Combined Brownfield Plan and Second Round Motor City Match Application.

While the building required minimal due care obligations, it did require hundreds of thousands in asbestos abatement and demolition activities, which was reimbursed through a brownfield plan. PM prepared that plan and assisted the developer through the application process and city approval meetings and state of Michigan processes.

Currently the building in the historic Detroit financial district is home to a new ground-floor restaurant and bar, Hanah Detroit, along with a coffee shop called Down Under that is in the basement of the building. Arguably the most riveting tenant at 607 Shelby is one of Detroit’s hidden gems, The Shelby, a speakeasy located in the former basement vault.

The Detroit speakeasy is a hidden gem for those looking for a good night out on the town. The Shelby has recently been named one of the Top Five Best New Restaurants by Detroit Free Press and was an Outstanding Bar Program – Semifinalist, James Beard Foundation.

PM has continued to offer its services by preparing a commercial rehabilitation tax abatement application for approval by the city, county and state which would free the building from local taxes for 10 years. Overall, it was an estimated $800,000 value in incentives.

Down Under Coffee Shop

The Shelby – Detroit’s Premier Speakeasy