Book Cadillac Hotel

The Book-Cadillac Hotel.

Located at the corner of State Street and Washington Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan, the Book-Cadillac Hotel was completed in December 1924 (1)(4) after 17 months of construction and at a cost of $14 million.(2) The hotel was named for Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, a French fur trader who founded Detroit in 1701.(4) The building was designed in the Italian Renaissance by architect Louis Kamper, using New York’s Statler Hotel for influence, and was constructed by the city’s famed Book brothers — J.B. Jr., Herbert and Frank.(3) Upon completion, the Book-Cadillac was the tallest hotel in the world with 33 floors and 1,136 rooms, and was also the tallest building in Detroit.

The hotel contained several numerous, innovative features. The Italian Garden Room featured a two-story glass ceiling, complete with electronic lighting controls that modified the ceiling to resemble a sunny day, a star-lit evening, or a thunderstorm.(2) Also a novelty for its era, a large refrigeration plant cooled all public rooms.

The building was the premier hotel of Detroit for many years, hosting numerous social events and conventions, and rooming presidents, dignitaries and entertainers. The hotel played a role in the 1948 film State of the Union, where Presidential hopeful Grant Matthews readied his speech to Detroit’s business leaders from room 2419.(1)

The hotel, however, declined during the Great Depression of the 1920s and 1930s. New ownership helped restore the vitality of the hotel post-World War II. In 1951, the hotel was sold to the Sheraton Hotel Corporation, who renamed the hotel Sheraton-Cadillac.(4)

The hotel flourished until the 1960s, until much of the city’s middle- and upper-class fled the city after the violent race riots.(4) The city tried to revitalize downtown in the 1970s with the construction of the Renaissance Center, however, that had the unintended effect of drawing businesses away from the west end of downtown.

The hotel later became a Radisson, before closing entirely in 1984. The hotel was liquidated two years later, and subsequently abandoned.(1)

In 2001, the city regained control over the former hotel, but determined that it was too expensive to renovate and listed the property for demolition.(4) When Kwame Kilpatrick became mayor the following year, however, he reversed the decision and ordered the city to find developers for as many abandoned buildings as possible.

Restoration

Historic Hospitality, a subsidiary of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, expressed interest in restoring the hotel, but was unable to arrange financing. In late 2003, the company backed out, but was replaced by the Ferchill Group.(4)(5) The company committed $4 million in equity for the project, plus $8 million for start-up costs. Approximately $24 million came from two of Detroit’s pension boards.

One of the bigger challenges in securing the financing came when Meijer threatened to withdraw its $7.4 million in support, after state politicians eliminated a key tax credit the company had expected to use. Days prior to the lawmakers’ summer recess, the Group successfully lobbied legislators, and then the governor’s office, for special concessions. As a result, Meijer and other corporations were able to keep its tax credit.(4)

The Group also saved millions by placing a conservation easement on the Book-Cadillac, which foreboded the company from building more condominiums on top of the hotel’s existing structure. This allowed the Group to write off the estimated foregone profits as a charitable gift, and pass the tax benefit to other partners. As a result, National City Corporation agreed to invest more than $28 million into the property.(4)

The restored Book-Cadillac features replica trims and moldings that are true to the original.

In 2006, following more than two years of planning, The Ferchill Group of Cleveland, Ohio devised a financial package to redevelop the Book-Cadillac into a hotel and condominium development.(1) The Group assembled $180 million in financing through 22 sources.(3) Construction began in 2007 after a management contract was signed with Starwood Hotels & Resorts to operate the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit.

Constructed was a four-star 455-room Westin Book Cadillac Detroit that included a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor swimming pool and whirlpool, three ballrooms, a four-star restaurant, high-end retail and a $20 million, 500-space parking structure.(3)(5) Two of the ballrooms, the Grand Ballroom and the Italian Garden, were restored to their original specifications. A third, 11,000 sq. ft. ballroom, with seating capacity for 1,000, was constructed on the north side of the hotel. Overall, 39,000 sq. ft. of event and conference space was constructed.

Also completed was 67 upscale condominium units on the upper eight floors.(5)

The building reopened in the fall of 2008 following the $200 million renovation.(1)(3)(4)

Gallery

Links

1. Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel
2. Book-Cadillac Residences

Sources