Detroit's Lafayette Towers will be undergoing a renovation. (Credit: Fox 2 News)
DETROIT (WJBK) -
Lafayette Towers has been around since the early sixties, but now its new owner has plans to recapture it's former glory.
"To see the city coming back and exciting things happening within its city center, it's just phenomenal. It's what I've been waiting on for the last 20, 25 years," said Gregory Jackson.
He is the new owner of Detroit's Lafayette Towers, a nearly 600 unit apartment complex built in the sixties and designed by renowned architect Mies Van Der Rohe. It's just steps from downtown Detroit, a full service grocery store and offers killer views of the city.
Jackson walked me through his plans for what he calls one of Detroit's jewels.
"We've got to put the dress back on Cinderella," he said.
The Prestige Automotive CEO bought the recently foreclosed property last December for nearly $6 million. He's investing another $15 million in what he calls a makeover, revamping everything from the HVAC systems to the units themselves. He's even designing a new fitness center and Internet cafe all to create a community everyone from young professionals to retirees will want to call home.
"My vision is having people sitting around in the lobby with their iPads and whatnot. They're having a coffee," said Jackson. "I see a new Detroit when I see the Lafayette Towers today."
"Detroit is where I grew up. Detroit is home," he added. "To be a part of it and invest in it is just a natural for me. It's what I and all true Detroiters should do if they have an opportunity."
Jackson told me that the renovations should take about 18 months to complete. For more information, you can visit www.lafayette-towers.com.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 2:28 AM EDT2013-05-22 06:28:15 GMT
More than 2,000 people were in attendance to hear Donald Trump speak at Oakland County's Lincoln Day Dinner. Before the event, he told reporters he believes Detroit is "on the right path."
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A small dog was taken from a woman's car on Sunday. Now a woman claims she wasn't trying to steal the dog. She was trying to save its life because it was locked in a car on a hot day.
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Innuendo, sexual advances and an overnight stay in Lansing -- a politician's former aide claims he had to endure a nightmare on the job. Now a sexual harassment lawsuit has been filed against Rep. Brian Banks.
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Children were literally screaming for peace. Elementary school students at Cesar Chavez Academy in southwest Detroit spoke out for themselves -- stop bullying and stop the violence.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:46 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:46:26 GMT
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:44 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:44:19 GMT
Find out how you can help the victims of Monday's deadly tornado that ripped through the Oklahoma City suburbs, killing two dozen and flattening neighborhoods, schools and businesses.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:20:38 GMT
Neighbors said he threatened them with a shotgun, then opened fire wounding two people. Now one of the victims has said he's angry the man accused of pulling the trigger is already out of jail.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:39 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:39:42 GMT
The Republicans in Lansing are pushing a new bill that would base teacher salaries on student performance. But will merit pay really help kids get a better education? Some say the answer is no.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:07 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:07:10 GMT
13 dogs were rescued from a house on Ewers in southwest Detroit. The three most emaciated dogs were taken to the VCA in St. Clair Shores. They are being held in isolation for at least a week.
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:57 PM EDT2013-05-23 00:57:50 GMT
Prosecutors have now filed charges against Myron Williams, a next door neighbor to a woman found strangled in Grosse Pointe Park, but the counts do not include murder.
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Detroit's Lafayette Towers will be undergoing a renovation. (Credit: Fox 2 News)
