Detroit is not slowing down. The city that stunned skeptics with its decade-long comeback just keeps stacking cranes on the skyline, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most consequential years for new development in modern Detroit history.
We are talking billions of dollars in active construction. New headquarters. New hotels. New housing. A soccer stadium. An international bridge. A giant immersive sports dome. And education and health care facilities that will serve Metro Detroit families for generations.
Here is every major Detroit development project to know about right now, where things stand as of February 2026, and what all this construction means for the people who live and work in Metro Detroit.
Which Detroit Development Projects Already Opened in Early 2026?
General Motors officially moved into its new global headquarters at Hudson's Detroit in January 2026, and an Albert Kahn-designed building at 1133 Griswold in Capitol Park began renting 25 new apartments the same month.
The biggest headline out of the gate in 2026 was General Motors planting its flag back on Woodward Avenue. GM began moving employees into its new global headquarters at the Hudson's Detroit development on January 12, completing a historic return to the street where the automaker first set up shop in 1911.
GM's new space spans roughly 200,000 square feet across four floors of the 12-story building at 1240 Woodward. The design leans into midcentury modern influences inspired by architect Eero Saarinen's work at the GM Technical Center in Warren. Other tenants in the building include JPMorgan Chase, Accenture, and Ven Johnson Law, along with retailers like Alo Yoga and western wear brand Tecovas.
Meanwhile, over in Capitol Park, the building at 1133 Griswold near Prime + Proper finished its conversion from a seven-story former bank building into an 11-story residential property. Developer Richard Karp of RKP Group added four new floors to the original Albert Kahn-designed structure, creating 25 apartments with ground-floor space reserved for future food and beverage tenants. The building dates to the early 1920s and originally housed the United Savings Bank of Detroit.
For anyone keeping score on Detroit's downtown residential pipeline, these units are part of a steady drumbeat of new housing options coming online in the city core.
Cosm, Facebook
What Major Detroit Projects Open Later in 2026?
The most anticipated openings later in 2026 include Cosm Detroit (an immersive entertainment dome at Cadillac Square), the Monroe Streetscape transformation in Greektown, the Residences at 150 Bagley, and The Belle in Paradise Valley's emerging entertainment district.
Cosm Detroit (Fall 2026)
This one is going to turn heads nationally. Cosm Detroit is a 70,000-square-foot immersive entertainment venue rising next to Campus Martius on Cadillac Square. The centerpiece is an 87-foot-diameter LED dome with ultra-high-definition screens designed to make you feel like you are sitting courtside at a Pistons game or on the 50-yard line for a Lions playoff battle.
Detroit will be only the fourth city in the country with a Cosm location, joining Los Angeles, Dallas, and a future Atlanta venue. Total planned capacity is around 1,100 people, and the programming will extend well beyond sports to include concerts, art exhibitions, Cirque du Soleil performances, and more.
Cosm is the anchor of Dan Gilbert's Bedrock development at Cadillac Square, which will eventually include a market hall with dining options, retail, and residential units in a second phase. Construction has been underway since spring 2025, and a fall 2026 opening is the target.
If you want to understand Cosm in more depth, The Perna Team covered the groundbreaking and what to expect from the venue when construction kicked off.
Monroe Streetscape Project (Fall 2026)
Greektown's main street is getting a $20 million facelift. The Monroe Streetscape Project, led by the Greektown Neighborhood Partnership, is transforming Monroe Street into a safer, more vibrant pedestrian corridor. Think brick-paved streets, expanded outdoor restaurant seating, and new greenery throughout the historic district. Construction began in March 2025, and completion is expected by fall 2026.
The Belle (2026)
Formerly known as Harvard Square Centre, The Belle is a 51,000-square-foot residential property in Paradise Valley's emerging entertainment district. The project will deliver 42 residential units along with ground-floor retail and dining. Completion is scheduled for sometime in 2026.
Residences at 150 Bagley (Early 2026)
This has been a project to watch. The long-vacant 18-story United Artists Theater office tower at 150 Bagley is being converted into 148 mixed-income apartments with ground-floor retail and restaurant space. The project started in spring 2022 but hit a wall about a year ago when rising costs and construction change orders stalled progress.
The development's website and social media now indicate an early 2026 opening. The building dates to 1928 and was designed by architect C. Howard Crane. Developers Richard Hosey and Emmett Moten Jr. are leading the redevelopment.
What About the Gordie Howe International Bridge?
The Gordie Howe International Bridge between Southwest Detroit and Windsor is 98% complete as of early 2026 and was expected to open in early 2026, but the timeline remains uncertain due to ongoing federal and international discussions.
The $5.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in North American history. The 1.6-mile cable-stayed span features six lanes of traffic and a dedicated multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, making it the first non-special-event legal pedestrian crossing of the Detroit River.
The bridge connects I-75 in Southwest Detroit to Highway 401 in Windsor, Ontario. Construction began in 2018, and the project was originally slated for a 2024 opening before pandemic-related complications pushed the timeline to 2025 and then to early 2026.
As of February 2026, the opening timeline remains in flux due to ongoing federal and international negotiations. Toll rates have not been announced. When it does open, the bridge is expected to handle an estimated 6,000 daily commuters from Ontario to Detroit and significantly ease commercial truck congestion along North America's busiest land border corridor.
Visit Detroit, Facebook
What New Hotels Are Being Built in Detroit?
Detroit has four major hotel projects in the pipeline: the 600-room JW Marriott on the riverfront (2027), the 180-room NoMad Hotel at Michigan Central Station (2027), the Detroit EDITION Hotel at Hudson's Detroit (2027), and the Little Caesars Arena Hotel (2028). Combined, these projects add more than 1,200 new hotel rooms to the city.
Detroit's hospitality pipeline is the most aggressive it has been in decades, and these projects are targeting a tier of luxury the city has never had before.
JW Marriott Detroit Water Square (2027)
Rising on the former Joe Louis Arena site along the downtown riverfront, this 25-story, 600-room luxury hotel will be the biggest new hospitality project in the city. The nearly $400 million development by Detroit-based Sterling Group sits next to Huntington Place convention center. The hotel will include 50,000 square feet of meeting space and an Andiamo Italian Chophouse on the ground floor. Opening is targeted for January 2027.
The Perna Team has been tracking the entire Water Square development as it transforms one of downtown's most iconic sites.
NoMad Hotel at Michigan Central Station (2027)
The NoMad Hotel will occupy the top five floors of the renovated Michigan Central Station in Corktown. This will be the first U.S. location for Hilton's luxury lifestyle brand, featuring approximately 180 rooms with a restaurant, bar, luxury fitness amenities, and meeting spaces. A first-half-of-2027 opening is the goal.
The Detroit EDITION Hotel and Residences at Hudson's (2027)
The 45-story Hudson's Detroit tower will house the Detroit EDITION Hotel, downtown's first five-star hospitality property. The 227-room hotel will include four food and beverage outlets. The attached Residences will offer 97 luxury condos sharing hotel amenities, including housekeeping and fitness center access.
For the full backstory on this transformative project, check out The Perna Team's deep dive on the Hudson's Site development.
District Detroit Hotels (2028 and Beyond)
Two additional hotel projects are advancing in the District Detroit entertainment zone. The Little Caesars Arena Hotel will be a 14-story, 291-room property adjacent to the arena, with a projected 2028 completion. The Fox Theatre Hotel will convert 10 stories of office space above the Fox Theatre into 177 guest rooms, though no official opening date has been announced.
Brush Watson, Facebook
What's Happening with Detroit's New Housing and Neighborhood Development?
Several residential projects are adding hundreds of new units to Detroit's housing stock, including the 184-unit Brush Watson Midblock Building in Brush Park (Q1 2027), a 313-unit residential tower next to the University of Michigan Center for Innovation (fall 2028), and The Belle's 42 units in Paradise Valley (2026).
Brush + Watson Midblock Building (Q1 2027)
Brush Park, one of Detroit's fastest-growing neighborhoods since the late 2010s, keeps expanding. The 10-story, 184-unit Brush Watson Midblock Building is the third phase of a mixed-income development by American Community Developers. The building sits between two earlier phases and will offer a mix of affordable and market-rate apartments. Construction continues through 2026 with an expected Q1 2027 opening.
Second Avenue Extension (Summer 2026)
Connecting Congress Street to Second Avenue, this $103.9 million project will create a new pedestrian-friendly corridor linking the future JW Marriott Detroit Water Square to the riverfront. Funded by the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, the extension accommodates both vehicular and pedestrian traffic with walkability as the design priority.
UMCI Residential Tower (Fall 2028)
A 13-floor, 313-unit residential tower at 2205 Cass will house students and faculty for the nearby University of Michigan Center for Innovation. Developed by New York-based Related Companies and Olympia Development of Michigan, it will be the first of 10 projects in the $1.5 billion District Detroit megadevelopment. Groundbreaking is expected in March 2026.
How Are Education and Health Care Investments Shaping Detroit's Future?
Three major education and health care projects totaling hundreds of millions of dollars are under construction or breaking ground in 2026, including the $250 million University of Michigan Center for Innovation, the Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University Research Center, and the Gratiot Life Science Innovation Building.
University of Michigan Center for Innovation (2027)
The $250 million UMCI is a six-story, 200,000-square-foot graduate campus being built in the District Detroit area. Designed to serve 500 to 1,000 students, the center will offer programming focused on robotics, manufacturing, and technological advancements. The top three floors house graduate-level programs while the first three provide community education and training. Construction is on pace for the 2027-28 school year.
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences Research Center (2027)
This seven-story, 335,000-square-foot research facility in Midtown is a joint initiative between Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University. It will be home to the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute, the first brick-and-mortar center dedicated to the genetic condition. Completion is slated for 2027.
Gratiot Life Science Innovation Building (2027)
Bedrock's life sciences building at 1326 St. Antoine on the former Wayne County jail site has been downsized from the original five-story plan to two stories and 90,000 square feet after a large tenant pulled out. The ground floor will house an outpost of Grand Rapids-based BAMF Health, a company specializing in cancer and neurodegenerative disease diagnostics. A 2026 groundbreaking is anticipated.
Henry Ford Health, Facebook
Henry Ford Hospital Expansion (2029)
Looking further out, the "Destination: Grand" expansion to Henry Ford Hospital will add 1.2 million square feet to the campus, including a 20-story tower with a three-floor rehabilitation hospital, 75,000 square feet of emergency room space, and 28 new operating rooms. Completion is planned for 2029.
What's Also Breaking Ground: The Corktown Soccer Stadium
Detroit City FC's $198 million, 15,000-seat AlumniFi Field in Corktown began demolition of the former Southwest Detroit Hospital in December 2025, with stadium construction targeting a spring 2026 start and a 2027 opening for the USL season.
Professional soccer is putting down permanent roots in Detroit. Detroit City FC is building its forever home on the former Southwest Detroit Hospital site at 2401 20th Street off Michigan Avenue in Corktown. The $198 million development includes the 15,000-seat stadium along with 76 new apartments, a 421-space parking deck, and 16,000 square feet of commercial space.
Club officials are targeting readiness for the 2027 USL season, which typically begins in March. The team currently plays at the much smaller Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck. For a broader look at everything happening in the neighborhood, The Perna Team published a comprehensive Corktown development guide covering all 2025-2027 projects.
What Does All This Development Mean for Detroit Real Estate?
Every single one of these projects does something tangible for the people who already live and invest in Metro Detroit. New hotels bring conventions, tourism dollars, and jobs. New housing adds options for young professionals and families who want to live in the urban core. New entertainment and dining create the kind of walkable, vibrant neighborhood fabric that drives long-term property value.
When General Motors moves its global headquarters to Woodward Avenue, that is not just a corporate relocation. That is a signal to every national employer, developer, and investor that downtown Detroit is a legitimate place to build a future. When the University of Michigan drops $250 million on a graduate campus, that creates a permanent talent pipeline.
For homeowners across Metro Detroit, this development wave has a ripple effect. Property values in neighborhoods connected to these projects, from Corktown and Brush Park to Midtown and the riverfront, have already been climbing. And the infrastructure improvements (the Gordie Howe Bridge, Second Avenue Extension, Michigan Central multimodal hub, Monroe Streetscape) make it easier for people in the suburbs to access everything downtown has to offer.
Whether you are thinking about buying, selling, or just watching the city you love continue its remarkable run, 2026 is a year worth paying attention to.
Curious how these developments might affect your home's value or your next move? The Perna Team is always happy to talk Metro Detroit real estate. Get a current home valuation or reach out directly at (248) 886-4450 for a no-pressure conversation about your neighborhood.
Key Takeaways
- General Motors officially moved into its new global headquarters at Hudson's Detroit on Woodward Avenue in January 2026, anchoring a $1.5 billion mixed-use development.
- Cosm Detroit, a 70,000-square-foot immersive sports and entertainment dome at Cadillac Square, is on track for a fall 2026 opening and will be only the fourth Cosm location in the country.
- Detroit's hotel pipeline is adding more than 1,200 new rooms across four major luxury projects, including the 600-room JW Marriott on the riverfront and the city's first five-star hotel at Hudson's Detroit.
- The Gordie Howe International Bridge is 98% complete, though its opening timeline remains uncertain as of February 2026 due to ongoing federal and international discussions.
- Detroit City FC's $198 million AlumniFi Field in Corktown is targeting a 2027 opening, adding professional soccer, housing, and commercial space to one of the city's fastest-evolving neighborhoods.
- Education and health care investments totaling hundreds of millions are building long-term infrastructure, including the $250 million University of Michigan Center for Innovation and the Henry Ford Health/MSU Research Center.
- More than 700 new residential units are in the pipeline across projects like Brush Watson Midblock, The Belle, Residences at 150 Bagley, and the UMCI residential tower.
Frequently Asked Questions
What major Detroit construction projects are happening in 2026?
Detroit has more than a dozen major projects either opening or under active construction in 2026, including GM's new headquarters at Hudson's Detroit, Cosm Detroit at Cadillac Square, the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the JW Marriott Water Square hotel, and the University of Michigan Center for Innovation. Combined investment across all active projects exceeds several billion dollars.
When does Cosm Detroit open?
Cosm Detroit is expected to open in fall 2026. The 70,000-square-foot immersive entertainment venue is being built next to Campus Martius on Cadillac Square and will feature an 87-foot-diameter LED dome for live sports viewing, concerts, and other events. Detroit will be only the fourth city in the U.S. with a Cosm location.
Where is General Motors' new headquarters in Detroit?
General Motors relocated its global headquarters to the Hudson's Detroit development at 1240 Woodward Avenue in January 2026. The automaker occupies roughly 200,000 square feet across four floors of the 12-story building, returning to Woodward Avenue where GM first established its Detroit headquarters in 1911.
Is the Gordie Howe Bridge open yet?
As of February 2026, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is not yet open. The $5.7 billion project is 98% complete, but the opening timeline remains uncertain due to ongoing federal and international discussions. When it opens, it will feature six lanes of traffic and a multi-use pedestrian and cycling path connecting I-75 in Detroit to Highway 401 in Windsor.
What new hotels are being built in Detroit?
Detroit has four major hotel projects in the pipeline: the 600-room JW Marriott Water Square on the riverfront (2027), the 180-room NoMad Hotel at Michigan Central Station (2027), the 227-room Detroit EDITION Hotel at Hudson's Detroit (2027), and the 291-room Little Caesars Arena Hotel (2028). These projects will add more than 1,200 rooms and include Detroit's first five-star hotel.
What is being built at the old Joe Louis Arena site in Detroit?
The former Joe Louis Arena site on the downtown riverfront is being transformed into Water Square, a mixed-use district. A 25-story JW Marriott hotel with 600 rooms is under construction and expected to open in 2027. The Residences at Water Square, a 496-unit luxury apartment tower, has already opened.
When does the Detroit City FC soccer stadium open?
Detroit City FC's new AlumniFi Field in Corktown is targeting a 2027 opening in time for the USL season. The $198 million, 15,000-seat stadium is being built on the former Southwest Detroit Hospital site and will include apartments, a parking structure, and commercial space.
What is the University of Michigan building in Detroit?
The University of Michigan Center for Innovation (UMCI) is a $250 million, 200,000-square-foot graduate campus under construction in the District Detroit area. The six-story facility will focus on robotics, manufacturing, and technology programs for 500 to 1,000 students. A 313-unit residential tower for students and faculty will break ground nearby in 2026.
How many new apartments are being built in downtown Detroit?
Several hundred new residential units are in the pipeline for 2026 and 2027 in downtown Detroit and adjacent neighborhoods. Major projects include the 184-unit Brush Watson Midblock Building in Brush Park, 148 units at 150 Bagley, 42 units at The Belle, 25 apartments at 1133 Griswold, and the 313-unit UMCI residential tower.
What is happening with the Hudson's Detroit development?
Hudson's Detroit is a $1.5 billion mixed-use development at the former J.L. Hudson Department Store site on Woodward Avenue. The 12-story office building opened in late 2025 with GM as its anchor tenant. The 45-story tower, which will house the Detroit EDITION Hotel (227 rooms), 97 luxury condos, retail, and dining, is expected to open in 2027.
Is Detroit's Greektown getting renovated?
Yes. The $20 million Monroe Streetscape Project is transforming Greektown's main thoroughfare into a safer, more pedestrian-friendly corridor. The project includes brick-paved streets, expanded outdoor restaurant seating, and new greenery. Construction began in March 2025 and is expected to be completed by fall 2026.
What does Detroit development mean for Metro Detroit home values?
Major development activity in Detroit's urban core has historically driven property value increases in connected neighborhoods like Corktown, Brush Park, Midtown, and the riverfront. Infrastructure improvements such as the Gordie Howe Bridge, Second Avenue Extension, and Michigan Central multimodal facility also strengthen connections between suburbs and downtown, extending the positive impact across Metro Detroit.
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