Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans Chairman Dan Gilbert (Credit: WJBK | myFOXDetroit.com)
DETROIT (WJBK) -
"I definitely think we're early in the game," Dan Gilbert said Wednesday.
The chairman of Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans is moving yet another one of his companies to downtown Detroit. This time it's Title Source. They're moving 1,500 employees into the First National Building, a building Rock Ventures bought last summer.
Altogether, Gilbert's companies have moved more than 6,500 workers into downtown Detroit, and they're excited to be there.
"Detroit sells itself. We don't even have to get real fancy on selling. Once they're here, it sells itself," he said.
Title Source moved in just a few days ago, and they're already putting their own stamp on the building with cool workspaces full of funky colors and concepts sparking creativity and productivity.
Bruce Schwartz helps transform old office buildings like First National into places where people will want to work and play.
"We want to make each project almost a destination and each one having its own specific type of feel to it," he said. "[There] is going to be an incredible coffee shop that's coming out of New York. We're going to have restaurants, cafes, and we're going to light this place up with Wi-Fi, and people will come here, meet me at First National, so that they can have meetings and do some work and have their coffee and maybe even a drink and dinner."
How do you draw people and businesses into a city full of uncertainty and what some might call political chaos. Gilbert said it's a factor, but what some might call barriers really may be opportunities.
"Anything good or great that's built is messy. It's a messy environment," he explained. "We're fixing a city that's been financially negligent for years, so it's messy, but once you get on the other side of it, I think it will be a lot better."
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."
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."
Monday, May 20 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:08:56 GMT
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.
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.
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:30 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:30:30 GMT
The incident forcing the partial evacuation of Detroit Metropolitan Airport for hours one day last month was triggered by law enforcement officials' belief that they'd found an improvised explosive device in luggage.
The incident forcing the partial evacuation of Detroit Metropolitan Airport for hours one day last month was triggered by law enforcement officials' belief that they'd found an improvised explosive device in luggage.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:28 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:28:22 GMT
One week after appearing via satellite on the American Idol season finale the Queen of Soul has rescheduled next month's planned performance at the DTE Energy Music Theatre.
One week after appearing via satellite on the American Idol season finale the Queen of Soul has rescheduled next month's planned performance at the DTE Energy Music Theatre.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:48 AM EDT2013-05-23 15:48:50 GMT
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is dropping his longtime lawyer. Kilpatrick told a judge Thursday that his relationship with James Thomas deteriorated long before his conviction.
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is dropping his longtime lawyer. Kilpatrick told a judge Thursday that his relationship with James Thomas deteriorated long before his conviction two months ago on corruption charges.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:59 AM EDT2013-05-23 14:59:53 GMT
Bugs are important to our environment and can even tell us about our water quality. That's why dozens on local students have been taking part in bug hunts.
Bugs are important to our environment and can even tell us about our water quality. That's why dozens on local students have been taking part in bug hunts.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:58 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:58:41 GMT
New U.S. Census Bureau estimates say Detroit's population remained just above 700,000 last year. The figures show Detroit lost residents between 2011 and 2012, but the decline was at a slower pace than in previous years.
New U.S. Census Bureau estimates say Detroit's population remained just above 700,000 last year. The figures show Detroit lost residents between 2011 and 2012, but the decline was at a slower pace than in previous years.
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