Summer 2020
DBusiness Magazine: 30 in Their Thirties
September 15th, 2020
The 2020 Class of 30 in Their Thirties dug deep for an extra measure of fortitude to meet the outbreak of COVID-19 and, along the way, developed new products and services, sought out cutting- edge business models, and pivoted into uncharted waters. Congratulations to The Platform’s Andrew Sherman on being selected this year.
Detroit Neighborhood Named Among Best Areas for U.S. Housing Developers
September 3rd, 2020
The North End/New Center part of Detroit was named an area with some of the most attractive opportunities in the U.S. for housing developers to take advantage of federal reinvestment tax benefits. The largest and most active developer in the New Center area is Detroit-based The Platform, led by Peter Cummings. The company owns and is renovating the Fisher Building, and late last year opened The Boulevard, a six-story, 356,000-square-foot, mixed-use development on the northwest corner of Third Avenue and West Grand Boulevard. Other projects are in the works across the city, as well.
Open ArticleSydney G. James Gifts Detroit with Another Gem
August 28th, 2020
Detroit-based artist Sydney G. James will begin work on a new mural on the Chroma building, a developing creative hub in the Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, on Sept. 2. “It plays homage to Detroit, it plays homage to Black women and it plays homage to the North End – all in one image of a woman,” says James. This new mural, named The Girl with the D Earring, is a modern twist on the renowned portrait Girl with a Pearl Earring by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.
Open Article‘How do I make this Black?’ Detroit muralist reimagines iconic portrait, space
August 26th, 2020
Milwaukee Junction is getting a new nine-story mural by Detroit artist Sydney G. James, who is reimagining the renowned Dutch painting “Girl With a Pearl Earring.” Now, she will be a Detroit girl with a pink earring. The Johannes Vermeer painting is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world, which is why James said, “we are going to put it in Detroit.”
Open ArticleDetroit Artist Sydney James Commissioned For Chroma Development Mural
August 26th, 2020
The Platform, a Detroit-based real estate developer, has announced that work began today on a new mural on its nearly completed Chroma development in Milwaukee Junction, located in the heart of the Greater New Center area. “The Girl with the D Earring” by Detroit artist Sydney G. James will adorn the western wall of the Chroma building, located at 2937 E. Grand Blvd. The art is a modern Detroit take on Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl With a Pearl Earring,” deemed the most beautiful painting in the Netherlands.
Open ArticleSpring 2020
How a Detroit Landmark Built a Space for Creative, Minority-Owned Businesses
June 4th, 2020
The Fisher Building is known as “Detroit’s largest art object.” The office skyscraper, which opened in 1928, boasts a grand lobby decked out with marble, mosaics, painted ceilings and ornate detailing in brass and bronze. Real estate developer The Platform purchased the landmark in 2015, spending over $10 million in rehabilitation and renovation. But the company was stuck on what to do with the fourth floor, broken into small offices by design for doctors and dentists.
Open ArticleReal Estate Insider: Two Detroit developments secure state financing
May 19th, 2020
The Woodward at Midtown is proposed by Detroit-based Queen Lillian II LLC, which consists of Chris Jackson, a minority owner and former staffer to former Detroit City Council president Gil Hill, and James Jenkins, who is majority owner of the company and is president and CEO of Detroit-based Jenkins Construction Inc. Detroit-based The Platform LLC was brought in as a development partner in 2018. “This development has been a labor of love […],” Jackson said in a statement. “We know that we have found the right team, and especially the right partners, to bring Detroiters a development they can be proud of.”
Open Article10 Of The Most Iconic Buildings Across The US
May 8th, 2020
There is no denying that the US is home to some of the most fascinating architectural wonders in the world. There are many buildings here that are well known all over the world, be it skyscrapers, schoolhouses, museums or libraries. Many of these earned an iconic status thanks to them being immediately recognizable. These buildings tell fascinating tales about the cities they are in, about their past, and evoke many nostalgic memories in people.
Open ArticleHow a Detroit developer is using innovative leasing to support the city’s creative economy
April 27th, 2020
The 4th Floor of the Fisher Building—a National Historic Landmark in Detroit’s New Center neighborhood—provides an excellent case study. In 2015, mission-based private real estate developer The Platform acquired the building for restoration and modernization, and soon made supporting the city’s creative community a key aspect of its inclusive design strategy.
Open Article