Downtown Royal Oak Hotel Gets Face Lift

Hotel Madrid block

DDA directors approved a $30,000 grant for exterior improvements to the Hotel Madrid block.

Dan Dubensky, who purchased the Hotel Madrid in April, detailed his vision for renovating the 24-room downtown hotel, which many people are unaware exists on the second floor of the 513 - 525 S. Washington block.

"We've created a nicer space up there," said Dubensky.

To date, seven of the 24 rooms have been "cleaned up" and the rates have been increased quite a bit, Dubensky said.

"The original plan is to make it into a nice boutique hotel, like something you might find if you traveled to Chicago or New York...It's a smaller, more intimate type space," Dubensky said, adding it's going to cost a lot of money to revamp it.

The Hotel Motel Occupancy Limitation Ordinance the City Commission passed on Monday will force the renovations to move quicker, Dubensky said. The new ordinance calls for hotels and motels that want to permit stays longer than 30 days to adhere to Michigan Building Code Group R-2 standards involving fire alarms, fire suppression equipment and electrical systems.

Dubensky indicated he's considering designating some rooms at the Hotel Madrid as Group R-2 to permit guests to stay longer than 30 days. He estimates 50 percent of his current patrons are long-term guests.

"I think this will be a viable project. It will be something great for downtown, but then again, it's going to take some time," Dubensky said.

The plan is to focus on business people during the week. "The weekends will sell itself," he said.

Exterior improvements to the block include new awnings, architectural exterior lighting, masonry repair work, metal siding, signage and restoring the corner at Washington and Sixth Street to its original architecture.

Dubensky submitted an estimated project budget of $198,190. 

Rasor Law Firm

Directors also approved a $16,700 grant for exterior improvements to the Rasor Law Firm. 

City Commissioner Jim Rasor, who owns the building, submitted estimates totaling $71,451 for items that include limestone work, balustrades, railings, window wells, architectural exterior lighting and modifying the building's entrance to match the original design of the building.

The historic Italianate building, which was once owned by Detroit Edison, was built in 1924.
 

Up Front Downtown

The facade program, which is called Up Front Downtown, initially had $10,000 in funds budgeted for grants for the fiscal year 2013-2104. Directors bumped the dollar amount up to $110,000 in October, voting to transfer $100,000 from the DDA's contingency fund.

The reimbursable grant funds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to downtown businesses considering renovations of exterior items, such as windows, doors, facade remodels, awnings and signage. Funds are not to exceed one third of total project cost and are capped at $30,000.

In October, the DDA awarded a $30,000 grant to 215 S. Center St. for exterior improvements.

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• DDA's Facade Improvement Program Awards Grant to Downtown Business