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About the Belle Isle Boathouse
Investments in the boathouse since 2014
Overall Belle Isle investments
Investment in historic structures on Belle Isle
Timeline of degradation and assessments
Options for future of boathouse
Decision criteria
Timeline for decision
Photo gallery
The DNR is reviewing options for the deteriorated Belle Isle Boathouse, located on the Detroit River at Belle Isle Park, and has created this project page for those interested in learning more about proposed options and associated costs.
Earlier this fall, Stuart-Pitman Inc.'s proposal was selected for further consideration. A special Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee session was held Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. At the session, David Carleton, principal for Stuart-Pitman, presented a summary of the Boathouse proposal selected for further consideration. More than 100 people were in attendance.
In December 2023, visitors, community members, stakeholders and others were invited to share feedback and questions via an online comment form. A summary of public comments and answers to common questions is available.<
On Feb. 20, 2024, the DNR announced that letters of intent from interested parties who could outline viable proposals for potential rehabilitation would be accepted. After vetting all submissions, three letters of intent were accepted. Those selected applicants were then invited to submit formal proposals.
The Detroit Boat Club, a private club with facilities on Belle Isle since 1891, built the current boathouse (not to be confused with the Detroit Yacht Club) in 1902 using fireproof materials as previous boathouses were lost due to fire. It is one of the oldest concrete structures in the country. However, the building has become susceptible to water damage due to lack of maintenance over the past several decades, with a 15-foot section of a deteriorating porch slab collapsing in early 2022.
In 2015, the Friends of Detroit Rowing entered into a lease with the DNR to continue their rowing programming at the boathouse. The lease acknowledged significant investment and a robust physical assessment would be needed:
To date, little community interest and a very small amount of private investment has been secured to stabilize the facility.
Since the DNR assumed management of Belle Isle in 2014, a total of $604,607 has been invested in the boathouse. Of that:
Private fundraising efforts over the past decade have been unsuccessful in raising a sufficient amount of money to rehabilitate and maintain the building.
Since 2014, there has been very little private funding for Belle Isle overall.
Of the total investment in capital outlay (the funds used to acquire, upgrade or repair property and buildings) on the island, the majority comes from public funds (which includes state funds and federal grants):
The DNR has put a strong focus on preserving public historic facilities on the island, investing more than $52 million into a variety of historic structures over the years. Below are some examples of some of these investments:
Investment - $8 million
Investment - $7.6 million
Investment - $27.5 million
The City of Detroit, Friends of Detroit Rowing and the DNR commissioned several building and site assessments throughout the past 16 years. The two most recent were done in 2019 and again in 2022 (after the building was condemned).
The Friends of Detroit Rowing contracted SmithGroup/HR&A to prepare a physical assessment of the boathouse building and site and to develop a master plan to address the sustainability of the facility. Prior to initiating the study, the boathouse experienced significant flooding from the Detroit River. While this was an unfortunate occurrence it helped to underscore some of the unique challenges confronting the boathouse.
The boathouse suffered a major setback when a 15-foot section of a deteriorating porch slab collapsed due to water damage. That, combined with several other issues (significant deterioration including a caved-in roof, falling exterior stucco, deteriorated steel and concrete structural members and other structural needs) lead the DNR to condemn the building. This prompted a second assessment, done by MacMillan Associates Inc/WTA Architects.
With limited funds available, the DNR faces the difficult decision of investing in a portion of the necessary structural repairs needed without a long-term solution or removing the building and repurposing the space.
$2 million in funding was approved by the Michigan legislature to address the boathouse. This amount would cover the removal of the boathouse. The scope of work required includes the following:
As shown in the assessments from 2019 and 2022, a significant amount of funding would be necessary to rehabilitate the building, including:
Total: $43,900,000
Developed by SmithGroup 2019
When deciding the future of the boathouse, the health, safety and welfare of park visitors and staff must be taken into consideration, as well as fiscal responsibility for managing all park infrastructure needs.
Boathouse repairs represent just one of many proposed projects under consideration for long-term feasibility at Belle Isle Park. Overall, it’s estimated that at least $200 million is needed to address critical repairs island-wide, including the following:
The exterior brick walls have significantly deteriorated due to stucco spalling off and exposing brick material. Several steel lintels bear on masonry where much of the brick has spalled off leaving a reduced support area. Many of these steel lintels are severely rusted. (Source: WTA MacMillan Associates, Inc, Belle Isle Boathouse, September 2022.)
At this northeast corner, much of the brick support columns are severely deteriorated, cracked and spalled. The parapet wall leans outward above the deck level. This wall is susceptible to failure and therefore necessitates a clearance area around the building. (Source: WTA MacMillan Associates, Inc, Belle Isle Boathouse, September 2022.)
In areas where stucco does not exist over the exterior brick, there are areas with a paint finish. Where the paint coating is missing or in poor condition, accelerated deterioration of the brick masonry has occurred. The steel stairs at the north elevation of the building are deteriorated, rusted and in a state of partial collapse. The stairs do not meet the building code for railings and should not be used for egress of the building. (Source: WTA MacMillan Associates, Inc, Belle Isle Boathouse, September 2022.)
The rowing club’s growing fleet has long outgrown the boathouse’s storage capacity. More than half of the boats had to be stored outside, vulnerable to the inclement weather. The FODR have contracted consultants to complete a design for a sufficient storage facility. Construction schedule is pending. (Photo credit, FODR.)
