The resurgent Harmonie Park area of Detroit is getting a new tenant, the $26 million Hilton Garden Inn.

The first hotel to be built in the City of Detroit since 1987, the 10-story hotel will feature 198 guest rooms and parking for 156. The hotel, framed nearly entirely in pre-cast concrete, was topped out by iron workers on June 2

"People from all over the country can see the rebirth of the City of Detroit," said Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. "And the building trades and Turner Construction are putting their skills to work to make it happen."

With a dismal nationwide market for new hotel room construction, arranging financing for this project proved difficult - and the permit process with the City of Detroit was said to be laborious.

The project came together with a $14 million loan from Union Labor Life's Real Estate Investment Banking Group. The group invests union pension dollars into promising real estate opportunities, then assures the use of 100 percent union labor on the project.

"Even in the best of times, getting hotel financing hasn't been easy," said Union Labor Life's Curt Coleman. "It's been a long and arduous process. This is our first major investment in downtown Detroit, and I look forward to the opening."

Located near Ford Field and Comerica Park, and within walking distance of Greektown, The Hilton Garden Inn is expected to offer mid-priced rooms catering to business travelers during the week and to tourists on weekends.

A small 1,200-lb. wedge-shaped pre-cast section served as the final piece for the topping out ceremony. "Everything is fitting together real smoothly," said steward Dale Frederick of Iron Workers Local 25 and Assemblers Inc.

A RENDERING of the new hotel.