The Z is open for business.
The Z is a parking garage in downtown Detroit, and it's not just the name that makes it stand out.
The 10-story garage has a 3-D-style facade, interior murals by 27 artists and cashless service: Upon entering and exiting the garage, visitors swipe their credit card, which will be charged accordingly upon exit.
The Z is a production of Dan Gilbert's Bedrock Real Estate Services, which says the retail tenants for the garage's first floor will be announced soon. And when that happens, the stores will be able to send QR codes to visitors’ smart phones for validated parking.
“The Z isn’t just a place to park, it is a unique destination where you’d least expect it in Detroit that people will come from near and far to see, Dan Mullen, Bedrock's vice-president of development, said in a statement.
The Z also has a documentary, above, that screens inside the garage lobbies. The video shows artists at work.
The Z, named for its shape, is located at 1234 Library Street. It zigzags from the corner of Broadway and East Grand River to the corner of Library and Gratiot. It occupies what was previously a surface lot.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, The Z's rates are $3 for every 20 minutes. Motorists entering before 4 p.m. weekdays have a daily maximum of $18. Those who enter after 4 p.m. have a daily maximum of $9. Weekends are $9 daily maximum.
The Z at night: Photo by Sal Rodriguez
Earlier coverage:
Gilbert's Dowtown Parking Garage Gets Covered In Murals, Oct. 11, 2013