The much-ballyhooed “wonderful development” we’ve been hearing about — a new/expanded Pere Marquette hotel — has been revealed to the public, complete with pictures, in today’s paper:

Here are the specs:

• 14-stories
• $102 million project
• Developed by EM Properties
• $39.3 million of public financing “that would be financed through bonds and repaid through new revenues the project would generate” over 23 years; represents approx. 40% of total project cost
• Full-service hotel
• 489 rooms
• Additional meeting, convention and banquet space
• Under Marriott Hotel flag
• 500-vehicle parking deck
• Sky-bridge connects hotel to Civic Center

This project is, of course, a done deal. It’s been hammered out in the back room for weeks if not months and more than enough council members are on board now. So it’s sure to pass at the Dec. 15 meeting.

My thoughts: It’s predominantly glass and steel, which has all the charm and appeal of GEM Terrace and One Technology Plaza. The front of it is concave for no apparent reason. But the rest of it does front the street, which is good. And the parking garage includes street-level retail, which is great. On the other hand, there is a completely unnecessary sky-bridge which will mar Fulton Street for generations. This design is light years ahead of the proposed riverfront museum (thank goodness for that!), but I still think it could have been better, especially in building materials.