River House sells ‘copter’s-eye view

Selling the highrise view soon-to-be offered at River House Condominiums has been a challenge for the project's sales consultants. But they’ve come up with a solution: a remote-piloted mini helicopter equipped with a Canon 300D digital SLR camera.

At just under 400 vertical feet, the $80 million River House at Bridgewater Place is soon to be Michigan’s tallest residential structure, with unobstructed views up and down the Grand River. But because the structure has barely broken ground, those views can only be imagined.

Until now.

Enter Prairie Sky Cam, from Pana, Illinois. Their camera-bedecked 5-ft. 2-in.-long helicopter “copped” the views from all 34 floors in every direction, giving buyers a sneak peek at what they can expect to see out their windows every day.

“The sky pics have really helped us show that the view is beautiful, and that Bridgewater Place does not block the view, and neither does the parking garage,” said Rachel Leiter, sales consultant for River House.

The north side of the tower features condos from the 6^th floor, up; on the south, the condos start on the 3^rd floor. Glass walls and private balconies with clear glass railings ensure that every condo has a view.

Construction is moving along with 50 of the 57 caissons set. Workers started the grade beams last week. Foundations and footings are next, and in January “we go vertical,” Leiter said.

Did you know?

• In February, a 460-ft. tower crane, the tallest in the city, rolls into town to begin work.
• 4.5 million pounds of concrete will be used for the base of the building.
• The completed building will contain 280 miles of electrical wire.

Last week, lights were installed at the construction site so the concrete workers can begin evening shifts. Working 24/6, estimates predict they’ll be pouring concrete for about a year.

The developer for the project is Robert Grooters, the architect is Brian Winkelmann of DTS+ Winkelmann, and construction is by Wolverine Construction.

“They’re all local,” said Leiter. “The subcontractors and everybody.”

Source: Rachel Leiter, River House Condominiums

Photograph courtesy of River House