thanks for the update's ya'll

No, not really. If condos are a possibility they'd be built as an extension of the casino, which is built to be a "city within a city." The condos would use the amenities of the casino just like some of the condo projects attached to casinos in Vegas. You could literally build these type of developments in the worst of neighborhoods and make them work, so it could be sooner rather than later. I don't expect them to expand anytime soon, though, as it was hard enough just to get them to build their hotel, which the city made them do nearly kicking and screaming.

Lmich I wasnt implying with vacant land. With the tower being at one end im assuming the layout of the rest of the building is built in such a way that towers or other things could be added to those portions. Thats what I was trying to get at.

Me too.

That picture of the Motor City Casino doesn't do it justice in terms of its width. It's plenty wide enough for two side of rooms connected by a middle hallway. They are filling in the floors that will be connected by those huge elevator shaft beams at each end.

Manage,

Any news on the Woodward Block and/or the Rock Financial situation?

The $65 million FBI HQ, Rock/Quicken HQ, Lindell AC, PF Chang's, among others are still looking and in some cases, putting the proposals through their respective approval processes right now. Imagine if these entities join a renovated Book-Cadillac, three casino hotels, a renovated Fort-Shelby, two riverfront loft buildings, the opening of the Riverwalk to Belle Isle all completed in 2008? 2008 is shaping up to be the biggest year in the city's rebirth yet.

I hope so! And I hope I am still here to witness it and even be a part of it. :)

I'm actually liking the glass on MGM (if this is how it will look). Even though you can detect a faint gold, it is overdone by a normal-looking glass.

Friday, July 28

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/BayCityMidland/2006_0728Detroit07_26-28_060051.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/BayCityMidland/2006_0728Detroit07_26-28_060052.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/BayCityMidland/2006_0728Detroit07_26-28_060053.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/BayCityMidland/2006_0728Detroit07_26-28_060054.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/BayCityMidland/2006_0728Detroit07_26-28_060063.jpg

I like the "bowled out" design of the Motor City Casino.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/BayCityMidland/2006_0728Detroit07_26-28_060056.jpg

This complex is going up amazingly fast!
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/BayCityMidland/2006_0728Detroit07_26-28_060064.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/BayCityMidland/2006_0728Detroit07_26-28_060067.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/BayCityMidland/2006_0728Detroit07_26-28_060069.jpg

Greektown Casino is still just a pile of rubble.

AWESOME photos, Michi! Especially this one:

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/BayCityMidland/2006_0728Detroit07_26-28_060063.jpg

That post really could have been deserving of its own thread.

The 8th picture is awesome, but it looks so weird that it is that tall so far out. But I like it that way. Maybe somehow this will spur some more development in the area. I like that the tower is so close to the street though.

From: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060731/BIZ/607310360/1001
_________
Monday, July 31, 2006
HOTELOPOLY
As casino hotels go up, Detroit wonders who will win the game of
Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News

http://vh10924.moc.gbahn.net/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C3&Date=20060731&Category=BIZ&ArtNo=607310360&Ref=V4&Profile=1001Q=100&MaxW=250

http://vh10924.moc.gbahn.net/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C3&Date=20060731&Category=BIZ&ArtNo=607310360&Ref=V2&Profile=1001Q=100&MaxW=500
Downtown Detroit, a longtime also-ran in the hotel and convention arena, is poised to become a more influential player with the addition of glitzy new casino hotels and restored architectural gems.
About 1,850 new hotel rooms are expected to be ready for overnight visitors by 2008, an increase of 56 percent from current levels. The new construction could affect hotel business from Windsor to Cleveland, according to industry experts.
Area convention officials already are hustling to double the number of citywide conventions in Detroit that could bring in tens of thousands of new visitors each year.
"This opens the doors for us," said Michael O'Callaghan, chief operating officer and executive vice president for the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is responsible for drumming up convention business for Detroit and surrounding suburbs.
"We will have the hotel space to accommodate the existing convention space and attract four more citywide conventions of 10,000 to 15,000. Everyone will be able to benefit."
That would be a dramatic turn of events for a city where nearly half of the hotel rooms sit empty for much of the year and whose marquee event, the North American International Auto Show, can't grow because local politicians can't agree on how to expand Cobo Center.
The best-case scenario: The three new casinos-hotels -- the MGM Grand, MotorCity and Greektown -- plus the renovated Westin Book-Cadillac and Pick-Fort Shelby, lift the entire region.
The new hotels, which will increase the number of downtown rooms to 5,155, may attract large meetings and conventions and provide rooms for major events like the NCAA Final Four coming to Ford Field in 2009.
The worst-case scenario: Business doesn't increase, and a glut of rooms drives some hotels out of business.
"It's an interesting experiment," said Charles Skelton, president of Hospitality Advisors Inc., an Ann Arbor hotel consulting firm -- particularly for a city with a 58 percent hotel occupancy rate in May that ranked second-worst among the 25 largest U.S. cities, according to Smith Travel Research.
"I would think convention officials as far away as Toledo, Cleveland, etc., are eyeing this to see how it plays out," he said.
Can hotels fill rooms?
So are those just across the Canadian border.
Casino Windsor is expanding with 369 rooms in a new tower and 100,000 feet of additional convention space. The renovation will be complete in two years.
"We hope it means that the area becomes stronger for international events that will benefit both sides of the border," said Gordon Orr, managing director of the Windsor, Essex County & Pelee Island Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The optimism of local tourism and convention officials isn't shared by all. Even some of the new competition is skeptical Detroit can lure the visitors to fill all those new hotel rooms.
John Ferchill, the Cleveland developer behind the $180 million renovation of the landmark Book-Cadillac, said the project's 67 upscale condos, 31,000-square-foot conference center and 119,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space should do well.
"I actually, candidly, am not as optimistic about the hotel," he said, referring to the 450-room Westin hotel. It's slated to open in 2008.
Market studies suggest the Book-Cadillac will have to take business away from high-end Dearborn-area hotels to survive, Ferchill said.
"What we see is a trend of people who are doing business down here (in the Detroit area) and staying up there (Dearborn area) because there wasn't a, quote-unquote, facility that they will like to stay in.
"This will be nicest hotel in Detroit. Now whether people will go there ..." Ferchill said, then shrugged.
Suburbs ready to compete
No matter how nice the Westin Book-Cadillac will be, some Dearborn hotels say they can compete.
"Although I expect to see some movement (to) downtown, it doesn't mean we cannot replace it by attracting more business," said Pat Trammell, senior director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn.
Less than 15 percent of hotel visitors are in town to do business in downtown Detroit, she said. Further, the hotel's 62,000 square feet of convention space is larger than what the Book-Cadillac will offer, she said.
And the casino hotels will attract a different crowd than the Hyatt crowd, she said.
"A large amount of our convention business is in the education area," Trammell said. "I can't see them wanting to stay in a casino to do business. They may want to go there on their free time, but that's a different issue."
A Troy-based hotel consultant agreed that suburban and city hotels can benefit from a stronger downtown Detroit.
"It's not a zero-sum game," said Ron Wilson, chief executive officer of Hotel Investment Services Inc.
"If two out of five people who usually stay in the suburbs now stay downtown, it doesn't necessarily mean you will have only three people left in the suburbs," he said. "It's been shown (in previous studies) that in order to spur hotel growth, you need to add hotels."
Cobo poses dilemma
Wilson said the additional downtown hotels get Detroit out of its "Catch-22": The city can't expand Cobo Center and lure more conventions because it lacks hotels, and it lacks hotels because it can't expand Cobo and lure more conventions.
The planned $663 million expansion of Cobo is being stalled by political wrangling between the city and suburbs.
Cobo is the home of the North American International Auto Show, which generates close to $600 million in economic impact for the region.
But other cities, most notably Chicago, are trying to upstage the Detroit auto show by offering larger facilities that are less expensive for exhibitors.
But even without an expanded Cobo, the additional hotel rooms mean Detroit can go after convention business it couldn't get before, said O'Callaghan of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"We've conducted a lot of studies; something like 85 percent of conventions can actually fit into that floor space" at Cobo, O'Callaghan said.
Beyond the regional conventions and midsize association shows, analysts say the new downtown rooms can help sell the region for splashier events, such as a national political convention.
Existing hotels step up
Some of the hotels downtown are already stepping up their game. The Hotel Pontchartrain is undergoing a $12 million renovation that should be completed by end of year. It will be renamed the Sheraton Pontchartrain to reflect its partnership with the national hotel chain.
"We could all benefit from this," Pontchartrain general manager Todd Roesler said of the new hotels.
"The Convention and Visitors Bureau is doing a great job in scrubbing up potential business."
While the new casino hotels are not likely to attract many business travelers -- "I can't see (a) corporate executive in town to do business with GM staying there," said Skelton, of Hospitality Advisors -- they will win over out-of-town gamblers and more socially oriented conventions, such as the regional meetings of the Order of Eagles.
"It's all pieces of the puzzle to make downtown better," said Skelton, noting there are still pieces that must fall into place.
"Can we attract enough business who feel safe downtown? Are there enough things to do downtown? It's yet another big test for downtown."

Great pics Michi, It's nice to finally see some closeups. I'm hoping the actual buildings will look a bit better than the designs in the renderings.

The sign for the Port Authority Terminal is finally up and the Starbucks sign is on the Ellington. Should be open soon. :)

How long before we start complaining about Chicago-style over-gentrification?;)

Well, I'm having the first rally tonight at Joy Road and Dawes. Join us as we retaliate against gentrification with gunfire and merriment.

I KIDD

Some visual updates from August 04-05, 2006

The Ellington Lofts: The little stickers in the windows that you can't read say, "SOLD". The open spot near the middle is how vehicles will enter the garage behind the building.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060100.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060101.jpg

Hopefully this slow-as-molasses building will be complete by year's end.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060103.jpg

The north end of The MGM Grand Casino looking west. Sorry for the quality. The sun was getting low in the sky.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060107.jpg

Hotel component
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060108.jpg

The midsection on 3rd Street.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060112.jpg

The view from Michigan Avenue
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060114.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060117.jpg

As seen from Bagley and the Lodge
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060119.jpg

Motor City Casino from Michigan Avenue over the Lodge.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060120.jpg

Michigan Welcome Center at the Ambassador Bridge border crossing.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060136.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060137.jpg

Lithuanian Hall is a housing rehab in Southwest Detroit on Vernor Street.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060154.jpg

Just down Vernor, Southwest Solutions is redeveloping this building.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060158.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060159.jpg[/QUOTE]

Livernois Median
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060054.jpg
...between McNichols and 7 Mile...Does anyone know if it will cover 7 Mile to 8 Mile? The Avenue of Fashion?

And Rivard Plaza on the East Riverfront. Half plaza-half parking lot. :rolleyes:
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Universities/2006_0805Detroit08_04-05_060097.jpg

Thanks for the updates, Michi.:) I'm loving the Ellington. Can't wait to see bigger and better things develop along the Woodward corridor in Midtown.

Yeah, the Ellington turned out much nice than I expected. They look to have used quality materials.

I also had no idea they were adding a media down Livernois between 6 Mile and 7 Mile. You'd be surprised what a little streetscaping can do for an area. Can't wait to see how it turns out. BTW, where is the streetscaping supposed to be going up along Grand River (northwest side)?

The Ellington looks great. I would have thought the Welcome Center would have been a bit further along. I remember all the steelwork being done when it was still snowing. Does anyone have photos of the Garden Lofts construction at Brush Park?

Great shots Michi and thanks for the update. The Ellington is looking great, and I hope it sets a standard and becomes a great example of what developers should be doing along Woodward between downtown and New Center.

I hope the Ellington sets a nes standard as well, however, future developments should be taller along the Woodward Corridor because it is so wide. Urban design standards usually recommend a certain height-to-width ratio and the Ellington is just a bit short.

I agree. And I think thats what should happen as you get closer to New Center and downtown but the Ellington does a good job of blending in and keeping with the scale of the Max and Orchestra Place.

what, no pictures of the pile of debris on monroe?

Of the third-world parking garage? I have pictures prior to its removal. Not that they are any more interesting.

The plans are pretty much the same as the the previous owner hopefully this new group has deep enough pockets to follow through.

One of Detroit’s older downtown skyscrapers, the Book Tower, has been sold.

A New York-based investment group, the Pagan Organization, completed the purchase from the former owner, local investor Susan Lambrecht, on July 25.

The purchase price was not disclosed. Located on Washington Boulevard, the two-building complex includes the 13-story Book Building, built in 1917, and the 36-story Book Tower, built in 1926. Michael Hidalgo, vice president of the new ownership group, said the buyers decided the time was right to invest in Detroit’s renovation. “We’ve actually had our eye on the resurgence and development of Detroit for some time,” he said. Plans call for a renovation of the buildings, including creation of new retail space and conversion of some of the existing office space into residential units.

It would be nice to see the facade completely cleaned too. It looks as though it had a ton of fires. But yeah, the Book needs work inside too. You are going to attract new tenants when it looks like you don't care much about your building. And some of the floors in the tower appear to have not been looked after in 20 or 30 years

And wait till you see what the Statler-Hilton site offers just up the street. Washington Blvd may come alive again. Downtown is certainly changing over night. Could this be the renaissance that we looked for in the 80's?

Greektown gets final approval for permanent casino


DETROIT -- Greektown Casino received final approval Tuesday to begin construction of its permanent $200 million casino/hotel/entertainment complex.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board unanimously approved Greektown's plans, and casino officials hope to have the complex open by September 2008, about six months after the opening of permanent facilities for MGM Grand Detroit Casino and the MotorCity Casino.

Each of the three casinos will feature 400-room hotels, 100,000-square-feet of gaming space, restaurants, entertainment facilities, meeting rooms and parking decks.

Greektown originally planned to spend $450 million to build an all-new facility. Casino officials changed their minds last November and decided to expand the temporary casino in the heart of the Greektown business district -- a move that will save $250 million.

Mike Leinweber, construction manager for Jenkins/Skanska Ventures LLC, which will build the permanent Greektown facility, told the Gaming Board that work would begin almost immediately on the complex.

"We will be taking great care to keep Greektown Casino in full operation during the construction," Leinweber said.

He said the casino will add an additional 30,000 square-foot of gaming space on the second floor of the temporary casino, most of it hanging over Lafayette Blvd. but vehicle traffic will still be able to move under it. A 1,200-seat event center will be constructed off the casino area that will have a flexible use for concerts, meetings and other activities.

Across the street will be a new 30-story hotel and 3,200-car parking structure. That building also will include restaurants, a ballroom and meeting rooms. The facility will be connected to the casino by an enclosed pedestrian bridge with a moving sidewalk.

Approval of Greektown's final plans came just after the Gaming Board announced that the casino's July revenue was down 8 percent over the same month a year ago. Revenue was up for the other two Detroit casinos. The board did not release the numbers for July, only the percentages.

Greektown officials called the drop an anomaly and nothing to worry about.

"Our table game revenue was down for the month," said Roger Martin, a spokesman for Greektown. "It could be as simple as more people winning at the tables, leaving us with less revenue. Hopefully, July was just a blip on the screen.

"We have been very pleased with our financially performance and have gained market share back in the last year."

A check of the Michigan Gaming Control Board records showed that in each of the first six months of 2006, Greektown revenues were up year over year. During the same six month period, total revenue for the three Detroit casino was at $647.6 million, on pace to set a record for the casinos.


Permanent Detroit casino openings
All three Detroit casinos are building new facilities, which will include 100,000-square-feet of gaming space, 400-room hotels, entertainment centers, meeting rooms and parking structures. Here is when they expect to open:
# Greektown Casino -- Sept. 2008
# MtotorCity Casino -- late 2007/early 2008
# MGM Grand Detroit Casino -- early 2008

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060808/UPDATE/608080428

And wait till you see what the Statler-Hilton site offers just up the street. Washington Blvd may come alive again. Downtown is certainly changing over night. Could this be the renaissance that we looked for in the 80's?

There's a poster who seems to be relatively in-the-know at DetroitYes.com that seems to be saying that the current tentative plan for the Statler site is for a parking garage for a possible new Red Wings Arena on the Tuller area. I sure hope he's wrong, because it would be terrible to see a huge arena and a parking deck fronting Grand Circus Park. You'd think Illitch would have learned from terribly planned Comerica Park, and by that I mean it's location.

I dont neccesarily mind an arena on Tuller, but Statler should be reserved for a building. The city still owns Statler so they have final say, I think speculation is coming from the fact that the city, along with Illitch, were marketing the sites together. I hope someone downtown has enough forsight to see that a parking structure at the Statler site would be the biggest mistake possible.

Why cant Illitch build a parking structure on the empty lots west and north of Tuller? Theres no reason he cant build a structure that isnt attached, or couldnt be attached through an elevated walkway or something.

It's all just rumors, I suppose, but I can't see why he couldn't just tuck the stadium away into Foxtown instead of destroying the street grid and architectural scale around GCP. Hopefully, this hasn't gone any further than informal talks and preliminary planning. There doesn't need to be any stadiums south of GCP.

It seems odd that Illitch, if he were going to build a new arena/parking garage would do so on those Grand Circus blocks after spending the money and advertising to market those same parcels as "prime development opportunity." Though I dont know where, I remember hearing a plan recently that involved the arena being located behind the Fox between Grand River and Clifford.

Its also important to note that for both security and pedestrian activities, the arena would have to be located a reasonable distance away from any major arterial street. Part of the reason for Comerica Parks location is that on game days they can simply shutdown the minor streets adjoining the park, so its not an issue. They definitely would not be able to close Woodward or Grand River Ave, and probably not the streets surrounding Grand Circus Park either. Thus in this arena’s case, it would have to be a reasonable distance from Grand River Ave.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see them build the arena basically on top of Cass, between Grand River, I-75, Clifford, and Elizabeth, with north-south vehicular traffic onto Clifford during non game days. In this situation, Elizabeth and Clifford would be closed on game days, with the arena set well back from Grand River and EB I-75 service drive allowing both to remain open.

The reason I say that is there are plenty of Illitch owned vacant lots back there and its close to Hockeytown Café. I have heard suggestions about it being between Clifford, Elizabeth, Montcalm, and Park. The problem with that site is that while an arena could (tightly) fit onto it, it would cost more money with the confined space, and they would have to get rid of the Town Pump bldg, neither of which I see happening.

Just my two cents…

Yeah, behind Foxtown was the other site I've heard, as well, and it was dicussed a lot at DetroitYes until this came up there, recently.

Building an arena and/or parking garage on Grand Circus Park is not an option.

Say "Chicago" and you think skyscrapers, say "San Francisco" and you think Golden Gate Bridge, say Seattle and you think "Space Needle", say "Grand Circus Park" and you SHOULD NOT think PARKING GARAGE!!! For the love of all that is holy!

Yeah, that that is even a possibility being thrown around blows my mind. There seems to be no plan in the planning office. For a major city, Detroit's planning department seems easily one of the most reactive in the country, instead of being one of the most proactive. I swear, I wouldn't be surprised if they were to seriously mull a developers plan to replace the Penobscot Building with a parking garage. It seems like ANY plans are fair game.

Detroit's motto should be, "Come park. Then what?"

Seriously though, I guess this is all just speculation. I wouldn't put it past Illitch though. He seems just as sly as the city administration. Putting a banner on all his buildings making fools like us believe he actually has the intent on redeveloping them instead of demolishing them. I'm not saying this to be true either, but look what happened to all the interested developers salivating over the Madison-Lenox. Now, all we have is asphalt. Asphalt does so much for a downtown.

I'm just saying, be on guard. You would think it highly unlikely that Detroit would hire city planners to destroy the city and act counter intuitively to what is acceptable planning practice. But then again, they spoon feed Illitch and even supply the bib.

I don't think they (planning department) are actively plotting to bring down the city, rather they don't realize that all development isn't necessarily progress. It seems to the planning department that every development, regardless of how flawed it may be, is progress and success. They seem to be operating under the motto of "we should take what we can get" instead of "Detroit deserves the same quality in development that any other large, historic city deserves." Preservation? What's that?

The Greektown casino wasnt permanant? huh? It has been there every time I have been to the Motor City and IMO it is the main attraction downtown! (I am a huge poker buff).

All of the casinos were in temporary facilities, and were bound by law to construct new, or expand their temporary facilities by a certain date. After much legal wrangling and the exhausting of stalling tactics, they were finally made to construct the hotel portions and build permanent facilities.

I totally agree w/you Michi that placing a parking deck on GCP would be an abomination. That thought should never even be introduced as it's the worst place for such a structure. The arena could work behind the fox somewhere but some creative design would need to be used to maximize the area. If it was compact, there'd be some nice sections left to create a continuous entertainment district from the ballparks to the MGM. This could be huge if executed well. I don't really care too much about any of the bldgs back there except that small cluster around the Pump Tavern/Detroit Life which could all be saved. I wouldn't want to see the UA lost in any of this. Ideally, I'd want to see the new Quicken HQ at the Staler Block and the UA and perhaps the David Whitney used as supplementary residential/hotel/meeting space. I'm not quite sure what sort of money would be thrown at a new HQ but it'd be great if they could incorporate any new parking deck into the lower levels of the main tower at the Statler Block much like it will be done at the Greektown hotel tower or Trump Tower in Chicago. That's the only way I'd ever be okay w/any parking deck on GCP.

Speaking of Greektown, does anyone know the actual height of the tower? I was wondering the other day where it would rank among our tallests.

There's a poster who seems to be relatively in-the-know at DetroitYes.com that seems to be saying that the current tentative plan for the Statler site is for a parking garage for a possible new Red Wings Arena on the Tuller area. I sure hope he's wrong, because it would be terrible to see a huge arena and a parking deck fronting Grand Circus Park. You'd think Illitch would have learned from terribly planned Comerica Park, and by that I mean it's location.

Believe me son, "people in the know" on ANY internet bulletin board don't dish out 100% accuracy. I didn't say credibility, I said accuracy Reguardless though, it's upsetting to even hear a parking garage is rumored for such a place that has defined Detroit's urban character.

For the Tuller site or anything around GCP, I'd still rather see something non-civic related on that site. I feel much of downtown Detroit is too event oriented. Office buildings, apartments, retail, restaurants, etc are what will bring people into the city on a daily basis.

Speaking of Greektown, does anyone know the actual height of the tower? I was wondering the other day where it would rank among our tallests.

I've estimated it could be anywhere from 330 feet to 380 feet (if you give each floor an average of 10-11.5 feet common for hotel/residential), but who knows?

The new owners of the Book Tower and Book Building in downtown Detroit plan to convert the upper floors to luxury condominiums, said Ricardo Pagan, president of The Pagan Organization, a New York City investment and development group.

Included are a 13-story building at 1249 Washington Blvd. built in 1917 and the adjoining 38-story tower built in 1928.

Pagan declined to disclose what he paid for the buildings or what he plans to invest in renovation and rehabilitation. He said his company is moving to Detroit and will be headquartered in the Book Tower offices.

“We are working with architects and do not yet have costs or timelines in place; the figures are too generalized,” he said.

Pagan’s concept for revitalizing the building, he said, is to have the first two floors across both buildings reopened into a retail atrium. The upper 11 floors of the smaller building and the 30th through 36th floor of the tower are to become condominiums, with floors 3 through 29 in the tower to be upgraded as offices.

Pagan acknowledged that he received a $4 million loan from KSI Capital Inc., a Paramus, N.J., commercial real estate and development company.

KSI President Henry Haskell, who said in a statement that his company specializes in unconventional financing, said he and aides flew to Detroit with Pagan, looked at the Book property and shook hands to close the deal.

According to the real estate database CoStar Group, the Book complex includes about 426,500 square feet of rentable space, with about 260,000 square feet of the available is leased, about 39 percent.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200660811001

(i know u shouldnt post full articles...buit Crains isnt free anymore)

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200660811001

(i know u shouldnt post full articles...buit Crains isnt free anymore)


I like their plan, I sure hope it comes to fruition.

Here are some new renderings I found of the Chene West proposal along the International Riverfront that was supposed to start this summer. It looks like two floors where added since originally proposed. The complex will include a 10-story tower with groundfloor residential and parking, along with townhomes surrounding the site. It will include 108-110 units:

http://home.comcast.net/~lmontg/wsb/media/1413483/site1014.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~lmontg/wsb/media/1413483/site1015.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~lmontg/wsb/media/1413483/site1016.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~lmontg/wsb/media/1413483/site1017.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~lmontg/wsb/media/1413483/site1018.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~lmontg/wsb/media/1413483/site1019.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~lmontg/wsb/media/1413483/site1020.jpg

Go to Kraemer Design Group's website to see the animation. It's under "Our Work," and then "On the Boards"

http://www.thekraemeredge.com/

hopefully the project isnt dead and will start sometime soon

Wow I like it. The animation really helps you visualize the site. I like how they put some shops/lofts on Atwater to create some sort of urban feel even though there are townhouses and more suburbany elements to the design. Im looking forward to seeing this built. Right along the river this is a great development, i really like the idea of having taller structures as you get closer to Jefferson for the future of the riverfront, but this is a great start.

One more of Chene West:

http://www.downtownpartnership.org/ddp/images/housing/Chene_West-1.jpg

Proposed Parkshore at Harbortown
http://static.flickr.com/71/213795514_eb5056a848_o.jpg

I would still like to see more 20 plus condo towers in downtown, but this looks like a good start for Detroit. the city could really start more condo development using the river as a building point, and gentrifying out from there.

I must say I do like that 10 story midrise design.

How exactly is the Riverwalk going to extend through this area? Are they going to make pedestrians travel around Harbortown? I remember reading in the news awhile ago how the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the lakefronts are public land. Does that include the Detroit River? Is the Riverwalk going to extend through Harbortown?

http://www.detroitriverfront.org/img_content/drc/DRFC_Composite_11x17_large.jpg

Map, it looks like they are going to talk the riverwalk around a few complexes (Tricentennial and Chene Park), but it looks as if it's going to follow the river for most of its course.

vision will never work with continuity if the port authority doesnt build thier schitt

They are building it, and the tiny Port Authority lands hardly break the continuity anymore than having to take the riverwalk around certain properties does.

I was being a dork and looking at Google satellite and that RiverFront site at the same time trying to envision everything. I'm curious, too, about how it will be done at Harbortown and how those residents feel about it. I'm sure the money isn't there for it but wouldn't a cool modern pedestrian bridge be a nice touch to the riverwalk somewhere along there or tri-cen park? It never quite sunk in how significant this development could be for the city until I looked at it from above and saw how many prime lots there will be for new housing, stores, etc. Does anyone have a map showing where all of these new projects like Chene West/Atwater Lofts are going to be?

I find myself daydreaming 'simcity-like' when I check out Google satellite and sites like that showing Detroit from the air. I know I'm biased but I think this city has such a great layout and could be so grand/beautiful if it had the money thrown at it like some other cities. Imagine what this area would be like if Detroit was experiencing the same boom that Chicago is having. This amazing new opportunity on the river but 5x the scale. Imagine the view sitting on Belle Isle with the riverwalk area lined with condo towers and even taller skyscrapers visible behind them on Jefferson. Jefferson could be such a great corridor. It would be like Chicago's Goldcoast but even more accessible to the CBD. Damn, how nice would it be if our biggest problem was arguing about how to incorporate the 'historic BigBoy' into the groudfloor of a new 40-story mixed-use tower.....

okay I'll come back to Earth now

Oh I had a stupid question too. Does anyone know the idea/thought behind the white 'sail-like' designs of all these structures? Why these and what do you all think of them? Are they looked upon as being okay architecturally or are they considered cheap? Just curious.

They are probably to mimic Chene Parks sails, a maritime theme.

Here's the riverfront maps showing how the trail will go around certain properties:

http://www.detroitriverfront.org/img_content/drc/DRFC_Composite_11x17_large.jpg

That RiverEast and Chene Park project looks remarkable and prestigious! Certainly hope it gets approved! That would be a fantastic development for River East.

RiverEast is actually the 8 block area directly east of the RenCen to be developed by Riverfront Holdings, Inc. / General Motors in partnership with other developers.

These (Chene West, Parkshore at Harbortown, and the rest of the East Riverfront) are completely different and separate projects even to the east of RiverEast.

So...does anybody know what is going on with Quicken Loans?

RiverEast is actually the 8 block area directly east of the RenCen to be developed by Riverfront Holdings, Inc. / General Motors in partnership with other developers.

These (Chene West, Parkshore at Harbortown, and the rest of the East Riverfront) are completely different and separate projects even to the east of RiverEast.

Either way, it still looks good!

Time for #4.

Huh?

The final rendering for the MotorCity Casino & Hotel. It's finally aquired Las Vegas gaudiness.

http://atdetroit.net/forum/messages/5/80084.jpg

No! They are going to kill the old Wonder Bread factory with that garbage. This is sort of an architectural mess. I'm not sure what they are trying to accomplish with this mix of styles, but I'm not too happy with it.

Detroit needs to shake up its built environment a bit. I don't understand why most of our new stuff looks like shit.

No! They are going to kill the old Wonder Bread factory with that garbage. This is sort of an architectural mess. I'm not sure what they are trying to accomplish with this mix of styles, but I'm not too happy with it.

Detroit needs to shake up its built environment a bit. I don't understand why most of our new stuff looks like shit.


what? you don't like that rocket ship thingy out in front? :)

Time for #4.

I agree! We have three projects on the riverfront released in about 2 months time and now there hasn't been one released for 4-5 months. It is time for number 4.

Regarding the casino design; I think it is ugly. And I still can't picture the design very well.

I think he's meaning that it's time for Detroit Development News 4. If I'm not mistaken, 500 posts is supposed to be the point at which a new thread is created.

lol @ the rendering. I'm just happy that it sticks out, and is not "another bland building".

On the actual design, I'm... speechless :scouserd:

No, I don't like the rocket thing out front. Actually, I don't see it could be built as it's located in the middle of the intersection. I wish Casinos could be built with class, not guady, dinseyesque features.

No, I don't like the rocket thing out front. Actually, I don't see it could be built as it's located in the middle of the intersection. I wish Casinos could be built with class, not guady, dinseyesque features.


well given the casino industry's track record (see also: las vegas), i'm not shocked one bit.

Las Vegas is completely different than Detroit and the architecture should reflect that.

Agreed. Greektown's and MGMs designs aren't spectacular, but at least they aren't ubsurd. This isn't about unique architecture or an iconic building. It's about the reality of this building looking ridiculous among its surroundings.

It's kind of like the person that decides to paint their house an ugly purple color because they think it looks pretty.

I don't think the finished product will be as cheeky as the rendering. More than anything, I think it'll look like an airport terminal when it's all said and done.

I don't think the finished product will be as cheeky as the rendering. More than anything, I think it'll look like an airport terminal when it's all said and done.


well good thing a spaceship is already docked, ready for take-off

Well, we should have an idea pretty quickly how it will really look. I drove past the casino today they already have about 3-4 floors of window frames installed so the glass can't be far behind

Las Vegas is completely different than Detroit and the architecture should reflect that.

I wish Casino developers thought that way. Casinos are (supposed to heighten self-esteem, at least enough to draw customers in) otherworldly, they don't even keep time or have windows for that matter. And because of these facts they will always ignore the historic precedent, and human scale of their host cities. I challenge anyone on these boards to find a casino in America that rejects these overt profit driven esthetics.

I am thankful that the developers have gone forward with this space station (?)
Detroit can handle casino development, as it still is a major population center.
This casino will not create abject corridors of dilapidated buildings, and shuttered, ignored businesses the way Atlantic City was destroyed, and disected by MGMs and Taj Mahals.

It looks motown, it has a 50's diniar look to it, the rocketship i have no idea what they where thinking, but the building next to it looks neat, kinda like an old train.

it could be worse. ?will there be a jonny rockets in there too? it would be PERFECT.

It looks motown, it has a 50's diniar look to it, the rocketship i have no idea what they where thinking, but the building next to it looks neat, kinda like an old train.

I dont think I would mind the design, old train portion, so much if it were brand new starting from scratch, but it is replacing a very cool historic structure. That I do not like. The Wonderbread portion of the building should remain the same. I always remembered that building as a child going down the freeway, I would hate to see it altered or destroyed so Illitch can have his gaudy little Vegas style casino.

ManageMich, Do you have any new info on the possible Rock and Quicken Headquarters?

They are moving to a Renaissance Zone is what I've been told. Take that for what it's worth.

They are moving to a Renaissance Zone is what I've been told. Take that for what it's worth.

Does that narrow things a bit ? Or does that still leave things wide open?

It would obviously narrows the search, if you consider they were looking outside of the state before.

I am assuming it narrows the search within the SE Mich market significantly. These sort of decisions take a lot of time.

What's the best bet for the number of workers that would be making the move downtown to a Rock/Quicken HQ?


Btw, historybuffer, nice making your 313rd post here in this thread ;)

Wheres ROCKs headquarters now?

theres a rock building in troy and if thats their hq, then its small, its only 5 storys and its not that big either.

Their main office is in Livonia, but they have those offices in Troy, and I wouldn't doubt there are other offices around the metro.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060829/NEWS06/608290325/1008/NEWS

Sounds like WSU wants to build more dorms on their campus, sounds good to me!

Both Rock Financial (subsidiary of Quicken) and its parent company, Quicken, have locations scattered throughout the suburbs. More specifically, Livonia, Farmington Hills, Troy and Southfield. The move to Detroit, even in a temporarily stagnant housing market, is gigantic in every sense of the word as long as they locate in the right location. Locating next to the Ren Cen in the River East area does nothing for the downtown core.

Oh will it do "nothing"? As long as it's in the city of Detroit it WILL do something. Granted, having it within the CBD will probably spur a couple of minor developments....maybe a few more businesses and a minor boost in the downtown housing market, but I wouldn't go as far to say locating it on River East would "do nothing."

edit

They are moving to a Renaissance Zone is what I've been told. Take that for what it's worth.

are renaissance zones the same thing as detroit empowerment zones? if so, then i'm saddened.

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7821/detempzowt6.jpg

http://gis.culma.wayne.edu/website/ez/viewer.htm

Actually, here's a map for the Renaissance Zones:

http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/renzones/mi.pdf

I really don't think this could be true, as I can't see them setting up anywhere put downtown.

More Rock Financial hints in the News and Free Press today about a possible move to downtown Detroit. It would be hard to believe this won't happen at this point with all of the rumors and leading on surrounding it. Kind of reminds me of the Compuware situation before they announced their move downtown.

It's pure speculation until it actually happens. That's ok and as you said, it really does sound like the plan is ultimately to move downtown. This is the future of Detroit and Michigan in the making. Decisions such as these are what can make or break the way we evolve or devolve into a mold into the future. So much of a positive spinoff can take place if QL/RF moves to the city. If they don't, we'll still get by, but will have to continue the seemingly tiresome effort to break the creativity mold.

Yes, and lately it's feeling like we've hit a snag as far as development announcements go. This fall and winter should be interesting though. A few city beat reporters I have talked to are hinting at some major things in Detroit and Hamtramck.

You know the great thing about the Quicken rumors, even if it falls apart, it's not as if anyone would have ever thought they'd considered downtown Detroit. More importantly, it's not like they've even made a proposal that fell apart, so their is nothing to get sad over. I think, more importantly, the fact that they even have interest in downtown Detroit is a good thing for the city's ego, at the moment.

That all said, just look at how the single event of Compuware moving downtown changed everything. Comerica Park and Ford Field were nice, though, they do little to contribute to the livability of downtown. The development of Compuware and C-Mart Park changed everything, which is why you see Quicken even considering downtown.

BTW, for inner-ring burbs, Hamtramck and Dearborn have been making quite a stride in terms of reversing population loss. According to SEMCOG (a much better source than the census, IMO), Hamtramck has posted a 9.1% population gain since 2000, and Dearborn a 2.3% topping 100,000 for the first time since 1960. It's clear immigration is saving these communities which most had viewed as "has-beens."

I dont think that both cities (not burbs :) ) will ever stop growing, namely Hamtramck. I'm seriously considering Hamtown when I make my return myself. As far as Rock Financial goes, if the deal ain't dead yet, it probably won't. I'll take the speculations anyday as long as it doesn't deal with the plan falling apart like a ton of bricks..

Has development news been that slow in Detroit? I'm like in a coma here. :jk:

These are all of Friday, September 29, 2006 I was on a picture-taking frenzy yesterday.

First stop, WINDSOR! - Casino Windsor hotel tower expansion.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060001.jpg

The Portofino as seen from Detroit.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060111.jpg

Rivard Plaza - Rivard and Atwater
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060003.jpg

...of course 1/2 the property is a parking lot (out of photo).
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060004.jpg

Some of my photos came out really BLURRY, so I appologize for the next few. I don't know what was wrong w/ my camera.
This is development on Larned Street. Not sure what it is though.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060012.jpg

Relatively new Rock Downtown Financial Park on E. Larned Street.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060016.jpg

The bohemith city within a city...I mean BCBC Parking Garage. Good grief, Charlie Brown.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060019.jpg

Greektown infill - Monroe Street.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060056.jpg

Sorry, I can never remember the name of this loft rehab on S. Broadway.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060060.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060061.jpg


On to the CASINOS:

First up is Greektown Casino from Lafayette and the Chrysler Fwy.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060027.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060043.jpg

MGM Grand Casino - 3rd Street & Michigan Avenue @ the Lodge Fwy.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060118.jpg

Michigan Avenue, looking east.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060128.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060138.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060139.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060140.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060150.jpg

I think this is the main enterance to the gamin space off of 3rd Street.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060153.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060155.jpg

Remember the parking bohemith/city within a city posted above? Well, here's another.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060154.jpg

The sky was awesome most of the afternoon.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060157.jpg

Lots o' cranes still.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060184.jpg

Downtown-bound Lodge Freeway
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060169.jpg

Motor City Casino as seen from Michigan Avenue over the Lodge Fwy.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060131.jpg

Who knew dead logs could bring sexy back?
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060136.jpg

This thing was freaking loud...whatever it is...
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060159.jpg

Hotel as seen from the Lodge Fwy.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060164.jpg

South facade
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060170.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060173.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060178.jpg

I'm really hoping this is as far as the side brickwork goes. It looks like cheap, suburban mall facade or something you'd find at a freeway rest stop building. eek.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060176.jpg

Waiting patiently for the windows to be carved out along Grand River Avenue...any day now...
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060183.jpg

Clark Lofts - Grand River Avenue. Who knew? I didn't.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060068.jpg

A never-ending loft conversion: Grand River/Griswold, Capitol Park.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060069.jpg

What's this doing in a development thread? ;)
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060072.jpg

Yes, the Westin Book Cadillac, Detroit!
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060075.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060081.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060086.jpg

Imagine it polished in just a few years! :) It'll be an instant asset.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060125.jpg

The recently-completed, yet 100% vacant Kennedy Square Building. Way to be, Redico.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060076.jpg

Lafayette Building still on the rumor mill.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060091.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060078.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060079.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060080.jpg

Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Building. Recently announced for renovation/preservation.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060088.jpg

Rosa Parks Transit Center. Looks like its serving the purpose it was intended for. (I'm kidding)...or am I? *sigh*
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060089.jpg

Hotel Pick-Fort Shelby restoration. This project will anchor the west side of downtown which hasn't near the amount of activity as the east side. Therefore, it should be a HUGE milestone for this area which has a lot of potential with other vacant buildings, ie: Free Press Building.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060104.jpg

What's on Detroit's plate.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060117.jpg

DEMOLITION makes its way into a development thread. The old State of Michigan complex will be demolished shortly for a new, flat campus-like, mall-parking lot setbacked, super-blocked piece of garbage for the FBI. A simple facade improvement would have sufficed.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060109.jpg

Grinnell Place Lofts - Michigan and Brooklyn, Corktown.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060132.jpg

And how about a little Brizz-ush Park for dat ass. Mmmkay.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060197.jpg

The latest in the northward construction expansion along Woodward Avenue. Word of mouth all this time was hoping so much for something other than the townhouses on Woodward, but whatever.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060203.jpg

Harbor Light Center on the left, and Hotel Eddystone on the right. Their renovations will begin once the Carrolton (see below) is finished and occupied.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060200.jpg

But for now, the current tenants occupy this area.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060202.jpg

Garden Lofts of Brush Park - Winder Street at the Fisher Service Drive.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060206.jpg

I LOVE LOVE LOVE balconies!
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060207.jpg

The next development culprit - Winder Street:
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060209.jpg

...and another near Brush and Adelaide. I also believe Brush-Adelaide Park is going to see a lot of investment in it to make it a vibrant, urban park. Haven't heard much confirmation on that yet though.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060212.jpg

The old French Mansions that were able to be saved are nothing short of amazing...especially if you saw what they looked like before. Look no further than Edmund Place on Edmund Street.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060215.jpg
...simply amazing for Detroit.

More Edmund Street fixer-uppers. These are in great condition compared to most of the other structures that were saved.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060219.jpg

This old home will soon be the site of the Brush Park Conservatory of Music and Fine Art - Edmund & John R. I'm telling you, a neighborhood in the making!
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060221.jpg

This is the Carrolton, as mentioned above. - John R. Street.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060222.jpg

John R. is even seeing some historic commercial rehab! "Impossible" you say, in Detroit.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060224.jpg

John R. reconstruction. The old surface was comprable to an up north two-track.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060225.jpg

Moorey Manor (Erskine Street) was featured on HGTV's Restore America as a fantastic example of restoration and expansion into condominiums.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060226.jpg

This caught me by surprise. It's next to Morrey Manor on the Woodward side.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060228.jpg

"I wanna play!"
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060229.jpg

A soon-to-be-rehabber and the Carrolton in the background.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060230.jpg

I think this is a private residence...in other words, unlike most of the other homes whose renovations were done by various development, housing, and construction companies.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060231.jpg

And old cobblestone alley behind Woodward Avenue.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060233.jpg

Delicious!
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060236.jpg

Sorry, I forgot the name of these renovations. This one in particular is going hella-fast!
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060237.jpg

That's the Bonstelle Theatre on the adjacent left.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060238.jpg

Yes, the infamous Ellington is STILL being constructed on the interior. Hasn't it been like 15 years now? :P
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060239.jpg

Cass Corridor Area
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060242.jpg

Willy's Overland Lofts is another amazing renovation! - Willis Street near 3rd.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060245.jpg

Nine on Third Townhouses - 3rd Street in Midtown.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060248.jpg

Improvements were recently completed on the Detroit Historical Museum in the Cultural Center.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060254.jpg

The new garage serving the new condos at Le Park Shelton - Ferry Street.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060255.jpg
--ugly--

Mid-Med Lofts - Canfield Street. This is one of Detroit's only projects that demolished the entire thing except for the facade. An outstanding feat if you ask me in a city that blindly bulldozes itself over for sexy parking lots and glamerous, Waldorf Astoria-type parking garages.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060259.jpg

Front facade.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060260.jpg

Michigan Welcome Center and Supermercado, Mexicantown. This facility is situated adjacent to the customs plaza of the Ambassador Bridge. The plaza and freeway ramps are undergoing a huge reconstruction project right now that will tie it into these two buildings.

There will also be a "Calatrava-like" pedestrian bridge over the Fisher Freeway connecting Bagley Street
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060262.jpg

The Supermercado (Supermarket) portion. Bad picture...it looks nicer than this in person.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060263.jpg

One of Brush Park's greatest assets is its proximity to Detroit's Central Business District and the Riverfront.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060217.jpg

These are just a blip on the radar for what's in store for Detroit. Sure, there will still be a lot of great disappointments like the demise of the Commerce Building, but it really is exciting to be a part of a city in such a great transition!

The 5th Royal Oak - Washington Avenue. 18 story condo tower.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060264.jpg

Looking south.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060265.jpg

Looking west.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060269.jpg

And of course Main North Lofts. Did I mention I loved balconies!
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060266.jpg

I think some units are already occupied...as is some of the ground floor retail such as Hollywood Video.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2006_0929AroundDetroit9_29_060267.jpg


Until the next update! :)

Wow, thanks for the amazing photo tour. There are a ton of projects going on, I can't believe the amount of potential thats brimming to boil over here.

The building on Broadway is the Lafer Building

You did a great job of covering project around the city.

Well done, Michi! You covered quite a bit!

Good work, Michi on the photo tour! I was in Detroit last weekend as well and I did a photo tour of the Eastern Market/Greektown and parts of Gratiot Ave Friday, I'll post those up in a bit. Was at the rear of the B-C work in progress? If so, awesome! The blurriness on my camera also happens sometimes, too when I zoom in to take pictures.

I think it's because of the shakiness of your hand when you take the picture. The closer you zoom the more apparent it is.

I think it's because of the shakiness of your hand when you take the picture. The closer you zoom the more apparent it is.

I have never had that issue before with zooming...and I do love to zoom! :)

I can't explain it, but the next time I take my camera out, I will keep it in mind and see what happens.

Is that Rock Financial Building the building that Rock and Quicken are testing downtown out in?

That building has been there for years.

I know the building has been. Im talking about Rock's intentions. And plus, his caption for the picture says "Relatively New."

I should have said Rock has been in that building for years.

Excellent shots Michi! I know it takes a lot time to post and caption those pictures...very much appreciated.

Im lovin that 9 on 3rd. I passed by it the other day. It appears as those they made the top floor a bit higher than in the renderings. I like the changes.

Rbdet, Rock has been in that building for sometime. It isnt the same process Ann Arbor is taking by opening a temporary google office downtown so they can get a feel of the area before putting up a tower.

This image has been released of the refurbished Westin Hotel & Residences Detroit, which is underway and was open to a media tour on Friday October 13th.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/JT-MI/BookCadillac.jpg

Someone posted that image before I think.

Yeah, the image has been around for some months. I find it very insulting, every time I see it, that they rendered the Commerce Building into the drawing, knowing that it was going to be brought down.

maybe its a rendering of the parking garage, theresnot a whole lot of detail

That's most definitely the Commerce building. I can see the polished granite and the mullions in the windows look the same as well.

it will probably do wonders for the value of the Washington Blvd apartments next door though

Oops. Nevermind.

http://thesouthend.typepad.com/tsenews/2006/10/bookcadillac_co.html

Project sells 40 of 67 units in 4 hours

http://thesouthend.typepad.com/tsenews/2006/10/bookcadillac_co.html

Project sells 40 of 67 units in 4 hours

super duper gang!

plus the majority of those that sold were all of the high end units. plus, apparently one sold for $1.5M, a Detroit condo record.

if i have anything to take away from this its the built up demand for a high end condo market (as other projects have somewhat similarily indicated).

Maybe we'll get a "Portofino" on this side of the river now. Maybe in the Rivertown Area...