Detroit Development News [Archive] - Page 2

seicer

June 6th, 2007, 05:32 AM

Book-Cadillac video (http://online.wsj.com/page/8_0004.html?guid={6672F865-2419-42D5-AD46-3B6D1EAAE006})
A Developer Bets on Detroit By Giving Old Hotel a Facelift (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118046471859117472-search.html?KEYWORDS=book-cadillac&COLLECTION=wsjie/6month)

Notes --
1. Detroit is facing a population flight to the suburbs -- something that began four decades ago. It's exodus rivals the hurricane-ravaged New Orleans. In a city where the real-estate market is so bad that houses are cheaper than cars in many areas, it is a shock as to why an out-of-town developer is planning to convert the old Book-Cadillac Hotel into a four-star hotel and luxury condominiums for $180 million. It is planned to be restored by fall 2008 as a 455-room Westin. The top eight floors will house 67 upscale condos, most of which have already been sold. Prices for the penthouses have gone for as much as $1 million.

Another developer has also expressed strong interest in building a new condo project on top of the hotel's adjacent parking structure. Half of the unbuilt structure has been sold, including penthouses that have fetched as much as $800,000.

1a. The developer, from Cleveland, has specialized in redeveloping buildings in risky markets. He has been successful so far, restoring buildings in cities such as Buffalo and Pittsburgh. The company that the developer represents has assumed more than $80 million in loans and other debts for the project. Ferchill, the developer, has committed $4 million in equity, and $8 million in start-up costs. He also has arranged more than 15 public and private investors. About $24 million came from two of Detroit's pension boards. Other sources include a $50 million loan from iStar Financial Inc., a real-estate financing company -- and National City Corp. agreed to invest $28 million+ after the developer agreed to a conservation easement.
1b. Detroit is a risky market -- it has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation at 13.7%. It has rampant crime and troubled schools. But a turnaround is underway -- the city boasts new ballparks, casinos, and multimillion-dollar housing developments that have lured more tourists and investors.
1c. The Book-Cadillac is being considered a 'bellweather' for downtown redevelopment -- especially on the west side that has been long neglected.
2. The 33-story Book-Cadillac Hotel, closed in 1984, has been gutted and abandoned on a downtown block that is dominated by empty storefronts and abandoned buildings. It was opened in December 1924 by brothers J.B., Frank and Herbert Book. It was constructed on the site of the old Cadillac hotel, which was named for Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, a French fur trader who founded Detroit in 1701.
2a. At the time, the city was thriving and hosted a booming auto industry. The city's ornate, Gilded Age architecture earned the city the nickname "Paris of the West". The Book-Cadillac hotel was part of a plan to transform Washington Blvd. into a "midwestern Fifth Avenue." It was the city's tallest building and the tallest hotel in the world. The city opened with huge fanfare -- more than 2,000 guests attended and more than 3,000 had to be turned away.
2b. In 1951, the Sheraton Hotel corporation bought the hotel and renamed it the Sheraton-Cadillac. By the 1960s, changes occurred that would cause Detroit's decline. Interstate highways cut through the downtown neighborhoods, manufacturing plants that were aging could not expand because they were landlocked, and middle class residents fled the city after the race riots of the 1960s.
2c. The city attempted to redevelop and aid the downtown in the late 1970s with the construction of the Renaissance Center. But most of the success of this complex came from the movement of businesses from the city's west side. As a result, the Book-Cadillac changed hands several times between 1975 and 1980; occupancy rates declined, as did the surrounding area. The hotel closed in 1984. Various plans over the years tried to redevelop the hotel, but none were able to complete it.
2d. In 2001, the city regained control of the hotel and wanted it demolished, stating it was too expensive to renovate. When Kwame Kilpatrick became mayor in 2002, he ordered city officials to find developers for as many abandoned properties as possible. In 2003, Historic Hospitality Investments was tapped to restore the building. In late-2003, however, the company was unable to get the necessary financing and the developer abandoned the project.
3. Detroit has staged a comeback: $435 million in investments have redeveloped abandoned and neglected properties in the city. In 2006, the city beautified Campus Martius Park in the downtown to give it a good face for the Super Bowl. A neighborhood on the east side will soon be host to 300 new homes on 88 acres. And new condominiums on the waterfront, totaling $500 million in investments, could be built.

4. The developer redevelops into cities that appear to be on the "cusp of resurgence" -- second tier markets. He gives "extra points" to cities with new baseball parks and other entertainment amenities, and then finds voids in upscale housing and hospitality markets -- targeting historic properties for costly renovations.
4a. The developer is not new to Detroit. In 2003, he built a Hilton Garden Inn, a midpriced, 198-room hotel in the downtown. It boasts an occupancy rate of ~70%, which is great.

Article information: "A Developer Bets on Detroit By Giving Old Hotel a Facelift, By MIKE SPECTOR, Wall-Street Journal, June 1, 2007; Page A1"

urbanlover

July 5th, 2007, 02:55 AM

Nice article on all the new riverfront development

Waterfront Living: River rebirth draws residents downtown

By Marcia Danner

3:01 am, July 2, 2007

A few years ago, there was no way Sergio Pujols, 29, a senior design engineer for Southfield-based Denso International America Inc., wanted to live in downtown Detroit.

He would attend the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center and be disheartened by the urban decay and dismal surroundings he encountered en route. But now, he and his fiance, Maria Rodriguez, 37, who just finished a two-year contract teaching biology and microbiology at Wayne State University, live practically next door to Joe Louis Arena and Cobo in a riverfront high-rise.

What changed his mind were signs that the area was beginning to turn around; he thought buying might be a good investment. In early 2006, he and Rodriguez made an offer on one of the smaller units in the 29-story condominium building at Riverfront Towers.

“Our one-bedroom condo is only 621 square feet,” Pujols said, “but it's on the top floor, so the view is great. We plan to expand the space by buying an adjacent second unit and tearing down a wall.”

The three-tower complex just beyond Joe Louis Arena at the west end of the downtown riverfront was built in phases in the 1980s and '90s and situated to give every apartment a water view. Tower 300 recently was renovated for conversion to condominiums.

“Living at Riverfront Towers is like being at a resort,” Pujols said. “It's very relaxing to be around the water and marina. We have a pool, beach volleyball, a fitness center, even our own restaurant that has a buffet, live music and karaoke bar. The interior walkway to the Joe Louis People Mover station makes it easy to go to a Tiger game, the opera, restaurants or just about anywhere downtown.”

Pujols keeps a car in the parking structure for his commute to Southfield and a motorcycle for cruising. “We take the Harley out to explore the city. On the way to Belle Isle, we might stop to see nice areas like Indian Village. We look for what's being remodeled, what's new and where the developers are putting their money.”

According to Brienne Balliet, sales associate for Riverfront Towers, Pujols' and Rodriguez' unit “is the "starter' model that enables first-time buyers to own a little piece of the water. Buyers can start small and then upgrade or add an adjoining unit,” she said.

While large, combined luxury units run as high as $500,000 to $600,000 at Riverfront Towers, the recently renovated condominium tower also has one-bedroom units starting at $135,000 and two-bedroom units ranging from $215,000 to $290,000. Rentals in the other two towers range from $750 to $2,800 a month.

Developers anticipate a more upscale market for the new residential properties that will transform the riverfront east of downtown.

“The new condominiums going up where cement company silos once stood will have larger square footages, more amenities and will be higher priced at $275 to $350 per square foot,” said Jon Grabowski, president of Esquire Properties.

The Watermark, Detroit industrialist and former Detroit Pistons basketball player Dave Bing's project, and @water Lofts, the Belmar Development Group project by Dwight Belyue, will have million dollar-plus penthouses. Both developers expect to break ground later this year and are taking orders for units that will be ready for occupancy in 2009.

Also in the area: Chene East, a project by former NFL player Jerome Bettis and Pittsburgh developer C.J. Betters; the Globe Trading Co. condo project by Mark Wilcox; and the Detroit Elevator Co. renovation by the Detroitist Group are in the planning stages.

Wes Wyatt, 59, chairman and CEO of Cintron Beverage Group in Philadelphia, was among the first in line at The Watermark's presale event in May. He reserved a 2,800-square-foot space on the sixth floor facing the Ambassador Bridge that will cost upwards of $800,000. He already has hired Roxane Whitter Thomas of Whitter Interiors in Detroit to design an open floor plan and create a contemporary-style, elegant and soothing atmosphere accented by the water.

Wyatt, who spent 30 years in the commercial construction business, co-founded the beverage company in 2006 that makes a line of energy drinks and flavored iced teas. He wants to make Detroit his base for marketing its products nationwide and in Latin America. He has a boat at the Jefferson Beach Marina in St. Clair Shores, but looks forward to docking it at his doorstep when he moves into The Watermark.

Wyatt expects a thriving residential community to evolve like the affluent Rittenhouse Square area of Philadelphia's Center City, where he and his wife currently live.

“It wasn't too long ago that I would see the abandoned silos when I stayed downtown at Renaissance Center. I wondered why Detroit's waterfront wasn't developed like other cities. Now I see progress. With the RiverWalk and developments like Dave Bing's Watermark, the whole area is going to be spectacular,” he said.

The new residential and mixed-use developments for the riverfront between Renaissance Center and Stroh River Place will fill in the area that includes the RiverWalk pavilion at Rivard, the marina at Tri-Centennial State Park and Chene Park amphitheater. The new entries extend the redevelopment of Rivertown industrial and warehouse sites that started in the1980s with the creation of River Place and Harbortown residential properties.

Further east, seekers of waterfront living have the “Gold Coast” to consider. This strip of apartment buildings on the waterfront off East Jefferson stretches from Belle Isle to the Berry subdivision where the Manoogian Mansion is located. It includes elegant residences of the early 20th century such as Detroit Towers and Indian Village Manor as well as modern high rises such as Shoreline East and The Jeffersonian.

Scott Allen, president of Fourmidable, the Farmington Hills-based management company for several Detroit riverfront properties, sees a wide demographic interested in urban waterfront living.

“At Harbortown, our gated high-rise resort community, we have a mix of singles and couples, young professionals, families and retirees. The Lofts at Rivertown tends to attract creatives and entrepreneurs, whereas Grayhaven Marina Village, which is almost all the way out to Grosse Pointe, appeals to upwardly mobile professionals who want to rent a town home with a boat slip in front or apartment with access to a private marina,” Allen said.

At the 30-story-high Jeffersonian apartments east of Belle Isle, one of the main selling points for renters is the unobstructed view of the water from all of the balconies, said Beverly Silk, director of operations for the management company, Saperstein Associates.

“The residential mix here is diverse with young people in their first job, graduate and professional students, empty-nesters who have sold their Indian Village or Sherwood Forest homes, and retirees.”

Grabowski, who specializes in marketing and sales for downtown Detroit and riverfront residential properties, sees young professionals who start out in Ann Arbor, Royal Oak and Troy, as well as empty-nesters and retirees from Birmingham, Grosse Pointe and out-of-state moving to Detroit.

“In fact, out-of-staters are the easiest people to convince to buy here, because most have had such great "urban experiences' in other cities that they appreciate the amenities Detroit has to offer.

“There will always be demand for property close to the water,” he said, citing perceived value in the serenity, enjoyment of views and opportunity for recreation. “Detroit is no exception. The newest trend here is the "urban cottage' buyer — second-home owners who are selling their places "Up North' and purchasing a condo in Detroit, typically moving their boat to one of our marinas in the city.”

Grabowski thinks trends like this will grow as suburban buyers learn to appreciate Detroit's amenities — the most theater seats in the Midwest, professional sports teams, restaurants and nightlife — in their own neighborhood.

“It's just remarkable the beautiful piece of waterfront real estate we have,” Grabowski said. “In the coming years, we'll see this underdeveloped land mass along the Detroit River become more densely populated. Once the residents are here, the retail development will follow.”

http://crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070702/SUB/707010309/-1/toc

seicer

July 12th, 2007, 06:38 PM

If there is not a killer to more developments in Detroit...

Grocery closings hit Detroit hard (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070705/METRO/707050349)
City shoppers' choices dwindle as last big chain leaves
Joel J. Smith and Nathan Hurst
The Detroit News
July 05, 2007

DETROIT -- Colleen Rogers isn't looking forward to crossing the street to shop for even a few groceries.

The store, a locally owned market, is convenient, just steps away from the beauty shop where she works on Livernois in Detroit. But what troubles her is its higher prices, lack of variety and the low quality of fruit, vegetables, meats and other food -- staples Rogers could find every day in abundance at the Farmer Jack store near her home that is about to close.

"Sure, there's other grocery stores, but try finding something to eat in there," said the 34-year-old skin care specialist. "You can't buy quality food in the city anymore."

The lack of major grocery stores has long been a quality-of-life problem in Detroit and one reason some families don't want to live in the city. Now, however, the situation is getting worse as the last two Farmer Jack stores in the city prepare to close by Saturday.

If no grocery stores buy the Farmer Jack locations from the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Detroit will be left without a single national chain supermarket, much less a Wal-Mart or Meijer superstore or a Costco-style warehouse store.

Analysts say no other major city in America is such a supermarket desert. And it's not likely to change anytime soon.

Recent efforts by city officials, developers and community activists to woo a supermarket have been unsuccessful. Major grocery chains, which generally operate with thin profit margins, say doing business in Detroit is no-win situation. High employee turnover, cost of security and loss from theft are often cited. The city's comparably low income rates preclude selling an abundance of high-profit, upscale items.

The situation has left regular shoppers at the Farmer Jack stores -- one on East Jefferson and the other on Livernois at Seven Mile -- with two choices: drive the suburbs to shop if they have transportation, or buy groceries at smaller stores near their homes.

"Why should we have to go elsewhere to find a trustworthy store?" asked Joe Lanier, a longtime shopper of the Livernois Farmer Jack who owns a nearby business. "It's ridiculous you can't buy all the groceries you need in Detroit."

High cost of doing business

Within its 139 square miles, Detroit has 155 grocery stores, defined as various-size food markets with meat and produce. The city also has 1,000 convenience stores -- including gas stations and party stores -- that sell some type of food.

A 2003 University of Michigan study of Detroit supermarkets showed there were only five grocery stores in Detroit with over 20,000 square feet. The report concluded that the city could support 41 supermarkets with at least 40,000 square feet of space based on its population and spending habits.

Over the years, national chains have located in Detroit, only to pull up stakes and flee. There are a multitude of reasons, according to retail analysts, with the major deterrent being the high cost of doing business in the city.

"Sometimes even the people that live in the neighborhood don't feel safe shopping in the store," said David J. Livingston, a supermarket expert from Wisconsin. "They'll drive right past that Detroit store to go to a suburban store where they feel more comfortable."

While crime is a concern, Matt Allen, press secretary for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, said the issue should not be used as an excuse by the big chains to avoid Detroit.

"In certain areas where the socioeconomic is probably at the lowest end of our society, there are a lot of desperate people," Allen said.

But, he added, businesses can take measures to prevent theft.

"(Businesses) have added lighting, changed the heights of the counters, put the registers in certain places -- security by environmental design. It all helps," he said.

Detroit also suffers from a lack of strip malls with tenants to serve everyday needs. Large supermarket chains don't like to open stand-alone stores, said Ken Dalto, a retail expert from Farmington Hills.

"Larger supermarkets have a better chance of surviving if they are located in strip malls where people can do one-stop shopping," Dalto said. "If you don't have these anchor spots at strip malls, you aren't going to get the large chain supermarkets."

A number of the city's major developers and economic growth officials said efforts to draw a national grocer to the city have met tepid responses.

Midtown Development President Robert Slattery said he showed a plan for a 12,000-square-foot store with 65 parking spaces to specialty grocer Trader Joe's, but the company didn't bite.

His company and Wayne State University are still working to lure a new market to Midtown.

Expired food is a problem

Most independent food stores in Detroit are owned and operated by Chaldeans, some of whom have been in business for 40 or more years. A few are owned by African-Americans.

Martin Manna, executive director of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce in Southfield, said Chaldeans have stepped in as A&P, Farmer Jack and Kroger have abandoned the city.

"There usually is a market within walking distance of nearly every area of Detroit," Manna said. "It might not be a supermarket. That might be why there are so many people eating potato chips rather than wholesome foods in Detroit."

Although shoppers may complain prices are higher at independent stores, independent grocers said they strive to be competitive, even with the high costs of running a store in the city.

While there are clean, well-run stores scattered throughout the city, many don't offer the variety and selection of a Farmer Jack.

Many residents rely on convenience stores for bread, milk, eggs and snacks. Small stores that do offer meat and produce often sell food past its expiration date, shoppers said. The city has raided stores over the years to crack down on sales of expired food, but many say the problem still persists.

Pat Hollins, an activist with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, told of stopping in a small neighborhood grocer several weeks ago and immediately finding two expired packages of breakfast sausage.

ACORN has been picketing stores it contends have been selling expired meats and unhealthy foods.

"We have problems with meat and produce being expired," Hollins said. "We have no security in the parking lots, no restrooms in the stores and a poor selection of food products. When you cross Eight Mile, these problems all disappear. The poor folks, who don't have transportation to the suburbs to shop, are being taken advantage of."

'Where's the justice in that?'

Without chain grocers in her neighborhood, shoppers like Cheryl Coleman, who lives just blocks from the Farmer Jack on East Jefferson, will have to travel much farther for low-priced sundries.

"I'm sure going to miss this store," Coleman said. "I got everything I need here, just everything. We need a good grocery store in the city, right here on Jefferson."

She said she'll probably end up shopping at a Kroger in Grosse Pointe. "It's either Kroger or the little local store," Coleman said. "And they don't always have everything I want."

Gordon Alexander, 52, who lives on the city's east side, said suburbanites have it good compared to Detroiters.

"There is only one store in the city I'll pick up some stuff at, but my kids jokingly call it the 'ghetto store' because everything is subpar," he said. "Some of these stores make the argument that they are catering to black clientele, so they have to make room to carry stuff like ham hocks and chitterlings, but that's just an excuse for bad quality.

"Here we are, trying to revitalize the waterfront and make this city whole again, but people who live here can't even find something decent to eat. Where's the justice in that?"

Lmichigan

July 13th, 2007, 12:04 AM

Looks like some answered the call...

Link (http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/FREE/307120012/-1/newsletter04)

Fund pushed as way to eliminate Detroit "food deserts'

By Sherri Begin

3:01 am, July 12, 2007

A new financing fund in the works could bring fresh food to areas of Detroit that are starved for it.

LaSalle Bank Midwest has committed $15,000 to the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. to study how a fund could help establish more grocers and fresh-food outlets in neighborhoods where convenience-store fare makes up the bulk of residents' diets.

The fund won't be used to attract major grocery chains because they can finance their own new stores, said Rob Grossinger, senior vice president of community and sustainable development at LaSalle.

“First and foremost, the goal is to get healthy food to the people who need it,” Grossinger said. But bringing more grocers into high-need areas of Detroit has secondary benefits, as well.

“It provides jobs and a sense of home to people (which) stimulates the buying market or real estate market in the neighborhood,” Grossinger said.

The grant follows a study titled “Examining the Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Detroit,” commissioned by LaSalle and written by Mari Gallagher Research & Consulting Group. A similar study was done in Chicago.

It looked at “food deserts” — urban areas lacking access to grocers and fresh foods — and their connection to diet-related diseases.

During the release of the results of the Detroit study, which are available at www.lasallebank.com, LaSalle pledged the first investment in the fund — $2 million — provided the fund is pulled together before the bank changes hands.

“Once we make this commitment, whoever buys us will honor the commitment. But I can't really make it until there's something solid,” Grossinger said.

The goal of the fund is to provide below-market-rate or favorable term financing to fund a number of models to make fresh food available. Those include building new grocery stores, expanding convenience stores so that they can begin to sell fresh foods or funding locally owned fruit and vegetable sales sites.

The fund could begin with $10 million in capital, but Grossinger said he is hoping it will be closer to $20 million.

The DEGC could complete an agreement with a consultant for setting up the fund soon, said Olga Savic, the DEGC's director of strategy and external affairs.

The fund will be patterned after a one in Pennsylvania called the Fresh Food Financing Initiative. The 3-year-old fund, which started with $38 million, has financed 26 grocery stores to date with $23 million in financing, Savic said.

The financing fund ties into the DEGC's work with Social Compact, a national nonprofit it contracted with to identify market strengths and needs in Detroit.

“We were already planning to look at this issue of grocery stores and to be able to have a data-driven strategy around choosing sites for grocery stores,” Savic said.

By getting fresh food to those who don't currently have access to it, the financing fund is a good start to redesigning the current food distribution system, said Oran Hesterman, a program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and president and CEO of the Fair Food Foundation in Ann Arbor.

“But what's also needed is localization,” Hesterman said, “getting production and consumption closer together.”

The issue of food delivery systems has been “under the radar for some time,” said Glenn Lapin, director of planning and development for Detroit Renaissance Inc.

“I think LaSalle has done a great job in terms of trying to bring it to more attention.

“Certainly, the concept of attracting grocery stores and food-related outlets to the city is a concept we'd support,” he said.

Sherri Begin: (313) 446-1694, sbegin@crain.com

ManageMich

August 21st, 2007, 03:31 AM

Even with the downturn in the mortgage industry it seems that Dan Gilbert and his team are still interested in moving the business and others to downtown Detroit. If you know about it from other blogs, you have probably heard that the former Statler-Hilton site on Grand Circus Park is in consideration. Anyone else who knows the situation think it's interesting that the county plans to move their engineering offices to the Guardian Building if the county commission approves the purchase on September 6? Wouldn't this leave the county office building behind the Statler-Hilton site open to the development as well? Seems a little too convenient that the county is randomly moving things over to the Guardian Building.....just a thought.

TroyBoy

August 27th, 2007, 04:51 AM

Where are the construction pics of the Greektown casino? It looked like it was almost done with the parking floors. Would of took some pics myself but i only had my phone and it was too dark for that.

nickw311

September 6th, 2007, 10:27 PM

Any new info on the Quicken Loans move?

toog05

September 16th, 2007, 07:40 PM

Nope nothing at all

sicarim

September 18th, 2007, 07:34 AM

I flew through detroit last week and was impressed by the progress this city is making in the wake of the American automobile manufacteres downfall. I think a large part of this is due to casinos, but nonetheless, detroit is an impressive city.

If the growth in the suburbs expands into the city, they're in the money.

Michi

September 20th, 2007, 03:45 AM

sicarim,
Thanks for that comment.

What you need to know about Detroit and Southeast Michigan though, is that the pattern of growth has always been "growth" at the expense of something else. That "something else" has almost always been the city of Detroit.

So, I just wanted to clarify that "the growth of the suburbs" CAN'T expand into the city because their growth, essentially occurs because of the city...aside from the usual trickle of immigration that positively affects both city and suburb.

To further the discussion, yes birth/death rates and immigration has kept the region growing, but it's stagnant growth. Booms in economic development in certain nodes of the metro area are not due to in-migration and they never have been. For that reason, I hate to recognize that Detroit has grown much at all over the past few decades...because all the "new growth" and development you see in the suburbs is just displacing someone somewhere else already within the sphear of influence.

Why is Metro Detroit #1 (#6 now I believe) in home foreclosure rates in addition to being affected just like the rest of the country? Job losses, yes, but also because we consume the most amount of land, yet abtain the smallest amount of new residents into our sphere. We've overbuilt ourselves into collapse. Now our tax structure is failing us and our government will be shut down come October 1.

Key point: "DETROIT". Detroit, particularly downtown is keeping the region and the state (to an extent) afloat. The city leads the state in the # of issued building permits out of any other community, including the exurbs. Some people are starting to "get it". Companies are taking interest in downtown as are people for living. We're starting to talk like the rest of the country's progressive big cities have been doing for years.

However, Michigan still has a ball and chain split state government and one side (to remain nameless) is crying foul and insisting on keeping the state the way it was in the 1950s and 60s. They pulled out Michigan's single business tax (SBT) amounting to billions of dollars w/o a plan to replace that revenue. Everyone agreed it had to go, but only the "other party" recognized that that budget hole had to be plugged. Michigan has been tax cut dry and the reason our government is going to be shut down Oct. 1 is because that is the deadline the legislature LEGALLY has to approve the governor's budget of tax cuts and hikes. They want to approve and extension deadline because they refuse to sustain the necessary functioning of this state. Nobody likes a tax hike, but when you're at the bottom of the ocean treading for oxygen 100s of feet up, the logical thing NOT to do would be to dig deeper into the ocean floor.

How's that for development news? heh heh. :)

Anyway, in a nutshell, LOTS and LOTS of positive things going on in the city itself, and you don't necessarily feel the affects of the true state of the economy on a day-to-day basis, but things really are very dire in Michigan right now. The sole reason in my opinion is because we HAVE to change and we ARE going to change. What's sinking our ship is that there is very powerful leadership that wants to keep the status quo in MI pre year 2000. That's simply not an option and because of the uncooperative lack of effort from our state leadership, we've opted for the negative change right now...except again for the market responses occuring in Detroit...and places like Grand Rapids too.

Paddington

September 28th, 2007, 09:44 PM

I really like the architecture of the new MGM Grand Casino. Anyone have pictures?

Michi

October 7th, 2007, 12:46 AM

Ask and you shall receive.

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070056.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070057.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070058.jpg

A landscaped median was installed on what was once a very bland and broken 3rd Street. The DTE Energy property on the opposite side is installing a city block-sized garden.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070059.jpg

Bagley and 3rd showcases the corner focal point of the casino, which has a seasonal theme...here pumpkins and autumn leaves.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070060.jpg

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http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070072.jpg

Michi

October 7th, 2007, 12:47 AM

Greektown Casino
This is the first section being built OVER west-bound Lafayette Avenue.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070106.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070107.jpg

As seen from in front of Nikki's
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070117.jpg

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http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070110.jpg

St. Antoine Street
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070112.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070113.jpg

The hotel tower is slowly inching above the garage.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070115.jpg

Michi

October 7th, 2007, 12:49 AM

CASINOS AT NIGHT
MGM Grand
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070219.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070220.jpg

The lighted rectangle below the tiger icon is a falling water feature and tinted red.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070223.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070224.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070225.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070226.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070227.jpg

Motor City Casino.
-These photos were taken from the Michigan bridge over the Lodge, so the quality is kinda low. I waited and waited in an empty lot on Trumbull near old Tiger Stadium for the test show to come back on, but it never did...so I can't wait to get better photos soon.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070229.jpg

Most of the light show is relatively slow in changing colors, but there are also brief periods of animation which is really cool to see. I was going to take a video when I was waiting, so I'll try to do that next time too.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070230.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070232.jpg

It's much better with the naked eye!
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070233.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/RainyChicago/2007_0928DetDev09_28_070234.jpg

Paddington

October 7th, 2007, 07:25 AM

The MGM Grand has the best architecture of any casino in America, *by far*. That's a sweet Art Deco look.

EastSider

October 8th, 2007, 09:23 AM

The MGM Grand has the best architecture of any casino in America, *by far*. That's a sweet Art Deco look.

I like the casino as well, especially the streetscaping. 'Best in the US' though, really?

I'm surprised by the article about the lack of grocery stores in the city of Detroit. Economically it appears big-box retailers, especially grocery stores, are beginning to see the business benefits of investing in low-income areas. That brand is making a mistake by shipping out, I'm sure another grocery-brand will jump on the oppurtunity to open-up-shop in area of high-density and demand.

Iggui

October 15th, 2007, 07:10 AM

The MGM Grand has the best architecture of any casino in America, *by far*. That's a sweet Art Deco look.

¿"by far"?

¿have you ever been to a casino before? there's this city out west, it may even be in nevada, called las vegas. check out their casinos sometime.

(that said, i really do like the mgm detroit, i just don't think it has the best architecture of any casino in the US, not even close).

UrbanRenaissance

October 16th, 2007, 01:11 AM

Here's a map. For some reason the mapping software stretches out the map. The "oval" is technically a 300 mile radius.

http://www.downriverdetroit.net/detvsnyc.jpg

The Wall Street Journal reported on MGM Grand Detroit:

What Happens in Detroit . . by Tamara Audi (09/26/07)

"But the market at issue, as MGM Mirage sees it, includes a 300-mile radius of potential overnight clients across the region,"

Population estimates above for the 300 mile radius of Detroit (which includes Canada) are anywhere from 45 to 54 million making Detroit competitive with NYC.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=314381

AJohnstone

October 16th, 2007, 03:10 AM

This is an article about the recovery of Detroit's economy; http://www.theworldedition.com/economy/detroit.php

Michi

October 18th, 2007, 07:57 PM

That's a pretty weak article, no offense. It just glosses over in simple terms, what's generally happening in Detroit. Also, it errors in saying the region is losing people. Thanks for posting it, though. :)

Michi

November 6th, 2007, 03:03 AM

November 03, 2007

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2007_1103FernDetroit11_03_070001.jpg

So ugly, lol.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2007_1103FernDetroit11_03_070002.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2007_1103FernDetroit11_03_070004.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2007_1103FernDetroit11_03_070005.jpg

Yay!
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/Detroit%20September/2007_1103FernDetroit11_03_070006.jpg

TroyBoy

December 2nd, 2007, 07:18 AM

Anyone got any pics from Motorcity?

StevenW

December 2nd, 2007, 11:26 PM

What are the latest high-rise proposals? :? :)

Michi

December 6th, 2007, 03:06 AM

Well, according to all the local news media, the Watermark is a tower. :ohno:
http://www.modeldmedia.com/galleries/Default/Dev%20News/Issue%2093/watermarkrendering.jpg

I believe the closest thing we have to highrise proposals are the redevelopment of either tht Broderick, Stott, or Book Tower; but only the Broderick has rumored of anything and it has been proven to be a tedious process.

StevenW

December 6th, 2007, 03:28 AM

I just don't see it. I mean, Detroit is such a cool city. Why wouldn't there be more development? :? The city deserves allot of attention. :yes: Hey, DEVELOPERS!!!, come to Detroit! :yes: :)

WinnipegPatriot

December 6th, 2007, 05:06 AM

^^Pure ignorance!

TroyBoy

December 7th, 2007, 12:25 AM

Well, the economy in Michigan is shit, i got 8 months till i get out of here. I mean i couldnt even get a job for the holidays because you got 40 year olds that got layed off working the jobs that would usually go to younger people.

Michi

December 7th, 2007, 05:28 AM

I just don't see it. I mean, Detroit is such a cool city. Why wouldn't there be more development? :? The city deserves allot of attention. :yes: Hey, DEVELOPERS!!!, come to Detroit! :yes: :)

Well, Detroit is holding its own. And I guess when I say Detroit, I'm referring to the core. The activity down there is very reflective of what you see going on in the rest of the country's big cities. It's also very misrepresentative of what's going on outside of the core...that being a collapsing economy. Not really, but it feels like it.

Detroit right now, is a huge liability and risk. Unless you can insist to a bank that your project will be 100% profitable, you're going to have a tougher time in Detroit than other cities, eventhough this is a similar practice everywhere. But like I said, downtown and anything river influenced is the prime focus right now. It's really miraculous, actually and is completely foreseeing the future of economic growth in this region. There's no way we can succeed on the old practices, but rather we have to readopt the type of growth that is being undertaken in the downtown. There's just no other way to describe it.

I think that might offer an explanation, SteveW. The only place that you feel the Detroit area is really somewhat normal compared to the rest of the country's big cities is by spending time in the core. Of course, you still get the elements of the declined city, but that is being overpowered by the educated power brokers finally following the lead of the risk takers and investing big in the city.

Once the core takes of (ie, after mass transit), Detroit's remaining infrastructure is very accomodating to future development akin to what people and jobs are attracted to. The suburbs? Not so much. We'll pull through, it's just going to take time which will feel like a long time.

WinnipegPatriot

December 8th, 2007, 01:57 AM

What sort of Federal grants exist (if any) to spur revival downtown? For instance does "Downtown Detroit partnership" receive any federal/state money to help developers offset any costs/risks for building in downtown?

There is no magic wand that can offer a quick fix for Detroit's woes. From everything I have read, Detroit is attempting to reinvent itself the way other cities are: tax incentives, etc. The metro area is a huge market to tap into, so you need to get thousands of those people living downtown. The mentality that business will save the downtown is obsolete; of course any new companies relocating downtown is a good thing, but you need the 24/7 activity that will ensure success.

StevenW

December 8th, 2007, 04:44 PM

^^Pure ignorance!

About what? :? Me? About my knowledge of the Detroit area economy? What do you mean?
Ignorance? You need to be more specific. I lived in Upper Mich. over 21 years ago. That's the last time I was even in the State. I just check in from time to time to see how the State is doing. I wish it all the best. Am I aware of the entire economic conditions in Detroit? No. But I know it isn't attracting allot of interest that I think it has the potential to have. I'm just wondering, "WHY?" That's all. I think it's a great city. That's all. Period. Your statement sounds very insulting.

StevenW

December 8th, 2007, 04:46 PM

Well, Detroit is holding its own. And I guess when I say Detroit, I'm referring to the core. The activity down there is very reflective of what you see going on in the rest of the country's big cities. It's also very misrepresentative of what's going on outside of the core...that being a collapsing economy. Not really, but it feels like it.

Detroit right now, is a huge liability and risk. Unless you can insist to a bank that your project will be 100% profitable, you're going to have a tougher time in Detroit than other cities, eventhough this is a similar practice everywhere. But like I said, downtown and anything river influenced is the prime focus right now. It's really miraculous, actually and is completely foreseeing the future of economic growth in this region. There's no way we can succeed on the old practices, but rather we have to readopt the type of growth that is being undertaken in the downtown. There's just no other way to describe it.

I think that might offer an explanation, SteveW. The only place that you feel the Detroit area is really somewhat normal compared to the rest of the country's big cities is by spending time in the core. Of course, you still get the elements of the declined city, but that is being overpowered by the educated power brokers finally following the lead of the risk takers and investing big in the city.

Once the core takes of (ie, after mass transit), Detroit's remaining infrastructure is very accomodating to future development akin to what people and jobs are attracted to. The suburbs? Not so much. We'll pull through, it's just going to take time which will feel like a long time.

Thank you, Michi. :)

Michi

December 8th, 2007, 06:50 PM

No prob! I've been around long enough to know when people are being genuine.

WP, there isn't a magic wand, and that's not the course that anyone would take to address Detroit's condition...especially those involved in the leadership of the city. The more we progress w/ our efforts here, the more of a tied region we are becoming. For instance, the more people that move from the suburbs to the city (companies included), the more the suburbs have to start looking at Detroit in cooperation regarding the negative issues that affect us all.

You're wrong regarding the business front though. For so long (before I was born) companies and businesses had been leaving Detroit. People call Detroit a rust belt city because there are no jobs here, it's all old manufacturing based, and what not. But cross 8 Mile Road, and you have the complete opposite of what "Detroit" is. It's the same people, same infrastructure, same residential and retail market, same everything. It's just that government (federal, state, and local) has designed it to be seperate and segregated.

So, my point is, and you have to think outside the box to an extreme, is that what if all of a sudden, those jobs, those people, and those market demands THAT ALREADY EXIST HERE "in Detroit" (region) all moved back to the geopolitical boundaries that encompass Detroit city proper? Would we all of a sudden NOT be a "Rust Belt" city? Would people think of us more on the level of a Chicago than a Gary? It's a game you can call musical wealth. The problem is that we have a lot of extremes in this region, fostered by the segregationist practices we've adopted over time. This makes it very easy for the market to fail in Detroit proper, even though the city still has a large middle class and a broad spending power. However, most of the transactions take place in the suburbs (where the wealth is "suppose" to be). At the current time, you can live in Detroit and have money, but we've designed society so that it's not recommended because of how much of an inconvenience it is suppose to be.

Well, as people move back to the core and corporations and businesses commit, things start to change. Couple that with the unique living environment along the river and amid a large urban center, people in this new generation are going to take notice and start to find attraction in Detroit. We're alreay here, we just allow political boundaries to dictate the haves and the have nots. Detroit was once the center of this region, but today it is like LA...what's the saying for Metro LA?..."A thousand suburbs in search of a city" I think it goes? That's the same w/ Detroit. Only the difference is there we neglected the central city, where LA has enough diversification to sustain its core in many ways.

So, I guess I'll just leave by saying it is not true that businesses saving downtown is obsolete. How do you create that 24 hour community if you don't have jobs and housing? The changing economy is demonstrating that new generations are wanting to live near where they work, additionally in walkable communities. We don't have much of that in this region...but luckily Detroit wasn't destroyed enough to where we can't capture the majority of that demand. You know, if just 1% of the metro area moved to downtown Detroit because we are able to make it work, we'd have an influx of 50,000 new residents. And studies are showing that people moving back to the city are both well educated and open minded. That makes tons of sense when you look at the sophistication the urban core promotes.

It's happening...just slower in Detroit than the more obvious places. It's a blast to be a part of it too! :)

WinnipegPatriot

December 9th, 2007, 07:41 PM

Maybe I worded that wrong, LOL...of course businesses are great to have downtown. Mixed-use is the way to go!

With Quicken moving downtown, and hopefully 4,000 (well-paid) employees, developers need to get on board and start planning new developments. If the city can get a good percentage of these people to move downtown, that will, without saying really, be incredible.

WinnipegPatriot

December 9th, 2007, 07:42 PM

About what? :? Me? About my knowledge of the Detroit area economy? What do you mean?
Ignorance? You need to be more specific. I lived in Upper Mich. over 21 years ago. That's the last time I was even in the State. I just check in from time to time to see how the State is doing. I wish it all the best. Am I aware of the entire economic conditions in Detroit? No. But I know it isn't attracting allot of interest that I think it has the potential to have. I'm just wondering, "WHY?" That's all. I think it's a great city. That's all. Period. Your statement sounds very insulting.

Sorry--not directed at you, rather developers/banks, etc.

cjfjapan

December 9th, 2007, 07:52 PM

Catch this (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/travel/09where.html?ei=5087&em=&en=5759e794ed852c18&ex=1197349200&pagewanted=all)? Detroit is number 40, just before San Francisco, and just after Itacare, Brazil.

40. DETROIT

Historically crime-ridden Detroit may not spring to mind as a hot tourist spot, but don't tell that to the city's bullish hoteliers. Newcomers include the MGM Grand Detroit (www.mgmgranddetroit.com), the MotorCity Casino Hotel (www.motorcitycasino.com) in an old Wonder Bread factory and the historic Book Cadillac Hotel, being transformed into a Westin (www.westinbookcadillac.com). Plus, the Detroit Institute of Arts (www.dia.org) just reopened after a $158 million renovation.

Michi

December 9th, 2007, 09:58 PM

Yah, I saw that, cjf...thanks for posting it here! Detroit has a lot more than what people give it credit for. The challenge w/ being a tourist in Detroit is that you kinda have to have someone hold your hand because it definitely has a different vibe that, admittedly, can be boring if you don't know what to do or where to go, or how to get there. That's just another reason why people and business densification in the core is essential.

WP, just to illustrate your point, the Griswold @ Capitol Park condo development started presales and purchase agreements months before Quicken ever hinted at coming downtown. The Griswold development had good turn out and enough interest that it could go forward w/ construction. But, recently, they've made it apparent that a lot of their "swinger" agreements made the final commitment once Quicken made their announcement. The presales occupancy got that much closer to 100% just based on that alone. Imagine when the Quicken HQ is up and running and there is that influx of 4,000+ people working, and many living dwntwn. There is going to have to be a lot of spinoff business (mixed use in many cases) that will be demanded to serve the changing and betterment of the quality of life dwntwn!

Griswold, Capitol Park -=- above-ground construction to start at the end of the month.
http://www.modeldmedia.com/galleries/Default/Downtown/places%20to%20move/Griswold/The_Griswold_-_Capitol_Park_450.jpg

WinnipegPatriot

December 9th, 2007, 10:15 PM

Damn that is a great project! I love triangular buildings, and this one...the scale is perfect! Part of me wants a podium, with the building set-back starting at the third floor...but this is awesome...a very classy building!!!

Michi

December 11th, 2007, 02:14 AM

lol...Thanks, WP. Although, I'm not sure if you are aware that the lower 10 floors are a parking garage.

I must agree though, it's classy given that the bulk is parking and the little "plop" on the top is residential. The ground level will be retail however, so I guess that makes the structure mixed use.

I think there is an agreement/policy in the city that all new parking structures have to, at least attempt, to impliment ground floor retail in parking structures.

I think the facade will also be nice on this one in particular because the garage is serving as the designated space for the Westin Book Cadillac hotel and condos, adjacent. They're looking for more upscale.

For more conceptuals of the Griswold, you can find them on their website.
http://www.thegriswold.com/gallery.htm

WinnipegPatriot

December 11th, 2007, 08:29 PM

Mostly parking? Yikes!

hybridy

December 19th, 2007, 09:27 AM

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071218/UPDATE/712180448

State tax breaks lead to business expansion, jobs

heres some development news from detnews- some i was not even aware of

*Argonaut Campus Developer LLC, Detroit: The College for Creative Studies (CCS) will use a $10 million state brownfield tax credit and state and local tax capture valued at $11.2 million to transform the Argonaut Building located at 485 West Milwaukee Ave. in Detroit's New Center into a mixed-use campus for art and design education. General Motors Corp. will donate the Argonaut Building to CCS for the redevelopment, which will house CCS's new graduate programs, programs for middle and high school students, dormitory facilities for 261 students and studios. The development will include retail and office space for non-profit organizations and an incubator/accelerator for start-up businesses in design and creative industries. The project is expected to generate capital investment in excess of $120 million and create 200 jobs.

*FRBD LLC, Detroit: The developer will use a $1.3 million state brownfield tax credit to convert the historic Federal Reserve Building located at 160 W. Fort St. in Detroit's Central Business District into 84 one and two-bedroom apartments with retail and commercial space. The project is expected to generate more than $20.2 million in capital investment and create 12 jobs.

*Gardenview Estates Detroit: A state brownfield tax credit valued at $3.9 million will support Norstar Development USA in the initial stage of a multi-phase residential and mixed-use redevelopment of the former Herman Gardens Public Housing Complex at the corner of Joy Road and the Southfield Freeway in northwest Detroit. The first 186 rental units will be completed in three phases over the next four to five years. This phase of the project supported by the brownfield credit is expected to generate more than $42.3 million in capital investment and create five jobs. The overall plan approved by the Detroit Housing Commission is a $227.2 million mixed-use, mixed-income development consisting of 920 residential units, commercial/retail space, a central park and the recently completed NFL Boys and Girls Club.

*Piquette Square and Southwest Housing Solutions, Detroit: The developers will use a $1.7 million state brownfield tax credit to redevelop an industrial site on Piquette St. in Detroit that once housed the Studebaker Manufacturing Facility and the Detroit Artillery Armory. The project involves construction of a four-story building with 150 supportive housing units for homeless veterans and retail and commercial space. The project is expected to generate $20 million in capital investment and create 22 jobs.

*Tireman & Epworth Properties, Detroit: The city of Detroit will utilize state and local tax capture valued at $753,000 to support the redevelopment of 7.3 acres at the corner of Tireman and Epworth streets in northwest Detroit. The project includes the demolition of two blighted buildings, the renovation of two viable ones and the removal of debris and contaminated soil to make way for the expansion of Parts Galore, an auto parts salvage business. The site will also house a new towing company to support its parent company's operations. The project will generate $1.97 million in capital investment and create up to 25 jobs.

*Urban Development Company LLC, Detroit: The developer will use a state brownfield tax credit valued at $1.5 million to transform the former Globe Trading Building and Detroit Dry Docks Engine Works on Atwater St. in Detroit north of the marina in Tri Centennial State Park into a mixed-use development with 64 new loft condos, 28 loft apartments, retail/commercial space and indoor parking. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has proposed locating a visitor's center for the park in the building. The project is expected to generate $17 million in capital investment and create up to 75 jobs.

*North Woodward Garden Block Development, Detroit: A state brownfield tax credit valued at $2.2 million will support the development group revitalize a blighted block on the west side of Woodward between Mack and Warren in Detroit. The project involves the restoration of the Garden Theatre and the Blue Moon Building. The theater will be returned to its original use and the Blue Moon will house a new restaurant. A new, three-story building will be constructed with retail and commercial space. Plans also call for a 300-space parking garage. The project will generate $28.7 million in capital investment and create more than 200 jobs.

Michi

January 4th, 2008, 07:49 PM

Pictures: Friday December 28, 2007 | Posted: Friday January 04, 2008

South University Village - still pretty much looks the same
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070012.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070013.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070014.jpg

From Garfield Street
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070019.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070021.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070022.jpg

The vehicle garage slip.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070023.jpg

Greektown Casino Hotel Tower - about half way done
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070015.jpg

From Campus Martius
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070046.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070051.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070053.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070054.jpg

Lafayette expansion over the boulevard.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070055.jpg

Installing the brickwork.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070056.jpg

From the back
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070057.jpg

From Lafayette Park
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070069.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070079.jpg

From Eastern Market
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070087.jpg

From Gratiot
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070090.jpg

From St. Antoine
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070092.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070093.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070094.jpg

Engineering School Addition - Wayne State University. It is built on the north side of Warren diagonal from Old Main.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070016.jpg

For instance, this is looking north toward the Fisher Building and Anthony Wayne Drive (3rd Street) is just to the left.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070018.jpg

The Bethoven renovation at 3rd and Prentis, Midtown
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070024.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070025.jpg

New city retail at the MidMed Lofts.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070026.jpg

Wayne State Univ. DMC Medical Expansion Project - (adjacent to Detroit Receiving along Canfield).
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070027.jpg

Brush Park North - John R & Erskine Streets (Patterson Terrace on the left (renovation soon??))
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070028.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070029.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070030.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070031.jpg

LaMar Loft Development, Brush Park - just weeks ago it did not have a roof or windows and was rotting on the inside.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070032.jpg

Private caretaking in Brush Park.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070033.jpg

Infill opportunities that Crosswinds is going to pollute w/ low-density, cookie cutter suburban poo.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070034.jpg

Crystal Lofts - nearly complete on the exterior.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070035.jpg

Not sure what's happening with the door on the left.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070037.jpg

Motor City Casino - Grand River Avenue. I went inside for the first time and didn't really care much for it. It's very "casino-like" and "loud" w/ the architecture where the MGM is more elegant and subtle while still "wowing" on the interior. Definately prefer the MC exterior though.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070038.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070039.jpg

Current garden theme at the MGM.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070043.jpg

Double Tree Fort-Shelby and condos development - Lafayette Avenue
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070045.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070001.JPG

Westin Book Cadillac - new lower level window detail
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070047.jpg

Conference hall extension.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070048.jpg

A+ on the new facade match!
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070049.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070050.jpg

Dequindre Cut - (rails-to-trails): talk about a total raping of the landscape! It's great to see progress and though I was aware of some bridges coming down I didn't think it was that many.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070058.jpg

Looking south toward Jefferson Avenue.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070059.jpg

North toward Gratiot Avenue.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070060.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070062.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070063.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070064.jpg

You can see the Lafayette Avenue access ramp on the left.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070065.jpg

Some of the old graffiti art is exposed on the old bridge foundations. This one will surely be cleared. The Riverfront Conservancy (overseeing the project) is encouraging graffiti and other art once the Cut is finished, but as long as it is censored.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070066.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070068.jpg

Approaching Eastern Market
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070073.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070074.jpg

Caesar's Casino Windsor Hotel
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070070.jpg

Looking south through Lafayette Park toward the riverfront.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070075.jpg

Just throwing in the semi-new Gratiot Median through Eastern Market for the heck of it.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070081.jpg

I've concluded people don't use crosswalks in Detroit. (see Crystal lofts photo too). ;)
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070082.jpg

Shed 2 - Eastern Market
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070084.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070085.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070088.jpg

Boll Downtown YMCA
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070096.jpg

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070098.jpg

Eph McNally's - new storefront sign...near Comerica Tower.
http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070109.jpg

fin

hudkina

January 4th, 2008, 10:17 PM

I'm not sure if I like that blue-painted brick...

Michi

January 4th, 2008, 11:13 PM

Oh, c'mon! It's VINTAGE!! :llama:

WinnipegPatriot

January 5th, 2008, 05:05 PM

I'm not sure if I like that blue-painted brick...

Look past the shade of blue, or even the brick being painted...it is eye-catching, and the key to establishing funky, eclectic (thus desireable) neighborhoods, is color...texture, etc. At least it isn't fuschia;)

I love the building beside it...very cool!

Isn't is amazing what impact some "green" has on a streetscape? This median no doubt softened the harshness of the semi-decaying buildings along the street....

http://downtownmotown.8k.com/detroitmay/2007_1228Detroit12_28_070081.jpg

Awesome pics btw...thanks!!!

hudkina

January 7th, 2008, 07:50 AM

"semi-decaying" Is that another word for "old", because I believe all of them, if not most of them are occupied shops. That little stretch of Gratiot near Eastern Market may not be a yuppy-haven, but it certainly isn't decaying.

LouisvilleS

January 7th, 2008, 09:57 AM

_ttam_

January 11th, 2008, 06:50 AM

Michi, what the heck kind of awesome camera do you own to be able to take such sharp high quality photos?

What kind of lenses do you use for "urban" photography?

Michi

January 12th, 2008, 03:49 AM

Oh, well thank you!

My camera is called the Fuji Finepix. It's actually an older model (2005), but it is almost identical to this latest model:
http://blogofwishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/_fuji-finepix-s9100.jpg

It's really nothing special and is starting to age, but I've taken good care of it. :) Thanks for the comment, though!

hudkina

January 19th, 2008, 11:12 AM

Hey I use a Fuji too!!

Except mine is a disposable Fuji Quicksnap...

http://www.goelectronic.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/fuji_quicksnap-flash.jpg

StevenW

January 19th, 2008, 03:53 PM

Awesome pix/updates, Michi!! :yes:

StevenW

January 19th, 2008, 03:54 PM

$150-million complex planned for downtown
Cadillac Centre to include residential, retail and entertainment space
January 6, 2008

By JOHN GALLAGHER

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and private developers are days away from announcing a blockbuster new residential, retail and entertainment center in the heart of Detroit, a project aimed at pumping up downtown's 24-hour buzz and international interest in the city.

Rest of the article is at:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080106/BUSINESS04/801060626

I LIKE it! :yes:

http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20080106&Category=BUSINESS04&ArtNo=801060626&Ref=AR

http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20080106&Category=BUSINESS04&ArtNo=801060626&Ref=V3

Totally cool! :yes:

Jim856796

January 28th, 2008, 02:45 AM

What are they doing at the Dequindre Cut area (specifically)?

Jai

January 28th, 2008, 11:02 AM

That's an awesome project

I absufrigginglutely love the glass cladding on Cadillac Tower. It's cutting edge, futuristic, yet still respects the dignity and architecture of the tower. Too many redevelopment projects rip the soul up out of old buildings, but that is damn classy!

What are they doing at the Dequindre Cut area (specifically)?
Thats nuts. I grew up in that area... I remember tagging the bridges as a kid

God, they're not ripping up the old bridges are they??!? Anyone interested in urban archeology or the art of graffiti and tagging would totally agree with me when I say I hope to hell they're going to leave them.

They better not destroy the ambiance of the place. Granted, it was dirty, but even as a kid I loved the spooky look of the cut during a cold, snowy midnight. I wish I had a camera then....

Sorry to get all nostalgic and blah... but it was being born and raised in D Town which made me appreciate architecture and urbanity

outerdriveGuy

February 19th, 2008, 12:02 PM

My name is John! Im new to the forum and I am looking foward to meet other members of the board.Im 22,Detroit born & raised!Enough about me!I heard Blue Cross/Blue Shield are tearing down there old garage.Do they have any developement plans for the site?Also any word on the new F.B.I HQ. or the Port Facility?

Michi

February 20th, 2008, 04:05 AM

Hey John, welcome! :)

Others may know better, but I believe the FBI Building is on temporary hold due to security regulations not meeting safety codes for federal buildings...or something to that effect. It will get built, just on a very slow timeline.

The Port Authority Terminal, the last I heard is still in optimistic planning stages. It's in the works, but has, and will continue to INCH forward.

By the way, anyone who has passed the new Griswold Garage construction site is probably impressed as I am in that the section closest to Campus Martius is already up to level 6 (on 2/19/08)! This is one project that will be done in no time.

outerdriveGuy

March 15th, 2008, 06:20 AM

I was watching the city council meeting thursday and they were giving some updates on Paradise Valley.Council wants some of the work to be done by this summer.Also they are in the process of negotiating with two african nations to put a cosulate it two of the four city owned buildings. Also something about a museum or art gallary.George Jackson said " it would be something that was never done before and that he was pretty sure that it would bring national recognition to district".There also are looking at something along the lines of a walk of fame.Sort of like the hollywood walk of fame.There still a lot of planning to do but I am already excited about the project!!

hudkina

March 31st, 2008, 02:34 AM

Well Paradise Valley certainly sounds a hell of a lot better than "Africantown". At least it has roots in the city's past.

Granted, I still prefer Harmonie Park.

TroyBoy

March 31st, 2008, 11:28 PM

Well Paradise Valley certainly sounds a hell of a lot better than "Africantown". At least it has roots in the city's past.

Granted, I still prefer Harmonie Park.

Agree, theres not really any valley there? Sounds like a LA suburb name.

Just to add some stuff, pics of Greektown construction from flicker.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70205638@N00/2330858858/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlfigurski/2265979742/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gab482/2267556667/

hudkina

April 5th, 2008, 09:31 PM

Paradise Valley was an old neighborhood that was basically south of Eastern Market and east of Greektown. It was a nightlife district geared towards Detroit's African American population, drawing top acts (particularly jazz and blues) from around the country during much of the first half of the 20th century. It was destroyed in the 60's to construct I-75/I-375 and as well as Lafayette Park.

outerdriveGuy

April 15th, 2008, 01:08 AM

Some pics....More to come!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/2413873105_606c9aea7c_b.jpg
work at Mgm Grand garden
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2413902859_4d31acf722_b.jpg
Rosa Parks Transit Center

MilwaukeeMark

April 29th, 2008, 11:34 PM

Something rather hilarious I found on flickr... thought I'd share:

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/3665/130383722755f39adabfovv0.jpg

STLCardsBlues1989

April 30th, 2008, 12:07 AM

A little harsh, but it should get the point across.

TroyBoy

April 30th, 2008, 03:53 AM

Looks like its l33t speech.

nickw311

May 30th, 2008, 01:47 AM

Any new news on moving Rock Financial to downtown?

haldcottingham

May 31st, 2008, 06:04 PM

Something rather hilarious I found on flickr... thought I'd share:

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/3665/130383722755f39adabfovv0.jpg

That is pretty funny!

Mudhen419

June 9th, 2008, 12:17 AM

Hows the 75 project comin along?? Very curious to see how that looks..... Im usually up that way once a month to go to the casinos from Toledo..... Im interested in seeing the ped walk way......

Also.... any news on the fate of Tiger Stadium? I've heard rumors and have been reading on it for a few years now.... But nothing seems up to date...

testdrive

June 22nd, 2008, 03:38 PM

Come on Detroit peeps............give us something.......there must be something going on there.:mad2:

swaugh3

July 1st, 2008, 09:47 PM

Also.... any news on the fate of Tiger Stadium? I've heard rumors and have been reading on it for a few years now.... But nothing seems up to date...

As of June 30, Tiger Stadium is now undergoing demolition.

Mudhen419

July 5th, 2008, 08:56 AM

tiger stadium will always be my favorite ballpark. and this is comin from an indians fan

hudkina

July 11th, 2008, 08:14 AM

There is still the chance that a portion of the structure will be saved.

TroyBoy

July 12th, 2008, 09:46 AM

There is still the chance that a portion of the structure will be saved.

Yeah, their taking it apart so the part that might be saved is last. That way the conservationist have time to raise money.

DetroitCity

July 15th, 2008, 09:43 PM

Good news about a new HQ in Detroit + I started a thread for the Greektown Casino Hotel (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=662876).
_______________________________________________________
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/BIZ/807160409
Michigan to host $11B Dow venture
Charlie Cain / Detroit News Lansing Bureau

LANSING -- Southeast Michigan will host the site of a world headquarters for a planned $11 billion joint venture between Dow Chemical Co. and the Petrochemical Industries Co. of Kuwait, Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced this morning.

The headquarters, somewhere along the "I-96-I-94 corridor," would employ 800 Michigan employees within the next several years, with an average salary of $95,000, Granholm said. The investment in Michigan would be more than $100 million.

"K-Dow, which will bring hundreds of jobs to our state, would rank in the top half of the Fortune 500 if it was publicly traded, and the fact that it will be headquartered here is good news for Michigan," said Granholm, who held the news conference at her Capitol office.

Advertisement

"This affirms that the state of Michigan is willing to work hard to attract new investment and jobs to our state," Andrew Liveris, chairman and CEO of the 110-year-old Dow Chemical Co., said in a statement.

The proposed world headquarters will receive yet-to-be-determined tax incentives from the state and local government. Officials said they hoped the company would begin operations before the year is out.

Michigan overcame strong competition from Texas and Louisiana to land the project, officials said.

The company, among other things, will produce plastics -- including polyethylene and polypropylene -- which are used in a variety of products, including food packaging, appliances, durable goods and automotive parts.

The Michigan site offers a number of benefits, company officials said, including easy access to international travel, a strong school system, a large Arab-American population in Metro Detroit and "Michigan hospitality."

Granholm, who had scheduled a visit to Kuwait to meet with company officials earlier this year, had to cancel the meeting following emergency abdominal surgery. Businessmen from Kuwait instead visited with her at the governor's official residence in Lansing.

The proposal new company would employ about 5,000 people worldwide, many of them in Asia, the Mideast and Latin America.

The announcement comes as General Motors Corp. announced the cutbacks in thousands of jobs due to plunging sales of trucks and SUVs.

Asked if the new world headquarters pales in the light of those automotive cutbacks, Granholm said: "The story of Michigan is that we are diversifying and doing everything we can to replace those automotive jobs" while continuing to support the state's automotive base.

Michigan's May unemployment rate was 8.5 percent, the highest in 16 years.

Lmichigan

July 16th, 2008, 02:13 AM

Please post the link to the article in your post.

This is great news! Especially after all of the other bad news we heard, today.

DetroitCity

July 16th, 2008, 11:27 PM

Added the link to news story in my last post...

And now more news... this time about the Light Rail proposal... Here's the LINK (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/METRO05/807160412/1016), I won't paste the whole thing here.

Infoman

July 20th, 2008, 10:40 PM

Is there any high-rises underconstruction in the Suburbs. If there is how many of them.

TroyBoy

July 21st, 2008, 02:59 AM

Is there any high-rises underconstruction in the Suburbs. If there is how many of them.

None, that i know of. Royal Oaks had one a year ago, that was under construction.

Hayward

July 22nd, 2008, 04:28 AM

If Ann Arbor counts, there will be one under construction soon that is 26 stories.

DetroitBosnian

October 26th, 2008, 08:19 PM

Since its been a long time since anyone has posted anything I found these pictures John in the D took about various sites across Detroit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25660710@N02/sets/72157607169741206/

Mudhen419

October 28th, 2008, 12:12 AM

Whats goin on D? 75/embassador bridge project photos anyone? Anyone know if its true that the Redwings are looking to build a new arena?

Paddington

October 29th, 2008, 02:40 AM

The trailer for Clint Eastwood's new movie Gran Torino is up:

9teLeXZ3XMU

I for one really appreciate Clint Eastwood's ability to make a movie relevant to modern times and places. Consider the scourge of Chinese gangs in Detroit, they're up their along with escaped hippopotamuses from the zoo and lost French Canadian tourists who don't speak English as the biggest problems facing the city today.

Well, I guess maybe this thing was supposed to be set in LA or San Fransisco instead. But who can blame Clint for switching it to Detroit at the last minute with almost non-existent script changes? I mean who could resist Granholm's sexy charms, not to mention her paying for 40% of this using Michigan's money. God knows Clint Eastwood needs the money more than Michigan does, because it's time to "spread the wealth around".

hudkina

October 31st, 2008, 07:37 PM

Uh... The movie is still set in Los Angeles. It was only filmed here. Sort of like Transformers and the Island. They were both "Los Angeles" but they were filmed in Detroit. Ironically, a lot of the films set in Detroit were filmed in Toronto.

StevenW

November 30th, 2008, 09:47 PM

Any high-rise development going on lately? :)

Paddington

December 2nd, 2008, 01:59 AM

Possibly the casino hotel towers.

hybridy

December 3rd, 2008, 08:44 PM

greektown is opening in early 2009 and the fort shelby hilton is shooting for a december opening-that'll be the end of any highrise stuff. other pending projects are the monroe block and the quicken building-both of which may never happen.

if you're wishing for any detroit development hope for some action along the river and lightrail up woodward-

Lmichigan

December 5th, 2008, 07:46 AM

Yes, most stuff coming down the pipe for Detroit in the next few years will be public sector infrastructure investment, and it's about damned time if you asked me. It'll make certain areas of the city more attractive to private investment when the economy picks back up.

Paddington

December 6th, 2008, 02:17 AM

They should get some topless showgirls at the casinos. :yes:

They can draw from Flight Club's talent pool. :lol:

Lmichigan

December 6th, 2008, 04:46 AM

I think Windsor has got that covered.

Paddington

December 6th, 2008, 05:26 AM

They do? :shifty:

Paddington

December 28th, 2008, 09:55 PM

Kuwait scraps K-Dow venture:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_KUWAIT_DOW_CHEMICAL?SITE=OHTOL&SECTION=BUSINESS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Ouch. No jobs lost in Detroit, but another blow to the failed Granholm administration.

Lmichigan

December 30th, 2008, 06:28 AM

Huh? That didn't have anything to do with her, our government, or even our current situation. We were failed on the Kuwaiti side on this one, and by the global recession. Did you read the article?

Paddington

December 30th, 2008, 06:33 AM

I did, but Granholm sold this loudly and publicly as one of her successes. Looks like she was counting her chickens before they hatched. It didn't look like it was taken all that seriously by people in Kuwait (some petty personal politics seem to be behind what killed it), but here it was sold as a done deal and a major economic breakthrough for the region.

All Granholm really cared about was some positive press for election time to ensure that she could deliver Michigan to Obama, secure her cabinet seat, and get out of Michigan!

Lmichigan

December 30th, 2008, 08:37 AM

Huh, again? This wasn't about presidential politics, at all.

Governors sell projects all the time that don't make it through for whatever reason. And, again, in this one in particular, this was no fault of our own government.

This was actually a surprise because the Kuwaiti's had been saying that this was a done deal for the last few months since they proposed this. Hell, in fact, just earlier this month (December 1), the two companies involved signed a memorandum of understanding, which stated the details of the plan. To think that something this far done wouldn't be championed as a gain by the governor is silly.

Really, you are going around the world and through the woods to pin the blame on her, for this one. I'm not quite sure why, but your blame is misplaced, this time. It was the Kuwaiti's and them alone that backed out of this at the last minute for their own personal reasons.

MichiganDude

December 30th, 2008, 11:40 AM

This was the Kuwaiti Government throwing a childish tantrum over losing oil revenue.

Petrochemical HQ deal could fail, Dow warns
http://www.freep.com/article/20081230/BUSINESS06/812300347

From what I can gather from this article is that Dow is weighing its options to see whether or not it can convince the Kuwaiti gov't to go ahead with the deal. The good in this is that Dow is pretty committed to bringing something here, whether it is with Kuwait or another middle eastern country....

Here is a quote from the article:

"This has nothing to do with Michigan," said Dana Johnson, Comerica Bank's chief economist. "It's just bad luck."

This has nothing to do with Granholm, Bush, Religion, or if the stars were aligned... It's unfortunately about oil.

SUV111

December 31st, 2008, 03:47 PM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/3150592470_2e4fd21564_b.jpg
PHILIPPINES

Jim856796

December 31st, 2008, 10:13 PM

In late 2008, the Westin Book-Cadillac Hotel and the Doubletree Fort Shelby Hotel have reopened. I'm very surprised that no one has put this news on the forum.

Lmichigan

January 1st, 2009, 02:18 AM

Most Detroiters belong to three other forums. Is why this thread is virtually a no-go. They tend not to waste their time over here given the hostility and indifference of most of the folks toward the city as can be seen on the Midwest subforum main page.

hybridy

January 2nd, 2009, 04:20 AM

ah yes-DetroitYES is our true home

but of all the greatness of 2008 can we not all agree that the Woodbridge Pub was the best thing to open in the city :cheers:

testdrive

January 3rd, 2009, 07:46 PM

This forum I kind of stumbled upon. 1st went the the U.S. then to development then here. My 1st instinct is to go to the Midwest section then look for Detroit. Can you guys consolidate the Detroit postings? I know I am always interested in seeing what is going on there. Now that Detroit is getting all this attention nationally something good will come of it. ! mayor down and ! governor to go =o]

Lmichigan

January 4th, 2009, 01:50 AM

No. This needs to stay right where it is. This isn't being regularly updated by anyone, and would make no sense to have such an aenemic sticky on the main Midwest page.

testdrive

January 7th, 2009, 05:29 AM

ummmm ok.......I really don't see too many updates about Detroit anywhere.........unless I am missing something

Paddington

January 10th, 2009, 11:49 PM

I just returned from seeing Gran Torino. It was a very good film. Though Detroit is not specifically mentioned, it's very obviously set there with many people talking about the Lions, auto industry, and closeups of Michigan plates. They did a good job of capturing the feel of the region. At the end of the movie many of the ladies present were crying as they found it quite sentimental. Overall, one of the best films Clint Eastwood has made in many years.

outerdriveGuy

January 14th, 2009, 04:19 AM

Havent been on here in a while.My name is john as in john n tha d.Thanks for checking out my pics.I want to learn everyones name so once again im john,detroit born and rasied,currently i live on the eastside near e. outerdrive.Hopefully i will be able to get some pics of current projects lol.if theres any i forgot about let me know

phase 2 tri centennial state park stormwater
dequindre cut
the finished fort shelby
rosa parks transit center
detroit wayne county port authority terminal
greektown casino hotel

Also i heard in december 08 that the eastern market corporation was suppose to start renovation of shed 3 in eastern market in january.Its coming!!
http://detroiteasternmarket.com/news_page.php?id=24&p=7&s=

go to on the boards, then go to Eastern Market 360
http://www.thekraemeredge.com/

exceptional green living on rosa parks still moving along.For those who dont no theres a developer who going to build a 17 unit condo build using retired shipping containers.Ground breaking in April 2009 Check it out!

colors have changed, but building still the same!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VejlXYtRQB8&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7B7GQGmqCE&feature=channel

There website
http://thepowerofgreenhousing.com/blog/

the detroit forum is back and running!

Lmichigan

January 14th, 2009, 06:06 AM

I had no idea that Exceptional Green Living on Rosa Parks was still moving forward. The project could be revolutionary and could be tweaked and become something serious in Detroit, and at the very least it'll become and instant landmark.

Not all specifically Detroit or even Southeast Michigan news, but a lot of Good news has been coming in the last few days/weeks for the entire state:

GM plans could create jobs (http://www.freep.com/article/20090113/BUSINESS03/901130331/GM+plans+could+create+jobs)

BY TIM HIGGINS • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • January 13, 2009

General Motors Corp., in announcing long-awaited decisions Monday about batteries for its Chevrolet Volt, said it would take steps that keep Michigan at the forefront of a progressive, new auto industry.

The announcement had been expected, but GM surprised the industry by saying that battery development was too important to leave outside the company, and that it would begin hiring engineers, expanding research facilities and partnering with the University of Michigan.

Those moves are expected to add hundreds of jobs in Michigan, with the potential for the broader battery industry to add thousands of jobs.

Supplier JCI announces battery contract (http://www.freep.com/article/20090113/BUSINESS03/90113064/0/BUSINESS01)

BY BRENT SNAVELY • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • January 13, 2009

Automotive supplier Johnson Controls Inc. today announced a five-year battery development contract with Azure Dynamics and an instrument cluster contract with Ford Motor Co. at the Detroit auto show.
Advertisement

Johnson Controls vice president and general manager Mary Ann Wright said the five-year supply agreement with Azure Dynamics signals progress in the development of a U.S. supply base to help build an infrastructure for development and manufacture of hybrid electric vehicles.

“This partnership with Azure represents a great step forward in the development of a U.S. manufacturing and infrastructure of for the commercialization of hybrid electric vehicles,” said Mary Ann Wright, vice president and general manager of Johnson Controls hybrid business. “The window of opportunity is now, and the global industry is quickly going to take shape.”

Johnson Controls 345-volt lithium-ion battery will be assembled at Johnson Controls’ factory in Milwaukee, Wis.

...

Detroit-based Azure converts vehicles from Ford Motor Co. to hybrid vehicles for commercial customers such as Fed-Ex and AT&T, Purolator Couriers and to Ford dealerships, said Ron Icobelli, Azure Dynamics chief technology officer.

IBM center at MSU could help create up to 1,500 jobs (http://www.freep.com/article/20090113/NEWS06/90113086/New+IBM+delivery+center+at+Michigan+State+could+help+create+up+to+1+500+jobs)

By Jeremy W. Steele • Lansing State Journal • January 13, 2009

Information technology giant IBM plans to open a global delivery center for application services on Michigan State University’s campus.

The move could bring 100 jobs to East Lansing this year and create up to 1,500 direct and indirect jobs in five years.

Officials said today that International Business Machines Corp., based in Armonk, N.Y., will move into vacant space in the former Michigan State University Federal Credit Union headquarters in East Lansing.

“We are working hard every day to grow our economy and create jobs,” Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. “This center is an outstanding example of a project that brings together economic development, educational opportunity and jobs in a way that can help transform our economy in the 21st century.”

Workers at the IBM office will develop applications and provide IT support services to state and local governments, universities, telecommunications companies and health care providers.

It’s IBM’s first such facility in the United States, the governor’s office said.

U-M to tap Detroit River's current to create energy (http://www.freep.com/article/20090113/NEWS05/901130324)

BY TINA LAM • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • January 13, 2009

In the eerie green glow of flashing lasers in a darkened University of Michigan lab, a cylinder on springs moves methodically up and down in a giant tank as water flows over it, simulating a stream.

Whirligigs of illuminated particles form as the water pours over and under the cylinder in rhythmic patterns.

It looks simple, but it's revolutionary. This is VIVACE, a device to harness energy in slow-moving water currents across the globe and turn it into electricity.

VIVACE, which mimics the way fish swim in currents, is to debut next year in the Detroit River, powering the light for a new wharf between Hart Plaza and the Renaissance Center.

"Everybody is excited by this," said Mike Bernitsas, director of the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory at the University of Michigan and inventor of the device.

It's one of a handful of new techniques -- the first in more than 100 years -- to use water to create clean, renewable energy. Since late November, the device has been filmed by Canada's Discovery Channel and discussed in science blogs, journals and the British Sunday Telegraph.

Unlike water-driven mills, turbines or dams, VIVACE doesn't require fast-moving water -- most streams on the globe are slow-moving -- and doesn't harm the environment.

VIVACE means "lively" on a musical score, but in this case is an acronym standing for Vortex-Induced Vibrations for Aquatic Clean Energy.

Bernitsas said he is thinking small so far, but someday an array of 1,000 cylinders offshore could produce the same energy as a large nuclear plant. A smaller grouping, as big around as a running track and as tall as a two-story building, could power 1,000 homes.

I really do think people forget that despite all of Michigan's troubles, it's still very much a player in the high-tech industries.

outerdriveGuy

January 15th, 2009, 04:41 AM

Two of the 3 potential locations for the permanent movie production studios -- including one in Detroit -- haven't been used in years, while the third site would have to be built. One of the facilities would be a multi-studio complex that would occupy up to 130 acres, state officials confirmed. Another facility would be geared toward post-production work, such as audio and editing.
What is this site that there refering to in Detroit?

Mudhen419

January 16th, 2009, 02:36 PM

I just heard Cobo will be expanding anyone have anything on this?

outerdriveGuy

January 16th, 2009, 10:03 PM

Heres a little info about Cobo expansion

Detroit may be the host of one of North America's largest auto shows, but Cobo Hall is far from the continent's best conference facility. It's dated and small, and larger venues like Chicago's McCormick place and the LA Convention Center are more modern and accommodating to automaker displays. Officials from area counties are attempting to work together to expand and modernize the aging facility with plans that include an additional 120,000 square feet of floor space and a walkway between Cobo and the Renaissance Center. Said officials are currently bickering over the total cost of the plan, which ranges between $595 million and $846 million. The financially ailing state of Michigan is willing to contribute $150 million to the cause, but county executives need to bury the hatchet and hammer out a deal that greatly improves a building that in LA or New York would likely have been bulldozed or completely overhauled long ago. If area executives need any more incentive to move on a solution, this year's show features 58 major introductions, compared to 76 just three years ago.

Michigan residents should be excited about a new plan, but we've heard about a new plan every year since before anyone can remember. As Detroit loses some of its grip on the US auto industry, however, it seems to be becoming more and more evident to politicians that hosting North America's premiere automotive showcase isn't an inalienable right. If the movers and shakers in the Detroit area can't get the job done, it could soon be curtains for Detroit's single largest annual event.

more great news

GarfieldPark

January 17th, 2009, 05:55 AM

Does that convention center host many other major conventions? That is a huge amount of money to be spent on upgrading a convention center - and the only major reason expressed in the story is to hang on to the International Auto Show. Hopefully an expansion will help keep other large conventions and attract many more. I don't know how likely that is though. I have not heard a lot about Detroit being an attractive city for big conventions.

Lmichigan

January 17th, 2009, 06:06 AM

When you consider the amount of money the NAIAS brings in for the local economy, it's worth it. It brings in over half-a-billion dollars of economic impact, every year.

outerdriveGuy

January 17th, 2009, 07:04 AM

Cobo really needs this expansion because thats one of the things thats preventing most larger conventions from coming to the city the fact that Cobo Center is to small.As far as conventions were getting more and more, just not the really big one.

2009 CONVENTIONS
UNITED WAY OF AMERICA STAFF LEADERS CONFERENCE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES CONVENTION/NCAA FINAL FOUR

and the rest are smaller.Also in the past few years we have had new hotels to come online, the Westin Book Cadillac,Fort Shelby Double Tree,MGM Grand Detroit,Motorcity Casino Hotel, Greektown Casino Hotel in feb 2009, Hilton Garden Inn, and Holiday Inn Express

Lmichigan

January 17th, 2009, 07:24 AM

Outer,

For your quote above, exactly what is it from? It'd be good to always include links with these kind of quotes. Thanks.

GarfieldPark

January 17th, 2009, 07:29 AM

Thanks for the info. I guess its true that to do it half way - it probably wouldn't provide the benefit that is needed in terms of turning the facility into a top notch convention center. Hopefully a good $600 million fix up and expansion will make sure the NAI auto show stays around and helps Detroit attract more and bigger conventions. Having the Final Four in town should be great. I've been in Indy a few times when they've hosted it and it brings quite a show to town.

outerdriveGuy

January 17th, 2009, 07:35 AM

Yeah, I hate that Detroit Grand Prix was cancelled this year because of the economy!I was thinking about going for the first time.

Jaybird

January 17th, 2009, 07:41 AM

There was talk and no action, but finally, it looks like the Cobo Expansion is coming into place on the table. Glad to see the Detroit News forum up and running again.

I think with the opening of new hotels, I may have to stay in Detroit once, possibly at one of the new hotels that have opened. I usually stay in Windsor when I come down. I was in the city earlier this week, still looking good, despite the economic downturn.

outerdriveGuy

January 17th, 2009, 08:38 AM

I recommend the Book Cadillac!
http://flickr.com/photos/25660710@N02/

hudkina

January 17th, 2009, 09:37 AM

The Book-Cadillac is very nice, especially the ballrooms. The rooms are somewhat small for the price, but I guess you're paying for the service.

Paddington

January 17th, 2009, 07:36 PM

I feel like Cobo should be torn down, and perhaps a new casino oriented - even larger - convention center should be built, to make Detroit a bigger convention destination.

Casino-hotels really bring in the conventions. They're the perfect thing for bored convention goers to occupy their time.

outerdriveGuy

January 17th, 2009, 08:49 PM

There was a proposal like that several years ago

http://www.detnews.com/2005/metro/0501/19/A01-64240.htm

Could have been cool, but I think the city didnt want to deal with another casino, especially with all the drama that we went threw with the three casinos we have now.I personally would like to see atleast three more,but I doubt it would ever happen.

outerdriveGuy

January 17th, 2009, 09:09 PM

A few months ago I found this cool vid on the Dequindre cut
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8FiPa6mu08&feature=channel_page

Paddington

January 17th, 2009, 09:54 PM

outerdriveGuy

January 18th, 2009, 05:22 AM

Yeah that would be great to see new convention center replace Cobo
Heres a link to upcoming conventions

http://www.cobocenter.com/events.php

Lmichigan

January 18th, 2009, 06:41 AM

There doesn't have to be another casino built. I think Detroit has enough (perhaps as much as it ever will have) casino space, but it still has room to grow in terms of what can be added to the casinos including shows, shopping, additional hotel towers, etc. Vegas-style, a convention center addon could be built. My personal favorite would be MGM Grand as its within the main downtown area, but a bit on the fringe so it has room to grow. The MGM company also has a lot of skill with building convention centers.

There is absolutely no place to put a new convention center that'd be close enough to downtown to mean anything. MGM is totally built out in its corner of downtown, so that's not even realistic. A renovated and expanded Cobo is all that is needed.

Jaybird

January 18th, 2009, 06:45 AM

The Book-Cadillac is very nice, especially the ballrooms. The rooms are somewhat small for the price, but I guess you're paying for the service.

Meh, I don't care how big the room is, but I think to see a renovated treasure and stay in a place like the Book-Caddy is a once in a lifetime experience, plus, I'm putting some money into city businesses and hotels and tourism, which I don't mind at all. :)

hudkina

January 18th, 2009, 09:35 AM

There is absolutely no place to put a new convention center that'd be close enough to downtown to mean anything. MGM is totally built out in its corner of downtown, so that's not even realistic. A renovated and expanded Cobo is all that is needed.

We could tear down the rest of Corktown and put it there... We could even put a pretty little pedestrian bridge over the Lodge!

Lmichigan

January 18th, 2009, 11:58 AM

We could tear down the rest of Corktown and put it there... We could even put a pretty little pedestrian bridge over the Lodge!

lol!

Better yet, you guys could tear down Brush and Cass Parks, and make the biggest superblock in the city ever.

outerdriveGuy

January 19th, 2009, 08:22 PM

Not Corktown, to cool of an area to demo!:lol:

Tim999

January 19th, 2009, 08:38 PM

I saw a film about Detroit, and I was unpleasantly surprised that city fell into ruin. It looks horrible like a ghetto :lol: I think that some cities in Ukraine looks better. In the film I saw similar photos, something like that or even worse!

http://detroityes.com/webisodes/2001/05-ststan/index-ststandoor.jpg
http://detroityes.com/webisodes/2000/20ravisode/00-exterior.jpg

Detroit must be the poorest city in USA. It is funny that you write here about some kind of "development" or maybe the film was partial. What do you think about it?

outerdriveGuy

January 20th, 2009, 12:55 PM

Maybe the film is impartial!:lol:Years of neglect by local, state, and federal government.The state dosent give a damn, and niether does the federal governmet.A high crime rate because of a shrinking police department.Federal government cut our police grants from around 27 million dollars to around 2.7 million last time I heard.That equals less police on the streets! Americans seem not to give a damn about Detroit. Dont believe everything you hear check it out yourself.Im not saying that its all peaches and cream but the city is moving forward for the first time in years! Citizens for the first time since I been born are happy about progress.Motorcity City Makeover, Angels Night and other programs that have Detroiters cleaning there communties.Just yesterday I was involved with a project that had me repainting Chadsey High School called MLK day 2009.

hudkina

January 20th, 2009, 08:35 PM

The city of Detroit is far more complicated than a simple documentary video could show. While there are many areas of the city where abandonment has ruined whole neighborhoods, there are also largely middle and upper-class areas where you'll find wealth far greater than just about anywhere in the Ukraine.

Here are some pics:
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/001.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/007.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/008.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/030.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/034.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/040.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/052.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/053.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/055.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/059.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/080.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/084.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/087.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/091.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/095.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/108.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/111.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/115.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/116.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/122.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/126.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/132.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/133.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/145.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/148.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/158.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/163.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/170.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/176.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/178.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/180.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/196.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/200.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/201.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/210.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/215.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/218.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/226.jpg

Just some of that newer development that you think sounds strange:
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/042.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/056.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/089.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/094.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/096.jpg
http://www.downriverdetroit.net/waynecounty/detroit/2006/101.jpg

Mudhen419

January 21st, 2009, 12:12 AM

Them Ukrainians would get mobbed walkin in some neighborhoods around the D...... I hate it when foreigners talk crap about america

Paddington

January 21st, 2009, 12:31 AM

Apparently Chrysler will be partners with Fiat now.

I imagine - like everything else - people here will whine about this. But it's still a better choice than the two alternatives of liquidation or merger with GM, both of which would have caused massive job losses in the region.

Together Chrysler and Fiat could be a good match. They have very little global overlap. Also, Chrysler is very weak right now in terms of smaller FWD cars, which happens to be Fiat's strength. Chrysler has no money for product development (if you can't tell by their weak showing at NAIAS), and if they can pare their offerings back to RWD cars, minivans, trucks, and Jeep while getting help with the compact and family cars from Fiat (whether they're sold under Chrysler badges or Fiat ones), it could be made to work.

It might certainly fail, but I think this represents Chrysler's last and best shot.

Lmichigan

January 21st, 2009, 04:43 AM

Who's whining? I think it's great given the reality of the situation. It's far better than the other partnerships they were considering.

hudkina

January 21st, 2009, 08:18 AM

I think this is perfect for Chrysler! Chrysler's problem is that when they got rid of Plymouth, they got rid of their "every-day" brand (e.g. Ford and Chevy). In so doing, they had to keep Chrysler in the mid-level range instead of taking it up to the level that Cadillac and Lincoln have recently strived for. The Chrysler 300 is a decent car, but the Sebring isn't.

They also pushed the masculinity of Dodge so far that it came back to bite them in the ass. Now Dodge is viewed as a "redneck/meathead" brand, instead of being more universal like Saturn or Mercury.

With Fiat, they will have access to a lot of great small cars. While I'm not sure what the partnership allows, I think that Chrysler should either bring back the Plymouth brand, launch a new brand, or completely overhaul Dodge. I think bringing back Plymouth wouldn't be such a bad idea. It might be a tarnished memory now, but with a little work it can compete with the likes of Ford, Chevy, Honda, and Toyota.

I think Chrysler should definitely look at the 500 (mini), Grande Punto (subcompact), and Bravo (compact). Granted, I think they need to make a sedan version of the Bravo or use the Linea as the compact.

The 500:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GIlsuSZq_VM/SKK4HkvLhBI/AAAAAAAACUQ/Wbc7wbpHZGs/s400/cobra-fiat-500-2008-1.jpg

The Grande Punto:
http://automoto.aliceadsl.fr/img/photo/900/img_900_9575.jpg

The Bravo: (only produced as a hatchback)
http://www.nextautos.com/files/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/fiat-bravo-2.jpg

The Linea: (a sedan, but it isn't sold in Western Europe...)
http://www.autospectator.com/uploads/Fiat/2007/Linea/Fiat_LINEA.jpg

By creating (or bringing back) an "every-day" brand, Chrysler can then retool to directly compete with the likes of Cadillac, Lincoln, Lexus, and Acura. And if they do bring back Plymouth, I think they should get rid of the Chrysler Town and Country, move the Dodge Caravan and the Chrysler Sebring to the Plymouth brand and maybe introduce a compact SUV or Crossover. Then Chrysler needs to introduce several new models along the lines of the 300 to reestablish it's luxury status. They also need to get rid of a few of the under-performing Jeep models.

Pilliod Njaim

January 21st, 2009, 11:41 AM

Tim999, Detroit is a BIG city, and has a wide variety of areas. Some are of course extremely bombed out, but the self-destruction of Detroit is not much different from what you find in St. Louis, Buffalo, Cleveland, etc. All those cities have lost half their population, so as a result, they're going to have some areas that have been destroyed. Self-destruction is as American as apple pie. This is the country that invented suburban sprawl. Still, there is a lot left to love. Detroit still has exemplary early 20th century architecture and some of the best art deco on earth. Buildings like The Guardian and Fisher don't just happen in any city. Detroit's Albert Kahn is the master of early 20th century architecture, period. Geographically, Detroit is also blessed with a river that is one of the prettiest you'll ever see. The water looks gorgeous. There has been great improvement in terms of public access to the riverfront, and this is a big step in the right direction for Detroit.

And to be honest, downtown Detroit is looking better than it has in a long time. Even in the face of a brutal economy, the downtown is still redeveloping. And in terms of music culture, Detroit has arguably contributed more than any other city in the country. It's a gritty city that creates a template for remarkable creativity. There's also a lot of diversity and culture in the area- huge Polish and Arab influence (not unlike my hometown Toledo, which is sometimes called "Detroit Junior"). Then there's Greektown, which although not big in area, is a special place. There's also a strong redevelopment movement in Corktown. The D has a lot to love.

Sure the city has deep scars and lost substantial building stock, but it's not without hope. There are still a lot of landmarks standing, and infill is taking place. This city has every reason to recover- large shipping port, adequate fresh water, industrial/manufacturing infrastructure, centralized location in North America, proximity to one of the world's best public universities in Ann Arbor, etc., etc.

Tim999

January 21st, 2009, 08:09 PM

Them Ukrainians would get mobbed walkin in some neighborhoods around the D...... I hate it when foreigners talk crap about america

I don't care about Ukrainians. I only compare Detrioit to some cities in Ukraine because I see similarity in general "image", although the photos above have a positive effect on me

Tim999, Detroit is a BIG city, and has a wide variety of areas. Some are of course extremely bombed out, but the self-destruction of Detroit is not much different from what you find in St. Louis, Buffalo, Cleveland, etc. All those cities have lost half their population, so as a result, they're going to have some areas that have been destroyed. Self-destruction is as American as apple pie. This is the country that invented suburban sprawl.

Detroit have about 900 000 inhabitants. It's big but do not exaggerate that it is like a Paris or Moscow;)

Suburban sprawl regards not only Detroit but many cities in America and Europe for exaple. The process of depopulation is common and I don't think it could fully explain the situation of Detroit suburbs.

BTW I think Detroit is "third category" city in USA and is left far behind to such cities like Baltimor, Milwaukee, Philadelphia. Detroit is loosing its population while other cities are still growing.

When I see you compare Detroit to Cleveland I see the "league" where Detroit plays. How many peoples in Europe know about Cleveland?:lol: Detroit is more popular and recognisable but indeed is not atractive for its investors, for peple to live etc.

Paddington

January 22nd, 2009, 01:07 AM

Look man, why are you posting here? You live in a developing country. No one here cares what you think. :laugh:

Lmichigan

January 22nd, 2009, 02:30 AM

Yes, Tim; why exactly are you here? This is a Detroit development thread.

etlchow

January 22nd, 2009, 04:17 AM

Look man, why are you posting here? You live in a developing country. No one here cares what you think. :laugh:

Because he wants to?
I can't say I disagree with him. Having lived in both Warsaw and Detroit, I would say Warsaw is exponentially a better place to live. Krakow even more so.

Doesn't mean I don't live Detroit. It will always be home to me, I just don't want to live there anymore.

Lmichigan

January 22nd, 2009, 06:32 AM

And, that's quite alright, but why are you here in this city's development thread, then? I don't think you or Tim seem to be getting that you're veering off into the irrelevant/off-topic.

hudkina

January 22nd, 2009, 09:45 AM

Philadelphia, Baltimore and Milwaukee have all lost population alongside Detroit. Philadelphia and Baltimore have the same problems with crime, poverty and abandonment that the city of Detroit does. Even Milwaukee isn't untainted. Also, you obviously don't have a good grasp of American cities if you think Baltimore and Milwaukee are in a higher "tier" than Detroit, especially when Metro Detroit has a larger population than Metro Baltimore and Metro Milwaukee combined.

Detroit has 4.5 million people living in its metropolitan area. It might not be Paris, but there aren't too many European cities with over 4 million in their metro areas. There's only a handful of cities in the U.S. that have a larger population living within the metro core.

A few pics from flickr:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2072/2462635271_c3713fa393_b.jpg
© Prashant_K (http://www.flickr.com/photos/trashpan/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2173/2507193796_c9b7b0aca8_b.jpg
© cldodds (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cldodds/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3162111495_d0e5f28ba6_b.jpg
© Nicole N. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ngando/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/307271074_476eb3091e_b.jpg
© Erik Twight (http://www.flickr.com/photos/emangrooving/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/352370928_6c94024efb_o.jpg
© netsirk007 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyandkristen/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/67/189821611_fbf9d7f87e_b.jpg
© anikarenina (http://www.flickr.com/photos/anikarenina/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3048468151_1c63d5ac76_o.jpg
© s*dub (http://www.flickr.com/photos/28220889@N05/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1228/1381916295_3bcbe95424_b.jpg
© B-Side313 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/11093937@N05/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/170/382567510_171bd40eca_b.jpg
© gab482 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gab482/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/116/294226575_a0a26d1b93_b.jpg
© ifmuth (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifmuth/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/606128545_6bec8ce203_b.jpg
© ifmuth (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifmuth/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/1644602899_c15939aa40_b.jpg
© detroitsky (http://www.flickr.com/photos/detroitsky/)

Mudhen419

January 22nd, 2009, 09:54 AM

The skyline pic of Detroit with the Canadian geese on the foreground... is that the Belle Isle bridge in that pic ?

MichiganDude

January 22nd, 2009, 12:16 PM

Because he wants to?
I can't say I disagree with him. Having lived in both Warsaw and Detroit, I would say Warsaw is exponentially a better place to live. Krakow even more so.

Doesn't mean I don't live Detroit. It will always be home to me, I just don't want to live there anymore.

1. 90% of Warsaw was destroyed in WWII, so they had a chance to build a brand new modern city.

2. Europe cares far more about its culture, heritage, and cities than the US.

3. Krakow is a very beautiful city and yes it probably is a better place to live, but so is Tahiti.

And Mudhen419, yes that is Belle Isle.

MichiganDude

January 22nd, 2009, 12:23 PM

I don't care about Ukrainians. I only compare Detrioit to some cities in Ukraine because I see similarity in general "image", although the photos above have a positive effect on me

Detroit have about 900 000 inhabitants. It's big but do not exaggerate that it is like a Paris or Moscow;)

Suburban sprawl regards not only Detroit but many cities in America and Europe for exaple. The process of depopulation is common and I don't think it could fully explain the situation of Detroit suburbs.

BTW I think Detroit is "third category" city in USA and is left far behind to such cities like Baltimor, Milwaukee, Philadelphia. Detroit is loosing its population while other cities are still growing.

When I see you compare Detroit to Cleveland I see the "league" where Detroit plays. How many peoples in Europe know about Cleveland?:lol: Detroit is more popular and recognisable but indeed is not atractive for its investors, for peple to live etc.

And the 5.4 million people in this metropolitan area live in trailer parks on 8 mile while driving a 1984 Ford Fiesta and shooting everyone up. In fact I was murdered 4 times yesterday while getting groceries.

ISN'T FUN TO BE IGNORANT!!!!!!!!11

Paddington

January 22nd, 2009, 12:41 PM

I'd still rather live in any American city than live in Poland, where getting a job cleaning toilets in England is considered moving up in the world. :laugh:

Tim999

January 22nd, 2009, 07:41 PM

And the 5.4 million people in this metropolitan area live in trailer parks on 8 mile while driving a 1984 Ford Fiesta and shooting everyone up. In fact I was murdered 4 times yesterday while getting groceries.

ISN'T FUN TO BE IGNORANT!!!!!!!!11

easy, easy;) I'm not ignorant and I don't want to discuss how big Detroit metropolitan or urban area is. I know it is large city and I don't want to contest it however I was asking about "general image" of Detroit in USA what can say ordinary American people about Detroit in comparison to Baltimore or Milwaukee for example, because I had mixed feelings after the film I saw. Now I read some posts and I know a bit more. SSC is a "good place" to exchange information;)

I'd still rather live in any American city than live in Poland, where getting a job cleaning toilets in England is considered moving up in the world. :laugh:

Don't be ridiculous! I wonder who you are.. Maybe you are cleaning toilets because I see you don't have any arguments to discuss...

hudkina

January 22nd, 2009, 10:34 PM

Baltimore's image-problem is nearly as high as Detroit's, especially after the popularity of the Wire and it taking the crown of "murder capital" for much of the last decade. Detroit at least has the perception of car-culture and the music heritage to fall back on. BTW, did you see the second round of pics I posted?

Lmichigan

January 23rd, 2009, 04:38 AM

This is getting ridiculously off topic and silly. Stop feeding the trolls, guys.

outerdriveGuy

January 23rd, 2009, 12:54 PM

Some interesting news about detroit request from Obama stimulus package
http://www.usmayors.org/mainstreeteconomicrecovery/stimulussurveyparticipantsdata.asp?City=Detroit&State=MI

I got new photos I will post this weekend!:)

Tim999

January 23rd, 2009, 10:52 PM

BTW, did you see the second round of pics I posted?

Yes I saw.

This is getting ridiculously off topic and silly. Stop feeding the trolls, guys.

off topic? Do you have some such important news that my posts lose the thread ...rather not;) There is probably one thread about Detroit and answering on my questions you might posts photos of new investments in city. Lmichigan, you don't know the definition of trollig.

hudkina

January 24th, 2009, 12:08 AM

Just of the few more recent developments:

The recently renovated Westin Book-Cadillac:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2773367186_f6cccd744f_o.jpg
© DecoJim (http://www.flickr.com/photos/decojim/)

The final stretch of the Doubletree Fort-Shelby Hotel:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/2905113195_888235b91f_b.jpg
© john in the d (http://www.flickr.com/photos/25660710@N02/)

MGM Grand Detroit Hotel & Casino:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/2745445412_98baa4c313_b.jpg
© T.B.S [is NOW JVLIVS Photgraphy and Design]! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theblacklightstudio/)

Motor City Hotel & Casino:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2207283099_a123a4b069_b.jpg
© nofunk (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nofunk/)

Greektown Hotel & Casino:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2772262411_56fbd86dda_o.jpg
© DecoJim (http://www.flickr.com/photos/decojim/)

Ellington Lofts in Midtown:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2293/2198231216_e6ff1e4682_b.jpg
© Girl.in.the.D (http://www.flickr.com/photos/girl-in-the-d/)

Studio One Apartments in Midtown:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2945025811_d7455692f4_b.jpg
© Reborn Detroit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9299389@N03/)

One Kennedy Square:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/836046890_475c6bf905_b.jpg
© pinehurst19475 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71288712@N00/)

The Riverwalk:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2119/2274456060_5dba882156_b.jpg
© Reborn Detroit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9299389@N03/)

Paddington

January 24th, 2009, 01:41 AM

Let's see Poland compete with that. LOL! :cheers:

Jaybird

January 24th, 2009, 04:57 AM

The Doubletree Fort Shelby's looking fine! They did a beautiful job!

Mudhen419

January 24th, 2009, 11:46 AM

Whats everyones favorite Detroit Casino?? I've always liked MGM myself...... DO they still use the old MC Casino building for anything?

Jaybird

January 24th, 2009, 06:59 PM

Greektown is the only casino I have been to, so Greektown is my fav, I like the CHARIOT slot machines with the deep voice. Though I must see the MotorCity and MGM sometime to do a real comparison.

hudkina

January 25th, 2009, 10:08 AM

I've never actually been to Motor City and I've only been to MGM a handful of times. (I've only been to the new MGM once.) I always go to Greektown because it is the weakest of the three and because it is the only one in the heart of an urban downtown district.

Tim999

January 25th, 2009, 02:57 PM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/1644602899_c15939aa40_b.jpg
© detroitsky (http://www.flickr.com/photos/detroitsky/)

On this photo I can see how poor town-planning in Detroit is. The diversity of buildings is unambiguous. Next to hight office towers there are detached houses and I can't see any transitional medium-sized buildings. The city is heterogeneous. There is downtown which is surrounded by lots of single-family houses.

Let's see Poland compete with that. LOL! :cheers:

you want to see? no problem. In Poland we have plenty of developments like these which has been already completed or are still under construction in Detroit . In main polish cities there is a boom on A-class office space and in many places you can see a lot of cranes :cheers2:

2 shots from Krakow taken by me on Sunday in my district.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9458/dsc02828tt1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/dsc02828tt1.jpg/1/w800.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img261/dsc02828tt1.jpg/1/)

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8859/dsc02823ic9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/dsc02823ic9.jpg/1/w800.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img255/dsc02823ic9.jpg/1/)

testdrive

January 25th, 2009, 05:48 PM

You of course realize that comparing the 2 cities is a case of apples and oranges. Both have their strong points and weaknesses as any city does. Observations in terms of which is "better" are subjective so making them in a negative context is silly. The "boom" in Krakow I would imagine did not begin till after the collapse of the Soviets and so things could only go up from there. Detroit on the other hand has no defining moment at least yet where a total systemic change allows for massive investment. Maybe when the current economic crisis the entire world but even more so Detroit is and has been dealing with ends with the auto industry transformed will Detroit get the needed investment dollars. Its not fair to kick someone when they are down. It is amazing to me that considering all that Detroit has had to deal with that it is still in a position to regain its greatness. Oh..on another note I come back and visit Detroit every year and usually stay with friends but am thinking of staying at the Westin's Book Cadillac this time and treat myself:pepper:

hudkina

January 25th, 2009, 10:43 PM

I'm just curious as to where these single-family homes located next to office high-rises are in that picture? I don't see any single-family homes. Any that might be pictured are below the tree line. All that you are seeing in that picture are buildings of at least three or four floors. And how can you say anything about Detroit's heterogeneity when Krakow is basically the same thing. Downtown surrounded by lots of commie blocks. Also you are looking at the transitional buildings. The tallest buildings in Detroit are actually behind that picture you're looking at. In fact that picture was taken from the second-tallest building in the city. There are plenty of buildings in the the three to eight story range in there. Only the buildings in the foreground are actually in Downtown. Most of that picture is of Midtown and New Center.

Wayne State University Campus:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/151705102_3ab1dfa07f_b.jpg
© Walt K (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65068167@N00/)

More of the University Campus:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/61/153436763_b91cf2ad17_b.jpg
© Walt K (http://www.flickr.com/photos/65068167@N00/)

A Winter shot (and no that isn't a single-family home:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/75704254_1278d89c63_b.jpg
© rhjmcgin (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjmcginnis/)

The Fisher building from the campus:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/453500990_73b61485ac_b.jpg
© shengligan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7744890@N04/)

One of the few tall highrises in Midtown Detroit:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/82/234947215_ec153853e7_b.jpg
© kschang (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kschang/)

The Techtown area with New Center in the background (that single-family home is nearly 1km away from that highrise...):
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/368655114_eac2f68916_b.jpg
© mike_w40 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_w40/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/104/274831257_8fbc9be10b_b.jpg
© DangeRus (http://www.flickr.com/photos/46868795@N00/)

Cass Avenue through Midtown:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/135/327619077_68c3b0ac25_b.jpg
© Conlawprof (http://www.flickr.com/photos/conlawprof/)

Student Housing on the WSU campus:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1156/1013014428_1f47055ff0_b.jpg
© dnj_Brian (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67873381@N00/)

The Detroit Historical Museum:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/318110050_172130777a_b.jpg
© dnj_Brian (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67873381@N00/)

Detroit, Main Branch Library:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3200744312_c791e89f5b_o.jpg
© J.H. DU (http://www.flickr.com/photos/27666824@N04/)

Orchestra Hall:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/3121705360_81d902891e_o.jpg
© T.B.S [is NOW JVLIVS Photgraphy and Design]! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theblacklightstudio/)

Here's a newer project in Brush Park:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/2838760218_0a8c035b10_b.jpg
© john in the d (http://www.flickr.com/photos/25660710@N02/)

A couple of businesses in New Center:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/2616650471_9ec7114529_b.jpg
© eastsidegiggler (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastsidegiggler/)

In Midtown:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/365163876_c93fccdd47_b.jpg
© pinehurst19475 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71288712@N00/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/73/182666169_f2ac52cc78_b.jpg
© die comtesse (http://www.flickr.com/photos/comtesse/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/423768381_555c52b8a8_o.jpg
© gab482 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gab482/)

A snippet of Techtown:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2616642513_a63ec66445_b.jpg
© eastsidegiggler (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastsidegiggler/)

Palmer Park Apartments:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/365198067_91a2c35620_b.jpg
© pinehurst19475 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71288712@N00/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/444442207_024b6b133b_b.jpg
© pinehurst19475 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71288712@N00/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1407/1435137368_0c38264bf2_o.jpg
© pinehurst19475 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71288712@N00/)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1157/1436256930_bbdce90c0c_o.jpg
© pinehurst19475 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71288712@N00/)

Detroit's Gold Coast with the Detroit River in the foreground:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2638719173_867fef3fdb_b.jpg
© dnj_Brian (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67873381@N00/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/2639567324_f7ff280338_b.jpg
© dnj_Brian (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67873381@N00/)

In Midtown:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/2943975270_01b1a9a31b_b.jpg
© pinehurst19475 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71288712@N00/)

A bit of Rivertown:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2846322785_0518624fd4_b.jpg
© john in the d (http://www.flickr.com/photos/25660710@N02/)

In New Center:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/502306403_3ce0c5c2f4_b.jpg
© pinehurst19475 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71288712@N00/)

BTW, those pictures you show must be suburban Krakow, right? They can't possibly be in the city... If so any argument that European cities are "more urban" than American cities flies out the window.;) (And no I don't need to see any pictures of central Krakow, you can post them in your own thread...)

outerdriveGuy

January 26th, 2009, 01:35 AM

I found some renderings for CCS(College of Creative Studies) Argonaut Building redevelopment.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3328/3227035252_4bc728c864_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3227035196_cd9ea095df_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3226182003_0b1cac358e_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3226181899_c431f48524_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3226181791_f5ab5a8aa7_o.jpg

Also Tri Centennial State Park Phase two rendering
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3226182411_9b574b2365_b.jpg

outerdriveGuy

January 26th, 2009, 11:15 PM

Some updates to current projects

Fort Shelby
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/3229694924_5cbd493ba6_b.jpg

At night
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/3228845213_665c2bf222_b.jpg

Port Authority Terminal and Dock
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/3228845729_4607737a70_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/3228846031_68f2a65352_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3228846259_67312a4100_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3228846457_a43bebd74d_b.jpg

Tri Centennial Park Stormwater
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/3229739758_49221dd554_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/3228890143_1dcce6daae_b.jpg

hudkina

January 27th, 2009, 10:51 AM

Wow! It's amazing to finally see actual construction start on the PAT. Wasn't it announced back before the Super Bowl?

BTW, here's a few pics of the new Dequindre Cut "rails to trails":

Did he get paid to "model" for this picture?;)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2884179652_5ed501e27e_o.jpg
© No Trams To Lime Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/notramstolimestreet/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2810409390_c5a183b2c6_b.jpg
© rory! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rln/)

The area to the left is reserved for possible future LRT:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2748638270_bc475867ba_o.jpg
© cheap_shot_redux (http://www.flickr.com/photos/26714274@N04/)

hudkina

January 28th, 2009, 05:27 AM

Model D Media is reporting that the Kresge Foundation has awarded $3.5 million to three greenway projects in Detroit. One is the second phase of the Midtown Loop project. Construction on the first segment is slated for this summer. The second is a couple segments of the Conner Creek Greenway which will extend from the River all the way to 8 Mile. The last is money for an extension of the Dequindre Cut another half mile all the way to Mack, bringing the total length to 1.5 miles.

Lmichigan

January 28th, 2009, 06:43 AM

Can someone post the Port Authority photo on this page? My connection is no fast enough to load the plethora of pictures on the last page.

hybridy

January 28th, 2009, 09:11 PM

Real nieghborhoods in Detroit-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWzfpDtb6YY&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMcpg2WGrKo&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcexXY4KxgU&feature=related

Courtsey of ModelD

hudkina

January 29th, 2009, 08:14 PM

It's kind of funny that all three videos showed mostly white people, despite all three neighborhoods being majority black.;)

SRG

January 29th, 2009, 09:57 PM

Hudkina, on the other page, how come you're posting so many photos that are clearly 15-25 years old? That's light years in urban development years. Unless I'm supposed to believe everyone in Motown drives a 1989 Buick lol, which I guess is sort of tempting.

And don't mind the Crackow people. They're on crack.

Lmichigan

January 30th, 2009, 04:00 AM

Wait, you're joking, right? Those are all pictures from this decade; in fact, many just a few months old. At least the ones that will load for me.

outerdriveGuy

January 30th, 2009, 04:08 AM

There were maybe 2 or three photos that were old.All the rest were new I should know I took some of them!Update all the poles that wilL hold the canopy on the Rosa Parks Transit Center are up.

Port Authority
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/3228845729_4607737a70_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3228846259_67312a4100_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3228846457_a43bebd74d_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/3228846031_68f2a65352_b.jpg

hudkina

January 30th, 2009, 08:56 AM

Uh, all of those pictures were taken in at least the 2000's, with most of them from the last couple of years. Also, you would be surprised how many Detroiters are still driving their parents' "89 Buick". I assume the picture you are talking about is the first picture of Palmer Park Apartments. If you look a little closer, the car directly in front of the station wagon is a newer model. (I'd guess early 2000's)

Jaybird

February 2nd, 2009, 03:24 AM

Where that Port Authority development is happening, that's west of the Waterfront Condominiums and in front of the Post Office building, right?

Hey, hudkina, did you check your private message inbox? I sent you a message there with a couple of question a little over a week ago. Just wanted to see if you got it.

Lmichigan

February 2nd, 2009, 04:10 AM

Nope. The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority Terminal is right behind Ford Auditorium, which is just yards west of the RenCen. It's practically in Hart Plaza.

http://www.portdetroit.com/images/econdev/publicdock_site.jpg

BTW, the waterfront towers are called the Riverfront Towers.

outerdriveGuy

February 2nd, 2009, 11:43 PM

2 groups shooting to have 1st movie studio in Detroit:)

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090201/FREE/902020339

Quicken Loans is considering a third site for new HQ. Guess what it is?:)
http://www.freep.com/article/20090202/BUSINESS06/90202037/Quicken%20Loans%20mulling%20a%20third%20Detroit%20headquarters%20site?GID=AVUgdCYfcxqfv1A8UhKc58/j6KRmIrg6x4Bt0PRRLNc%3D

outerdriveGuy

February 3rd, 2009, 07:32 PM

hudkina

February 3rd, 2009, 08:18 PM

Sounds great. I'm sure it won't do much to create street traffic, but at least it brings much needed jobs to the downtown area (and reuses a building that might have become an eyesore.)

It's amazing how many of these studio projects are being announced in such a short time. Allen Park, Pontiac, Wixom, Downtown, etc. Now I know how all those southern cities felt when they stole all the midwestern manufacturing jobs...;)

Jaybird

February 5th, 2009, 07:44 AM

New life for the old MGM Grand Detroit 86 million dollar movie production studio. More good news for our struggling Detroit economy.:cheers:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090203/FREE/902039983

Anything to diversify Detroit's economy more is good news.

Lmichigan, thanks for the correction. :)

Mudhen419

February 19th, 2009, 11:34 PM

Is the Woodward LRT happening or what??? I also heard Obama is going to Canada in a few days and one of his items on his agenda is to discuss a new crossing next to the embassador bridge.....

Hows the 75 project coming along?

Lmichigan

February 20th, 2009, 03:22 AM

Yes, it's still very much on schedule. The construction date is still set for 2011, and the completion date still for 2013.

BTW, the local media was only speculating that Obama may be talking with Harper about the DRIC (Detroit River International Crossing).

testdrive

February 21st, 2009, 06:56 PM

Any speculation on how much of the stimulus package is coming to Detroit and what type of projects are going to be undertaken? Anything ready to go immediately?

Lmichigan

February 22nd, 2009, 05:18 AM

Like everywhere else, most of the money is going to upgrade existing infrastructure. Here was Detroit's wishlist:

Detroit's Request (http://www.usmayors.org/mainstreeteconomicrecovery/stimulussurveyparticipantsdata.asp?City=Detroit&State=MI)

There really isn't much worth to note. The only things I found interesting was the city wants to purchase and rehab coach and cab cars for the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter rail project.

Paddington

February 23rd, 2009, 05:50 PM

Hey, I'm moving to Detroit in June. I'll be working downtown. Do you think there will still be construction on I-75? I'm planning to live in Royal Oak.

I also like Dearborn a lot. Is this a good place for young people? It looked there were some new constructions on Michigan avenue last time I went there.

hudkina

February 23rd, 2009, 06:05 PM

West Dearborn is geared more towards young urbanites, but it's nowhere near the "cool, hipster" level that Royal Oak experiences. Though there are a lot of clubs, restaurants, etc. along Michigan Ave.

Paddington

February 23rd, 2009, 06:26 PM

Which one is a better commute to the Detroit Medical Center?

hybridy

February 23rd, 2009, 07:54 PM

ROYAL OAK TO THE DMC IS VERY EASY
JUST JUMP ON 696-HEAD EAST TO 75 SOUTH

hudkina

February 23rd, 2009, 08:00 PM

They're both about 15 minutes from the DMC depending upon traffic.

hudkina

February 23rd, 2009, 08:03 PM

You might also try Hamtramck, which is only about five minutes from the DMC. It is an ethnically diverse enclave surrounded by Detroit. It is a little more rough aruond the edges than Dearborn and Royal Oak, but it does have a thriving music scene, and is very walkable. It's one of the few inner-ring suburbs that is growing pretty steadily (thanks to a large influx of immigrants from around the world) and it is also the densest city in Michigan with an estimated 25,000+ people living in just 2 sq. mi.

Paddington

February 26th, 2009, 01:43 AM

The Urban Politician

February 26th, 2009, 05:24 AM

Where are Detroiters discussing the prospect of getting Federal HSR money towards the Detroit-Chicago route? Thanks

hudkina

February 26th, 2009, 07:19 AM

It's not Detroiters who "killed" the Cobo deal, it's the city council and the lack of cooperation between the city and the suburbs.

GarfieldPark

February 28th, 2009, 04:27 AM

What type of suburban - central city cooperation exists anymore at all in the Detroit region? Is there any? Where do the funds come from to pay for incentives for businesses to stay and grow in Detroit? Is the city of Detroit expected to come up with all of the funds for maintaining its infrastructure - or is there sharing of tax revenue from suburban areas to help with the needs of the Central city in the region? Have the suburban areas given up on the idea that the region needs to maintain its center? What was the main argument that led to the decision not to expand Cobo? Was it just deemed not beneficial enough when the benefit / cost ratio was calculated? Without regional cooperation and assistance, I would think there is little hope for Central Detroit when you start looking more than a few years down the road. Am I wrong? Is there still some hope? What types of regional coordination is going on? Thanks for any insight.

Paddington

February 28th, 2009, 04:35 AM

Quite frankly, beggars can't be choosers. It's not like the private sector was lining up to take over a loser business venture like Cobo. The suburbs offered to take over several hundred million in debt, plus tens of millions in on going losses each year. The only things they they asked in return was that they be allowed to bid on contracts and a panel be set up to run Cobo. Sounds fair to me. I was up at NAIAS a few weeks ago and it's in such bad shape. As outdated as Cobo is, what I hate even more is the dipshits that work there who have no talent and no sense of customer service. They mope around with blank expressions on their face, mostly doing a whole lot of nothing.

But the city council buried the deal, which was several years in the making. Supposedly it was one of the most complex such deals ever engineered in Michigan's history. But Detroit's council, they couldn't resist the opportunity to give a "F*** Y**" to folks out in the suburbs (read b/w the lines here). Also they'd hate to give up their power to corruptly award Cobo's current contracts.

Oh well, NAIAS will go to Chicago, and Cobo's dipshit employees will lose their jobs.

hudkina

February 28th, 2009, 04:44 AM

The Chicago Auto Show is becoming less relevant with each passing year...

Paddington

February 28th, 2009, 06:54 AM

Are you joking? Chicago will be NAIAS within 5 years, if not officially then at least for all practical purposes. The Detroit show this year was a shadow of its former self.

hudkina

February 28th, 2009, 07:02 AM

All shows are being cut back this year, considering the state of the auto industry.

Paddington

February 28th, 2009, 04:32 PM

Did you see that news report on the disrepair, rot at Cobo? There's a link at the Free Press website. Whole place is falling apart.

Detroit's leaders are incapable of running a lemonade stand, let alone a convention hall.

hudkina

March 1st, 2009, 03:24 AM

Those living in glass cities shouldn't throw stones.;)

Paddington

March 1st, 2009, 05:12 PM

Well neither of us live in Detroit, both of us live a little bit South of the city. ;)

I found this commentary to be rather enlightening:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090301/OPINION03/903010308

Speakers advocating for the deal were taunted by the crowd and cut short by Council President Monica Conyers, who presided over the hearing like an angry bulldog; whites were advised by the citizens to, "Go home."
Advertisement

Opponents were allowed to rant and ramble on uninterrupted about "those people" who want to steal Detroit's assets and profit from the city's labors.

A pitiful Teamster official who practically crawled to the table on his knees expressing profuse respect for this disrespectful body was battered by both the crowd and the council.

When he dared suggest that an improved Cobo Center would create more good-paying jobs for union workers, Conyers reminded him, "Those workers look like you; they don't look like me."

Desperate, he invoked President Barack Obama's message of unity and was angrily warned, "Don't yousay his name here."

This is exactly the kind of government and representation that the vast majority of Detroiters want. If you're in denial about that, then I can't help you. The city will never recover, not in 100 years with people like that. You know until recently, I was thinking about living in the Midtown/Downtown area of Detroit for a year. But stuff like this is just a major turnoff. I'm not supporting that racism with my tax money.

Also, I laugh at you folks that voted for Obama thinking - secretly - that this would somehow pacify Detroiters, i.e. "create unity". Well, now they hate you even more! From Eric Holder's "Nation of Cowards" speech to Obama repeatedly stating that he's concerned that too many white guys might get construction jobs under his stimulus plan, this country is more racially polarized and racist that I can ever remember. South side of Chicago/Detroit style race politics now dominate at the federal level.

hudkina

March 1st, 2009, 08:20 PM

Maybe you should live in Midtown to see how ridiculous your views are. Is there some animosity and distrust of "white suburbanites" among Detroiters? Sure, but that is reciprocated by the white suburbanites themselves. (Yet, I haven't seen you mention people like L Brooks Patterson or Craig DeRoche.)

The suburbs harbor far more "isolationist" views than the city. And while I agree that the Detroit City council is a joke, most Detroit residents are oblivious to them. Hell, I'll bet that if you ask the average Detroiter to name two people on the council, I'd bet that many couldn't.

Lmichigan

March 2nd, 2009, 04:46 AM

Also, I laugh at you folks that voted for Obama thinking - secretly - that this would somehow pacify Detroiters, i.e. "create unity". Well, now they hate you even more! From Eric Holder's "Nation of Cowards" speech to Obama repeatedly stating that he's concerned that too many white guys might get construction jobs under his stimulus plan, this country is more racially polarized and racist that I can ever remember. South side of Chicago/Detroit style race politics now dominate at the federal level.

Wow! Winger says what? That was just golden. I'm sure you're one of those folks who believe that you're some kind persecuted white majority, too. lol I knew you were a bit out there, but now you've given us absolutely no reason to take your seriously, at all. It's really rather unfortunate that you're coming to Metro Detroit, because you'll definitely be part of the problem.

GarfieldPark

March 2nd, 2009, 05:10 AM

Garfield Park: "What type of suburban - central city cooperation exists anymore at all in the Detroit region? Is there any? Where do the funds come from to pay for incentives for businesses to stay and grow in Detroit? Is the city of Detroit expected to come up with all of the funds for maintaining its infrastructure - or is there sharing of tax revenue from suburban areas to help with the needs of the Central city in the region? Have the suburban areas given up on the idea that the region needs to maintain its center? What was the main argument that led to the decision not to expand Cobo? Was it just deemed not beneficial enough when the benefit / cost ratio was calculated? Without regional cooperation and assistance, I would think there is little hope for Central Detroit when you start looking more than a few years down the road. Am I wrong? Is there still some hope? What types of regional coordination is going on? Thanks for any insight.?

Thanks for sharing the article above. It answered my previous questions (see above). How horrible to have to deal with such a situation. I never would have thought that it was the central city that didn't want help from the suburban areas. I thought it was the suburban areas that were ignoring the central city. I feel terrible for anyone living in Detroit. I'd get out as soon as possible. With the Mayor in Jail (I guess he's out now, but you get the idea) and a city council like that - what a mess. Sorry - but after reading that editorial and learning about the way things are going in Detroit - I have absolutely no hope that this city will ever be able to return to a decent, livable region again. Its bad now - and I can't see it getting better. Really sad.

As for Paddington's comment: "this country is more racially polarized and racist that I can ever remember. South side of Chicago/Detroit style race politics now dominate at the federal level." If that is what you really think, you need to get out of the rust belt ghettos of Detroit, S. Chicago/Gary, and I guess Toledo and Cleveland as well. Those areas you mentioned with the high racial polarization are so backwards and behind the times - its ridiculous. Most healthy, growing communities - ie Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Charlotte, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Denver, etc. have long ago gotten away from the ridiculous racial polarization that you are talking about. The city council situation in Detroit is completely a mess and is completely different from the way the vast majority of cities and regions are run. It is also the reason - as I said above - that I see very little hope for the long term future of the Detroit region.

Lmichigan

March 2nd, 2009, 06:31 AM

Garfield Park, if that is what you believe about Detroit, why are you posting in this thread?

Pilliod Njaim

March 2nd, 2009, 10:15 AM

So they killed the Cobo deal. I wonder what will become the new hotels in Detroit, not to mention the auto show.

All Detroit's citizens (read b/w the lines here) care about is giving the big F*** Y** to - well - just about everyone else. Those people will never change.

There's no way I'd ever live in the city proper. It's bad enough I have to work downtown there for the next 3 years.

Downtown is cool, and don't walk into a job with that kind of attitude. People want their work environment to be more positive. And you should be in a good mood since you actually got a job offer in this economy. Just be happy you have a job and make the most of it. Also, don't be so quick to rule out living Downtown. Some of the best places to live are Downtown, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Hamtramck, and Dearborn. Such a blanket approach of "I won't live in Detroit city limits" doesn't really make sense since you'll be working there. Unless you have kids (Detroit public schools mostly suck), Downtown is livable.

Detroit's leaders are incapable of running a lemonade stand, let alone a convention hall

Ah, it's called money. Detroit doesn't have much of it. Few cities in the Midwest outside Chicago do.

Wow! Winger says what? That was just golden. I'm sure you're one of those folks who believe that you're some kind persecuted white majority, too. lol I knew you were a bit out there, but now you've given us absolutely no reason to take your seriously, at all. It's really rather unfortunate that you're coming to Metro Detroit, because you'll definitely be part of the problem.

I agree LMichigan. Anyone who has a job offer in June has absolutely no room to be complaining about anything! Paddington got an offer in a city that's majority minority. He needs to lighten his attitude or he's gonna risk getting canned. Politics can get people fired. It's usually just best to keep them out of the workplace unless you work for a political organization. You save the politics for political jobs.

Also, I laugh at you folks that voted for Obama thinking - secretly - that this would somehow pacify Detroiters, i.e. "create unity". Well, now they hate you even more!

Ah, no one voted for that reason, Paddington. I'd think coming from such a Democratic stronghold like Toledo, you'd understand that.

Pilliod Njaim

March 2nd, 2009, 10:22 AM

Those living in glass cities shouldn't throw stones.;)

Most of us living in the Glass City understand Detroit's struggles and empathize with them. Detroit and Toledo have very similar cultures and economies. As Detroit goes, Toledo goes. Our success is mutual, and our failure is mutual. Trust me when I say that most Toledoans hope for the best in Detroit, and they want the new political leadership to succeed. Toledo might as well be in Michigan. We have more loyalty to Detroit than Columbus.

Paddington is the exception to the rule (conservative Republicans are a dying breed in Lucas County). Keep in mind 65% of Lucas County happily voted for Obama. Wood County, Monroe County, Lenawee County, and Ottawa County happily voted for Obama too.:)

The Toledo area is about as Democratic as it gets in Ohio. This is the land Marcy Kaptur, queen of the Great Lakes.

Pilliod Njaim

March 2nd, 2009, 10:30 AM

As for Paddington's comment: "this country is more racially polarized and racist that I can ever remember. South side of Chicago/Detroit style race politics now dominate at the federal level." If that is what you really think, you need to get out of the rust belt ghettos of Detroit, S. Chicago/Gary, and I guess Toledo and Cleveland as well. Those areas you mentioned with the high racial polarization are so backwards and behind the times - its ridiculous. Most healthy, growing communities - ie Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Charlotte, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Denver, etc. have long ago gotten away from the ridiculous racial polarization that you are talking about.

The Great Lakes cities are no different from anywhere else in America (in fact, some are better than many other areas in terms of income gap), and they're far less polarized than Charlotte for the love of pete. Charlotte's income gap is legendary. Whites outearn blacks in Mecklenburg County, NC by 2:1. For Hispanics, it's even worse than that. Ditto with Dallas County, TX. In Fulton County, GA, whites outearn blacks by 3:1!

The ratio in Wayne County, MI is only 1.5:1. That's a HUGE difference. So keep talking all that nonsense about southern and southwestern cities. It's bullshit. African-Americans are much better off in Detroit than Charlotte or Atlanta. Actually look at the income gaps between racial groups, don't spout off some nonsense about "rust belt being so behind the times". The Great Lakes have far more economic parity than the southern cities you listed. Detroit still has residential segregation, but the income gap between racial groups is not as bad as in southern cities. The income gap says far more about a city's progress than anything else. Detroit has a huge minority population, so naturally there will be majority minority neighborhoods. Majority minority neighborhoods by themselves are not symptomatic of racial inequality. A huge income gap like you find in Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, etc. is far worse (they have plenty of residential segregation too).

Chicago/Detroit/Toledo/Cleveland are all typical liberal Great Lakes cities dealing with legacy residential segregation and trying to reverse the suburban development trends of the last 50 years (and I can tell you Toledo has gotten a hell of a lot more integrated). The same can't be said about southern cities because they weren't big cities. They weren't even a blip on the radar. Charlotte was one third the size of Toledo before 1950. Charlotte has no urban city. What small city it did have was wholesale leveled for urban renewal. Today, it's a giant suburb with some skyscrapers and parking lots in the middle. The density is gone.

hudkina

March 2nd, 2009, 11:10 AM

Most healthy, growing communities - ie Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Charlotte, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Denver, etc. have long ago gotten away from the ridiculous racial polarization that you are talking about.

Atlanta is becoming Detroit South... Most of the other cities don't even have a sizeable black population.

Pilliod Njaim

March 2nd, 2009, 11:26 AM

^Atlanta is twice is bad as Detroit. Whites outearn blacks in Atlanta by double what they do in Detroit. I'm sick of people attacking Detroit without facts to back it up. That post by GarfieldPark was absurd.

The only Great Lakes cities with income gaps approaching some of the southern cities are Chicago and Milwaukee. There's actually a little more economic parity in Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, and Buffalo.

outerdriveGuy

March 2nd, 2009, 10:14 PM

So whats next for Cobo.The stimulus money will never be used for a renovation.Maybe someone should tell Monica Conyers the key word is "shovel ready", what the hell is shovel ready about Cobo!!It was shameful that our city government conducted themselfs in that type of manner.As a black man im truly shocked that the council and some citizens acted in such a manner.But also remember, it wasnt all of council.:ohno:

GarfieldPark

March 3rd, 2009, 12:28 AM

When I wrote about racial polarization, I wasn't talking about income disparity. I was talking about the racial animosity that was evident in the newspaper article that was posted. Where a black woman leader on the council was telling a labor union person that Detroit didn't want help getting the funds for Cobo because white people would get a lot of the jobs. That is the situation that is "absurd". I found that amazing - and sad in terms of how that kind of thinking is likely to hurt the future hopes of Detroit. Sorry for throwing out some cities that may not be very relevant to the situation in Detroit. All cities are unique and have their own particular history. I'll end there.

Pilliod Njaim

March 3rd, 2009, 07:03 AM

^Fair enough. I do agree that particular incident was not exactly very "professional." Public leaders should know better.

jkramb

March 3rd, 2009, 06:48 PM

Pilliod Njaim

March 3rd, 2009, 09:48 PM

^Income gaps betweem racial groups are not related to general economic health. There are cities with bad economies that have much worse income gaps than Detroit. The gap can manifest itself regardless of whether a city is wealthy or not.

Generally speaking, the south has the worst income gaps in the country. It has nothing to due with their healthy economies. It has everything to do with more polarization and racism (and a worse history in that). Money is power, and when the average person in one group makes three times more than the average person in another group, well it's pretty obvious what's going on in those areas. The notion that Atlanta is "better" than Detroit with race relations is just not true. In fact, it's the opposite. Very few areas have as much wealth concentrated in the hands of whites as Atlanta does. Fulton County, GA is legendary in terms of income disparity. The national media is just in love with Atlanta so they make sure to rarely mention this cold hard fact. The national news media functions more as Atlanta's PR agents than real journalists.

Detroit has a made a lot of progress and it's actually one of the stronger African-American communities in the United States (one of the largest too). There is a large African-American middle class in metro Detroit, both in Wayne County and some parts of Oakland County. Of course you'll never hear about this in the national (and even international) news media, since all they do is beat up Detroit on what seems to be on a daily basis now, but the numbers are there. Wayne County has a smaller than average income gap between racial groups. In fact, metro Detroit's two most populous counties have some of the smallest income gaps of any metro area in the Midwest. Yes, Detroit still has too much residential segregation, but in terms of income parity, a lot of progress has been made. Again, you'll just never hear about it in the national/international news media. Their entire agenda is to paint Detroit as nothing but doom and gloom and stuck in the '67 riots. Reality many times differs from what you see or read in the news. Detroit's economy is declining, but race relations are improving. Perhaps there is something to be said for "we're all in the same boat", but still, give credit where credit is due. Progress was made before the economic collapse.

There is so much anti-Detroit bias in this country, it's sickening. People these days like to blame Detroit for everything. People all over the country blame Detroit's unions, minorities, Muslims, you name it. I've heard it all, and it's called scapegoating.

Detroit did not cause this depression nor the host of social problems in this country. The snakes in Washington and Wall Street did. People need to look at the head of America, not its backbone.

Lmichigan

March 4th, 2009, 04:37 AM

That's because almost everyone in Detroit is without a job, regardless of color.

Almost everyone? So, we're talking about a 90%+ unemployment, I guess. :)

I'm just messing with you. Good jobs are hard to come by, no doubt.

Pilliod Njaim

March 4th, 2009, 09:33 AM

^It is rough, no doubt about it. I'm looking for jobs in Detroit since it seems to have more options in my field (telecommunications, video production) than Toledo. It's been very hard. I don't have money to move to California otherwise I would have left last summer after graduation.

hudkina

March 5th, 2009, 07:56 AM

With all of the film productions coming through Michigan as well as the new studios underway, maybe you could find work in the film industry and not have to move to California.;)

Pilliod Njaim

March 5th, 2009, 11:47 PM

^I'm really excited about the film developments taking place in Michigan, and it might actually get me a job closer to home. If this keeps up, Detroit could one day unseat Chicago as the production capital of the Midwest (Chicago currently ranks fourth in the nation behind Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco).

Paddington

March 6th, 2009, 06:39 AM

LMich - God bless him - will try his darndest to express great shock at racism coming from Detroit's city council, play it off as a once-in-a-hundred years phenomenon, and if nothing else will tell you that L. Brooks Patterson is Hitler Jr. :laugh:

Anyway, here's a followup story from that *gasp* conservative rag the Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090305/METRO/903050428

A meeting at 5 p.m. was adjourned today to consider a veto. Moments after Conyers ended the meeting and instructed council attorneys to sue, Councilwoman Barbara Rose-Collins launched a diatribe of the media's coverage of the issue.
Before leading a crowd of about 40 in singing "Onward Christian Soldiers," Collins complained council members were called "monkeys in the zoo" and railed about European settlers who came to the United States and other countries and pillaged the land and slaughtered the indigenous people.
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Collins said she's tired of outsiders taking property from Detroit, and jabbed Oakland County's executive by saying "May L. Brooks Patterson lie where those like him lie."
"The battle right now is over the integrity of our position," Collins said. "Nobody on God's green earth is going to take anything from anyone who has kept the lights burning."

Detroit will never change. This has been going on ever since the 1960's when Detroit elected it's first black mayor who in his inaugural speech encouraged all the criminals to migrate to predominantly white suburbs. Instead, the city lost most of it's non-black population and business class in the following decades.

hudkina

March 6th, 2009, 11:47 PM

It sounds like you're playing the same "game" as the City Council, Paddington...

testdrive

March 7th, 2009, 02:27 AM

Just reading what people have been saying here it would at first glance seem that the focus has been lost on this issue. It would seem that the debate is really about what is best for the citizens of Detroit and the region. Will Cobo Hall with an expansion managed by a regional authority improve the economic vitality of the area? Help me out since I don't know if that money available for the expansion will not be available because the money all or part is coming from other regional governments if the operations of Cobo remain solely under the direction of Detroit. If that is the case and the projections for expansion see an economic boast then it would seem a no brainer as what needs to happen. To continue a position which serves only parochial interests by viewing people who live on the other side of 8 mile as outsiders is absurd. How has that type of thinking worked so far? I guess all you have to do is look around and see the results. However to get sucked into a debate about racism only muddies the waters and polarizes people and makes solutions impossible. The mayor it seems has his eyes on the prize while the city council just don't get it although this should come as no surprise considering the personalities on the council. One can hope his veto will survive a legal challenge Cobo gets the needed expansion and the region including Detroit will see the economic benefits. Then everyone can see first hand that the council does not possess the talent required to get through these tough times.

Paddington

March 13th, 2009, 01:23 AM

The latest chapter in the Detroit saga, where no good deed goes unpunished:

Jay Leno offers to hold a free show in suburban Detroit. The Detroit city council makes a big stink out of it. One member calls him up and berates him for not holding it in Detroit proper. This made the national news on CNN, BTW. :no:

This makes me feel ashamed, and I don't even live in Detroit.

Lmichigan

March 13th, 2009, 03:53 AM

Reeves did not berate Leno. Apparently, the two are long-term aquaintences/friends, and she begged and got him to committ to at least considering doing a show in the city proper in the months to come. Personally, I'd rather here have not said anything, but what went down is being improperly reported.

hudkina

March 13th, 2009, 06:24 AM

The Palace is too far away (I live closer to Toledo than I do Auburn Hills), and I would much rather see a show in the Fox Theatre or something like that.

Lmichigan

March 13th, 2009, 06:53 AM

I know I got a kick out of hearing Reeves say something to the extent that Auburn Hills is an hour-and-a-half, away. Yeah, perhaps it takes that long on game night to find parking and get into the arena. lol

On a more general note, the Palace is entirely too far away from the center of population. Of course, that's not Jay's fault; he doesn't know where the Palace is in relation to anything else in the area. But, the reporting on this was sensationalized. Reeves wasn't berating or even really complaining; she was trying to pull some extra strings for her town. It'd have been nice, though, if she put as much effort and interest into the Cobo deal as she did this.

_ttam_

March 14th, 2009, 01:45 AM

On a more general note, the Palace is entirely too far away from the center of population. Of course, that's not Jay's fault;...

But that's the great thing about cars--the center of population density doesn't matter in our modern metropolis.

The 25 minute I-75 drive between Detroit and Auburn Hills is inconsequential for a major event like a comedy show or a sporting event.

hudkina

March 14th, 2009, 01:52 AM

How about an hour drive from the southern suburbs?

_ttam_

March 14th, 2009, 02:07 AM

How about an hour drive from the southern suburbs?

The southernmost "suburbs" (i.e., Flat Rock) are already a 30 minute drive away from downtown, you're already in the car for a half hour--the extra half hour up I-75, while it is an extreme example, is still simply a marginal inconvenience when you're talking about a major sporting event or show.

_ttam_

March 14th, 2009, 02:38 AM

The Palace is too far away (I live closer to Toledo than I do Auburn Hills), and I would much rather see a show in the Fox Theatre or something like that.

I won't argue with that hudkina...there's well over a half-million potential consumers down in the Monroe/Toledo area!

Then again there's well over a half-million potential consumers in the metro areas north of Detroit too. Namely the Bay-Saginaw-Midland, Flint, and Port Huron areas. They might prefer the drive to Auburn Hills.

In either case, the examples above are extreme. For the vast majority of the people who live in Metro Detroit, the extra few miles up the road to Auburn Hills is marginal for a major sporting event or comedy show when our cars can zip us around our great metropolis on any number of freeways at 75 mph.

hudkina

March 14th, 2009, 02:39 AM

From my old house in Trenton I lived over 50 miles from the Palace of Auburn Hills and only about 40 miles from Downtown Toledo. I hate going to Pistons games. Not only does it take forever to get there, but I have to spend an additional 20 minutes waiting to get off the highway. At least when I go downtown I don't have to sit in traffic for half the trip...

_ttam_

March 14th, 2009, 02:57 AM

I haven't seen any recent debate here about the proposed "M1-Rail" line from Downtown Detroit to New Center...

http://www.freep.com/article/20090306/BUSINESS06/903060394?imw=Y

I'm assuming most transit lovers are opposed to it?

It's an interesting position they're in--transit lovers have scorned the loss of streetcars for years and have also proclaimed for years the need to link downtown and new center. Now they have that link, possibly by next year, and they're opposed to it because they see greener pastures in the DDOT light rail plan.

My question is: assuming that this is what gets built rather than the DDOT plan for light rail, can this street car system still extend up to Royal Oak, or is that too far and impractical for a small street car system?

Lmichigan

March 14th, 2009, 03:09 AM

It be far to impractical to expand a street car system up that far.

I'm still not getting why you don't seem to have a problem with the placement of the Palace. Car or not, the thing should either be closer to the city or connected to some real rapid transit. It's not that the Palace is in the suburbs, it's not even along one of the main spokes.

Seriously, are you just trolling, here?

_ttam_

March 14th, 2009, 05:04 AM

...I'm still not getting why you don't seem to have a problem with the placement of the Palace. Car or not, the thing should either be closer to the city or connected to some real rapid transit. It's not that the Palace is in the suburbs, it's not even along one of the main spokes.
Seriously, are you just trolling, here?

Trolling for what?...All I'm saying is that the Auburn Hills part of Detroit is a mere 30 miles from Downtown Detroit and in the grand scheme of a 4 million person tri-county metropolitan city which covers THOUSANDS of square miles it's not a big difference. Most people don't mind driving to Auburn Hills for a basketball game just as most of us don't mind driving downtown to Ford Field for a lions game. But I also don't mind driving to the southern part of Metro Detroit to go to the Portofino riverfront restaurant in Wyandotte or to Royal Oak for the Zoo or Romulus for the airport, or Novi for the Rock Financial Center, or Romeo for the Orchard...that's the great, wonderful thing about our city called Metro Detroit--it's a metropolis that offers a myriad of environments and options that aren't necessarily concentrated in any one place. I love this metropolitan city. We have options.

Btw, I just heard the owner of the Pistons, and the builder of the Palace of Auburn Hills, has died. You may get your wish for a downtown Detroit basketball arena right next the baseball stadium and football stadium, and possibly a new hockey stadium sooner than you thought. How many stadiums can we pack into 3 square miles, lol? We'll see..

As for my other point of discussion, it seems like the street car line would be good for a downtown urban area since it's easier and faster to board. Yes, the light rail would be good for the suburban commuters--maybe the two can be built simultaneously. Judging from the trams I used in Europe, streetcars are better for downtown areas. If they extend their plans to take the street car down to the river, over to Eastern Market, and to campus martius and past the new transit center, it could be a boon for downtown.