175 replies to this topic

[detwaa84]

If you are interested in what's happening with the quicken loans move to detroit. I recommend you visit this website: http://www.rossetti.com/ and under their Market section, work sub-section, go to the last picture by clicking next. Make sure you pause by clicking on image 2 and read what it says about it under more info and look at the picture closely (notice the People mover). Doesn't it sound and look like a possible Quicken Loans development. The statler and UA sites seem connected by one building and the street going under, exactly what I envisioned and hoped for.

This is exiting!! doesn't it make the move more likely than ever.

[WALD0123]

Great find detwaa84!  I'm not sure it indicates that Quicken has gone past the planning stage but it certainly is exciting seeing the possibilities.

[MJLO]

they've been talking about this for a while.  I hope to hear something concrete on it soon.

[Zissou]

Good find.  I definitely liked the first rendering.

[dtown]

Nice find, i like what i see. I didnt see the PM track in it though.

[detwaa84]

dtown, on Feb 6 2007, 12:02 PM, said:

Nice find, i like what i see. I didnt see the PM track in it though.

dtown, if you look at image 2 ONLY, you'll see a very lightly colored line at the bottom left of the picture. It looks like it's going through the building, since they are supposedly connected over Bagley.

[Allan]

The renderings are very intriguing.  They've obviously investigated the idea, as well as several others.  Based on what I've heard and seen, though, it seems like a Quicken move is a ways off....

I've seen work on and off at the UA Building in recent weeks, though, so who knows.  The 1960s dropped ceiling in the lobby of the office building has been removed, and they were doing more work in the lobby the last time I drove by.

[Jasoncw]

I think I like the cleaner looking tower part, but the rest seems too messy for that area.  That type of building would look better in river or mid town.

Is the Statler site really too small on its own?

Anyway, good find!  Exciting times!

[detwaa84]

Jasoncw, on Feb 6 2007, 01:52 PM, said:

I think I like the cleaner looking tower part, but the rest seems too messy for that area. That type of building would look better in river or mid town.

Is the Statler site really too small on its own?

Anyway, good find! Exciting times!

You're right, but I don't think it will look exactly like this. This is just a sketch, when it's computerized, it'll look simpler and completley diffrent, I promise!

[hudkina]

It seems that the way they have it designed the UA building could still exist.  The taller tower section would go on the empty lot where the Tuller(?) Hotel used to be while the rest of the complex would go on the old Staler site.  The tower would face Adams St. while the smaller portions of the complex would face Grand Circus Park giving it a "step" down effect into the park.  I think it's a great design, and assuming Dan Gilbert likes his little test run, I hope he picks this sort of layout.

[Lmichigan]

A quick print screen and upload gets you this:

[detwaa84]

Lmichigan, on Feb 6 2007, 09:32 PM, said:

A quick print screen and upload gets you this:

I couldn't have done that!

[wolverine]

It doesn't matter how sketchy the rendering looks, the thing is a mess.  Look at all the odd massings and scale.  It looks like a dozen buildings tied into one.   Hate to say it, but never been a big fan of Rossetti.  Compuware is nice, and I used to love Ford Field, but now I hate it after seeing much nicer stadiums like Nationwide....

[Jasoncw]

What has SmithGroup (recently) designed downtown, or in the metro?

Also, SmithGroup is a national group originating and HQing in Detroit, right?  Is it commonly associated with Detroit?

[detwaa84]

Jasoncw, on Feb 7 2007, 01:58 AM, said:

What has SmithGroup (recently) designed downtown, or in the metro?

Also, SmithGroup is a national group originating and HQing in Detroit, right? Is it commonly associated with Detroit?

MGM Grand Casino

[Allan]

SmithGroup also did the new YMCA on Broadway....

[Lmichigan]

SmithGroup is not just associated with Detroit with its start in Detroit, it's still headquarted in Detroit (Guardian Building), with multiple offices across the U.S.

[GRDadof3]

wolverine, on Feb 7 2007, 01:24 AM, said:

It doesn't matter how sketchy the rendering looks, the thing is a mess.  Look at all the odd massings and scale.  It looks like a dozen buildings tied into one.   Hate to say it, but never been a big fan of Rossetti.  Compuware is nice, and I used to love Ford Field, but now I hate it after seeing much nicer stadiums like Nationwide....

I agree Wolverine.  Those lower floors look curiously like a parking garage.  Then a residential tower plunked on top, with some kind of entertainment (?) venue that connects the office tower at the right to the residential?

[Lmichigan]

Yeah, the residential appears to be stacked on a multi-use podium (i.e. parking, retail, other...), all connected to the office tower concept of Adams.  Quicken has stated (or leaked) that they are looking for a live-work development, so if they ever get something off the ground, it will include a little bit of everything.

Edited by Lmichigan, 07 February 2007 - 03:54 PM.

[Zissou]

My hope was always that they would use the Statler site for the HQ and purchase the Whitney for residential and mixed use and attach the two with a skywalk.  Who knows maybe they could do that anyway and attach the buildings for retail purposes as well as giving Quicken its own PM stop.