Port Authority Terminal

[rbdetsport]

-BUMP-

So it is early february, anything happening?

[Allan]

No.

[hudkina]

I'd think that nothing would start happening until warmer weather occurs. (April or so)

[RustTown]

They sure got that parking garage up quick for the non-existent center, though.

[wolverine]

I'm not expecting anything for awhile. Just because they have site elevations and plans done doesn't mean they can start construction right away. Furthermore I'd question ANY construction activity that deals with working around a seawall and on water in winter months.

[Zissou]

Late spring at the earliest I would think for them to start.

[Michi]

As an aside: That was quite a nice response to the email. Looking forward to construction...and it's neat to hear that they are looking into a wharf concept jutting out from the seawall. That's kinda cool.

[Zissou]

I think that could be very cool. And it really stresses the importance of the Ford Auditorium now. If they could develope that in line with the Port Authority it would do wonders for that stretch down there.

[RustTown]

I agree with Hudkina, in that the Ford Auditorium has overstayed its welcome, even though relatively young. It's always looked slightly out of place, to me, and it looking even more out of place as the riverfront is quickly being returned back to the public. It really creates a dead space, which is very apparent when you've walking the riverfront.

[Zissou]

If the city started shopping that property im positive they would find a developer for it pretty easily. The underground parking structure makes it very attractive and really opens up the possiblities.

[RustTown]

The only problem is that the city is afraid to tick off the Ford family, which I think have already said they wouldn't tolerate the city bringing down Ford Auditorium (i.e. their family would pull back donations to the city).

But, I can't remember if I read that in a newspaper, or if I remember it as heresay.

[hudkina]

It was probably heresay. Besides, I'm sure Ford is satisfied with having their name plastered on Ford Field. Hell, I doubt anyone would even notice Ford Auditorium being demoed. Where's Illitch's army of bulldozers? If there ever was a need for an "illegal" demolition...

[Ramcharger]

Ford Auditorium sits on public land which, by law, cannot be used for commercial development. There was intense pressure from the Ford family to save the auditorium when, in 1990, Coleman Young first proposed building a headquarters for Comerica Bank and then a Hilton hotel on the site. However, it was a petition drive and special referendum that prevented the demolition of Ford Auditorium. Rebuffed in its efforts to demolish the building, the city chose to close it and allow it to deteriorate, no doubt hoping that it would become so derelict that demolition would be the only option. While the acoustics of the building made it a less then desirable concert hall there is no reason it couldn

[Zissou]

If land can be given to the public cant it be taken away as well? So much is happening along the river it would be a huge mistake to just let that sit and rot.

[RustTown]

Someone would have to call for a ballot initiative where the public would have to vote to give it up. This happened here in Lansing where much of the riverfront belongs to the public. Recently, to kick-start the developmnet of the massive Ottawa Street Station, a ballot intiative had to be called for to sell a small sliver of land that the station sat on. It pased something like 80/20. What is a must is the education of the public, though. Something like this could have easily died if the public hadn't been told that the reason the city wanted the land was to reuse the old station.

It really comes down to the will of city government and education. Right now, it seems like Ford Auditorium is very low on the city government's priority list...and maybe it should be until the wharf is done and everyone sees how the Ford Auditorium site really effects the riverfront.

[wolverine]

Gosh, someone should just renovate that ugly thing or tear it down.

[Zissou]

If we can tear down buildings for surface parking I cant imagine this thing being turned down if they have an actual plan for it sometime in the future. The value of that location will skyrocket once the Port Authority is put in along with the riverwalk.

[hudkina]

The land doesn't have to be developed privately. They could easily turn it into public space that is more conducive to the surrounding environment.

[Zissou]

Whats your idea for the space hudkina?

[Ramcharger]

Here

[Zissou]

Jinx the monkey eh. Perhaps we should save it.

[hudkina]

Whats your idea for the space hudkina?

[Zissou]

I guess it depends what you want to do with the site. Do you want Hart Plaza and the Dodge fountain to be the focal point or this new area? I personally would like to see a mixed use development anywhere from 4-8 stories encompassing part of that site with some residential and retail. The closer you get to Jefferson something like in these photos of Millennium Park could be adding because there really is a ton of space there. I do think however that the focus of the area should be the Dodge Fountain in the center of Hart Plaza. A development like the one I propose would complement the wharf idea, add more public park, and create more foot traffic for Hart Plaza in general. I think a building is almost neccesary closer to the river due to the nature of the site.

[bobjgumby]

To heck with the Dodge Fountain. The thing has never worked right. Why should a broken fountain be the focal point of a plaza?

[wolverine]

LOL, glad I'm not the only one who thinks the same thing about the fountain.