Detroit General Development

[Allan]

Nobody knows much of anything about the plans...they are keeping them secret. All I really know is that they are building. LOL.

[tapezord]

Nobody knows much of anything about the plans...they are keeping them secret. All I really know is that they are building. LOL.

my question is how did they keep their plans secret... did they not have to go through the planning commission?

[Allan]

The city knows what the plans are, and the casino knows what the plans are, but that's about it.

BTW, I spoke with one of the contractors who worked on the Carlton Hotel & is currently working on the Vinton Building. He told me that the developer of the Carlton was unhappy with the look of all the condenser units on the side of the building, so they are going with geothermal heating on the Eddystone lofts.

[RustTown]

Does the Detroit City Council post their minutes of the internet like almost every other city in the country large and small? I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't. lol But, if they do, that would easily help to explain at least some of the details.

So, the parking garage is going up at the Fisher and Grand River, huh? Glad to here that it's not closer to Michigan. I'm still confused as to where the actual hotel is rising from, and how much of the street grid (exactly) will be taken out.

[jsmyers]

You could almost certainly FOIA them if you really wanted to.

[RustTown]

I know I could, but you shouldn't have to, IMO. So, do they have their minutes posted online for each meeting, or at least an agenda? I guess I could look.

[Zissou]

This is completely unrelated but does anyone have a photo of the building that Como's is going to be in?

[Allan]

I had to dig deep into the archives for this one (think pre-Kales renovation, pre-Woodward streetscape, and lots of red monkey bars).

It's going in the building to the right of the chicken shack & to the left of Bleu.

[detroitfan]

The only CC member to keep an up to date agenda is Watson. The Planning Commision does keep mintues it's a pretty good way to keep up on developments

http://www.detroitmi.gov/legislative/CityC...n_currently.htm

[Zissou]

Thanks Allan. I read that they will have rooftop seating, will they have to make any major changes to the building?

[RustTown]

They really need to raze (or add to) those structures and fill in the block a bit more. 1-story buildings on Lower Woodward just isn't right.

[andrew.w]

They really need to raze (or add to) those structures and fill in the block a bit more. 1-story buildings on Lower Woodward just isn't right.

I think it would greatly help even if only the building in the middle (the building of current discussion) was taller. But if it's planned for rooftop seating... ?

That art deco building to the south is kind of cool. Does it have a marquee?

[Allan]

That art deco building to the south is kind of cool. Does it have a marquee?

It used to. That is the old Telenews Theater. It was the last theater that was constructed in the GCP theater district (1942). During the war you could go downtown and watch news reals to keep yourself updated as to what was happening over in Europe.

[wolverine]

I didn't really see anything happening over at Como's, what gives.

[Mojo]

I just went by 8 mile and Woodward and noticed a bunch of machinery moving dirt around at the site where "The Shops at Gateway Park" are supposed to go. Does this mean they might actually start construction, or is this something else?

[Mojo]

It's been so long since the projects thread has been updated, what does everyone think of this? How many parcels remain for development on the riverfront?

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006602150409

[Michi]

I think the design is shortsighted and underutilizes the invaluable property. I don't mind the two buildings fronting the street, but the housing structure is shameful. I hope it is just a conceptual. Sorry to be so harsh.

[tapezord]

I totally agree Michi, to me, it looks like a crappy roadside holiday inn. And half of the site seems to be parking.

"This is an extremely important piece to the renaissance of the city of Detroit," Jackson said. "We're taking historically industrial riverfront and transforming it to residential, recreational and retail."

Well, I agree... I suppose... if we base this solely on what used to be there, but you have got to think farther and broader than that. I think if you hold development to the highest possible standard (and building on the riverfront SHOULD be at a VERY HIGH standard), then you truly are helping the renaissance. Anything less is merely a compromise.

[detroitfan]

There's s better rendering of it on the front page I wish they had included these with the article. I was going to agree it was crappy design until I saw how it'd look from the street

http://www.freep.com/assets/static/pdf/front.pdf

This link is only good for today

Edited February 15, 2006 by detroitfan

[Zissou]

It does look better but the overall design could still be improved. The Bettis property looks interesting. Hopefully we will see a site plan soon.

[detroitfan]

Towmhouses are tacky, but otherwise they did good. The building are built to the streeet and they minimized the impact of parking by putting of out of view

[Michi]

33-story tower (including parking garage) at Greektown Casino site? Anyone else get this news from Crains?

[RustTown]

Yep. It's improvement over the last one which kind of spread out the development. And, I won't complain about the first 13 floors being parking.

[tapezord]

quick question to those who might know, what is the status of the land across woodward from the Crosswinds Brush Park project. Are there any plans for that land? I hope its not another Crosswinds...

[Zissou]

That land is up in the air i believe. The Motown Museum is supposed to go there but I doubt that thing will ever get built. Id put my money down on the new Wings arena going there.