Detroit General Development

[detroitfan]

I disagee Woodward's width is fine new development and sidewalk streetscaping will do more enhance the street. No one would say Champ Elys

[hudkina]

The difference is that Woodward dosn't have enough traffic once you pass Grand Blvd. to warrant 10 lanes. Champs Elyseese probably needs all of those lanes. If Woodward narrowed to two lanes in either direction with a landscaped center median and exclusive parallel parking on the curbs, it could still handle the amount of traffic the avenue normally sees. In doing this, traffic will mostly likely be slowed to a more urban pace.

The city of Trenton just did something similar to this. They reduced Jefferson Ave from a 5 line road to one lane in either direction with a center median and exclusive parallel parking on the curb. The traffic flow was not hindered, and it helped create a sense of urbanity instead of a extremely wide road.

[RustTown]

Exactly. Every last one of those lanes on the Champs Elys

Edited November 15, 2005 by Lmichigan

[Michi]

Right. And you have to remember, France and Detroit are quite different scenarios. Yes, the Champs is a great success in planning perspectives, but not in Detroit.

You raise a good point about the "wall" though. Urban designs recommend certain building height/road width ratios. In some cases roads can be too narrow and their walls too high (tall skyscrapers), whereas in Detroit's case, we have a disease of too wide streets with too low or set back heights. It's a proven technicality that when this is the case, auto traffic tends to take the ownership "rights" in transportation and the pedestrian has to take the threatened back seat...ultimately discouraging them from wanting to walk places.

With a good ratio (I forget what the recommendation is), this problem can be solved. Woodward could use taller buildings, but the Ellington and Orchestra Place Building (across the street) is a good start in representing scale and density. It slows the traffic because it creates the feeling that there is less open space to erratically rage your car down the wide open tunnel that is Woodward.

I don't know how I feel about parallel parking though. Not that I am an expert of any kind, but I'd image that kind of parking on more of a side street retail section. And by side street, I don't mean Second Avenue near Warren!

[andrew.w]

I might be covering old news...but...

Has anyone chanced to notice the work around Brush Park's Random-Gillis House?

I was there today to photograph another house in the area for a class and I noticed all of the debree and remains of the collapsed roof had been removed and a scafold had been erected along the east side wall.

I didn't think to get a picture while I was there and had a camera.

[Allan]

Yeah, the city has purchased Ransom Gillis, along with the other 3 houses left on the north side of Alfred between John R & Brush. They completely removed all the collapsed roofs, crumbling walls, and debris. Then they reconstructed the roofs & walls and properly secured them for their redevelopment in the next year or so. If I remember correctly, the city is spending $1.1 Million to stabilize & secure the Ransom Gillis house.

The Society of Arts & Crafts will not meet such a fate, however. It has been placed on the city's emergency demolition list. Then again, the Ransom Gillis has been on the emergency demolition list since 1985.

105 Alfred won't be around much longer either. The city has asked the historic commission to approve its demolition.

Btw, welcome to the forum. I guess there are more of us LTU students on here than I thought there were.

Edited November 18, 2005 by Allan

[Aaron]

There was a blurb on this at Detroit Funk. Almost a month ago, though, so something else might've come up.

[andrew.w]

Thanks for the Info. It's great to see something being done.

I'll miss 105 Alfred though - It's is the only semi-stick style house in Brush Park. Even if the house isn't structurally sound for revitalization, I would like to see something of a similar flavor and look built on the site.

Edited November 18, 2005 by andrew69@ltu

[Michi]

I went running through Brush Park this afternoon and noticed the scaffolding up at the Ransom Gillis House. That was a shocker. I would have throught the 105 Alfred would have had a better chance at renewal than Ransom Gillis...aside from that wall that should have collapsed months ago!

It's totally amazing to see the transformation of Brush Park at this stage in the game. Such perfect renovation amongst such perfect devastation...(with signs out front for renewal)...couldn't be better or more exciting!

[detroitfan]

Here's an update to another Brush Park project

Crystal Lofts to add new life to a grand ballroom

Built in 1919, the building known as the Crystal Ballroom

[Zissou]

Cool development. I always thought that building would be cool for something like this.

[rbdetsport]

"Phase two of the 3100 block will consist of approximately 175 residential units, 15,000 square feet of commercial/retail space, and the construction of a new King David Lodge Headquarters."

Is this supposed to be a highrise? And what is that headquarters? I have never heard of them. This is a very great development. It is awesome to see some projects going in Downtown, Midtown, New Center, and neighborhoods around with valuable plans.

[Allan]

The King David Lodge is a chapter of the masons. They have been planning this building north of the Crystal Ballroom for years. There's a really old sign on the block announcing the plans. The original intent was to put a 275 room hotel with a convention center on the site, but it sounds like plans have changed.

[RustTown]

It probably won't be a high-rise, but will definitely fill the area in quite nicely. 175 units is sizeable project.

[Michi]

By the way, for those of you who can't get downtown very often, the Ellington is coming along nicely. From what I've seen, all of the sides are covered in brick except the Woodward side now. It's looking pretty sharp!

South side

Back (east side)

www.ellingtonlofts.com

[RustTown]

It is looking very nice, but much different than what the renderings seem to show. I was expecting something a bit more modern. BTW, I always forget, how many phases is the Ellington concieved for?

[Michi]

2 for sure, but I'm hoping more, especially on the north side. I seem to remember a rendering that showed the building going all the way up to the property to the north, which would in effect cover the sight of the parking garage. To enter the parking garage, you would have to drive under the actual condo structure because it would be built over the entrance. This was never done with phase 1, so I'm hoping that it is a part of future plans.

I'm pretty certain that other phases will be built east along Mack.

[RustTown]

BTW, is the 1001 Woodward Garage completed yet? Also, how many spaces is is suppossed to provide? It's rare that no details are released on this development, even after it's almost done.

Lastly, is there really even a condo conversion going on within 1001? It's almost impossible to tell, and their website hasn't been update in months. Is the reason they are keeping this so quiet because it's not really happening?

Edited December 18, 2005 by Lmichigan

[Allan]

The sales office is open in 1001. It's been there for months...this is happening. A big part of it is that because this is an already occupied and well-maintained building, there is not much you can really see as far as progress goes. It's my understanding that demand for the condos has been very high, though I don't have any solid numbers.

As for the parking garage, it is near complete. I'm not sure how many spaces it is to provide.

[RustTown]

I mean, have they done any condo conversions? I realize it wouldn't take that much work since you're pretty much starting from a well-preserved blank slate (seeing as how the building's been in continued use since completion). It just concerns me since it's probably one of the more large-scale of the developments downtown, but also one of the least talked about. Every article the Free Press or News has done of them has been very sparse and ambiguous, and nothing all that recent has been released.

[detroitfan]

There isn't much talk about outside the garage they've been building for the past year. According to Model D they've be taking resevations I suspect they'll really go on sale once the garage is complete in January

http://modeldmedia.com/developmentnews/1001woodward.aspx

[Mojo]

Does anyone have any new knowledge on the riverfront development, or the new FBI building? Did the city ever award the develpment rights to the developers for the parcels of land on the river yet?

[Allan]

Supposedly an announcement about the east riverfront is to be made this month.

I've heard that the FBI building may go on the former Greektown permanent casino site.

[Mojo]

Supposedly an announcement about the east riverfront is to be made this month.

I've heard that the FBI building may go on the former Greektown permanent casino site.

Thanks for the info Al,

I've been gone from home too long, I just got back this month and I'm out the loop. How many buildings are proposed for the riverfront parcels?

[Zissou]

I dont think anyone knows for sure. We will get an idea after the announcement is made.