Ford Auditorium

[Zissou]

First: Are there any details about any proposals about this property? I think its location would make it a prime candidate for some kind of development.

Second: What would you like to see put there?

I would personally like to see a neighborhood of 5-10 story modern structures that could have retail office and residential. I think it would be very cool to have people living on Hart Plaza and could really give the area more foot traffic. Or perhaps have a development like the one I just mentions but towards the river incorporate an aquarium like people had been suggesting. Having the Port Authority and an aquarium all right there on the waterfront could also be a cool development. I really think that location should be used to bring people to the area as well as enhance the riverfront and Hart plaza.

[wolverine]

Perhaps someone should illegally tear that piece of crap down instead. I'm sure the Ford's wouldn't be impressed, but if it was illegal, than it would make no difference. I agree Zissou, a small neighborhood modern neighborhood with retail would be great, especially during events. I have an idea of something it could look like that I saw in NYC, I'll post images later.

[Zissou]

I look forward to seeing them. Does anyone know if the city owns this property? Perhaps Mr. Hendrix could line up a developer with the promise of selling the land cheap.

[Allan]

Ford Auditorium was built in 1956 using money donated by the Ford family. The city owns it, but has been reluctant to tear it down because the Fords had threatened to never donate money to the city again if they did. However, the auditorium looks awful. While the city is concerned about tearing down everything else, the auditorium still stands, as if the Super Bowl visitors aren't going to notice.

[Zissou]

Maybe the city needs to approach the Ford family with some sort of proposal and show how it would really help the city moreso than an aging, deteriating, ugly theater. I cant imagine the Ford family telling them no more donations if they approached it in that manner.

[DetroitBazaar]

Maybe the city needs to approach the Ford family with some sort of proposal and show how it would really help the city moreso than an aging, deteriating, ugly theater.  I cant imagine the Ford family telling them no more donations if they approached it in that manner.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The city would never do that, they claim it as a "sacred" gift, though maybe the next mayor and pressure groups can achieve this. I'd like to see it opened up for the public or turned into residential- no Comerica like was proposed about fifteen years ago for me. Residents, residents, residents. Keep the Riverfront public though!

Peace to you from Will, DetroitBazaar

[wolverine]

I still think that piece of junk needs to go. The Fords should know by now that the city is broke, and they can't do much to fix it up. So the family themselves should do something about it. Sometimes, I think a city should decline gifts from people who expect the recipient to maintain it with their own funding. Yes, it's thoughtful to build something that will benefit the public but the operational costs actually fall on the residents through taxes. So techincally, giving a building to the city puts a burden on taxpayers. Real nice huh?

[DetroitBazaar]

Ok, we'll put in a bid, go through the red tape that plagues any development, talk to about 9 sections of city government and see what we can do. Until someone with some clout with both CC and the Mayors office submits a viable- city benefitted- proposal, nothing will happen. Let's all call up and see if we can purchase the property for what we want to do with it. Sound good?

What else is there? Comerica got denied. Madden(sp) development got denied. What's left but an abandoned structure? Let's put in bids and pressure everyone to obtain the property, rather than let some city department choose what goes there. I will call and ask what the price is again; they will certainly say it was a gift from the Ford family and they wouldn't dare sell it- unless the price was right.

The only way to revitalize the city is to do it privately!

Peace from DetroitBazaar

[Zissou]

I cant imagine that theater ever looking good. If it was an unbelievable design and structure I could see why the city and Ford family would want to hold on to it but its a piece of garbage that serves no purpose on our riverfront.

[SNWEB]

I agree Zissou, our riverfront could be way better without crap like the auditorium and cement silos.

[Zissou]

Fortunately the cement silos will be leaving us shortly. Next on that list should be the auditorium. Im sure within the next couple of years something will come of that property. It could play a huge role in Detroits revitalization.

[detroitfan]

First:

[MrCoffee]

I am wondering, does anybody have any recent photos of the Ford Auditorium? I saw one picture on Detroityes, but it didn't really show much of it. I would like to see more of what it looks like.

MrCoffee

[Zissou]

Detroitfan it isnt green space right now. Right now its pavement and a very ugly building. Parking wont be any more of a problem than it was when the theater was operational. There is an underground parking structure designated for the Ford Auditorium that could be used for business and residents instead. The entrance and exit to that garage is in the median on Jefferson which would effect people going to the tunnel because they would be in the right most lane. You admitted that Hart Plaza is seldom used. Adding a few hundred residents to an area that already isnt utilized would give Hart plaza some much needed foot traffic. I think the East Riverfront should be saved for residential towers. What im proposing is more if a little neighborhood with nothing over 10 stories. That piece of land could support a development like that.

And how is Jefferson so hard to cross? It takes too minutes total waiting for the Dont Walk sign to switch to the Walk sign.

[DetroitBazaar]

Detroitfan it isnt green space right now.  Right now its pavement and a very ugly building.  Parking wont be any more of a problem than it was when the theater was operational.  There is an underground parking structure designated for the Ford Auditorium that could be used for business and residents instead.  The entrance and exit to that garage is in the median on Jefferson which would effect people going to the tunnel because they would be in the right most lane.  You admitted that Hart Plaza is seldom used.  Adding a few hundred residents to an area that already isnt utilized would give Hart plaza some much needed foot traffic.  I think the East Riverfront should be saved for residential towers.  What im proposing is more if a little neighborhood with nothing over 10 stories.  That piece of land could support a development like that. 

And how is Jefferson so hard to cross?  It takes too minutes total waiting for the Dont Walk sign to switch to the Walk sign.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I like that Zissou, there was a proposal a while back- before all of the casino land ordeals- to make the area east of RenCen a "European style villiage" complete with trolley lines from "rivertown" to downtown. Nothing came of it and as we've seen many of the businesses there before the casino talk are no longer there. That whole area- from Belle Isle to Hart Plaza would be a wonderful urban scene if done right. There is a modest boardwalk being built.

I walked by the FA and it's a shambles. What's it going to take? I know, lots of money. Who knows, I hope to help make good things happen anyway.

[WBG4]

Any one have pix of the inside?

[MrCoffee]

I would like to see both interior, and exterior photos. I came across one exterior on detroit.com, but nothing inside. I guess I'll have to see for myself after I locate to Ann Arbor.

MrCoffee

[Allan]

I've seen photos of the interior from about 15 years ago. I'll see if I can find them in the morning...it's bedtime for me.

[Zissou]

I cant imagine the inside of the auditorium looking much better than the exterior.

[WBG4]

Me either (that is if it looks better)

[Allan]

I can't find the pics of Ford Auditorium. I should've saved them to my computer. Not that I'd want to waste my hard drive space with photos of that piece of crap.

[baldy]

From what I've seen, it doesn't look that bad on the inside, but I have only seen the loby. Marshall Fredericks has a couple sculptures hanging on the wall, which although not that great in my opinion, need to be saved.

I'll try to find the picture one of the days.....

[wolverine]

If Detroit is so concerned about blight in the public eye for its big events, I wonder what they'll do with that big ole speakerboxx. Maybe they could wrap it in GM ads, wouldn't that be ironic.

And speaking of wrapping buildings with ads for the Superbowl, what ever happened to this idea. We all thought it would be the life saver of Detroit's vacant, but historic buildings. There's nothing to wrap now, which can also mean less $$$

[MrCoffee]

If Detroit is so concerned about blight in the public eye for its big events, I wonder what they'll do with that big ole speakerboxx.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First, we have a giant cheese grator on Woodward Avenue, and now a giant speakerboxx . Somebody, please grab a picture of that darn box, I'm just dieing to see what a giant subwoofer holder looks like! Can it be made to fit in Kwame's red Navigator?

MrCoffee

[wolverine]

Oh stop laughing, the Renaissance Center just gave you the middle finger

If you look at it from above, it looks like Bose speaker. The facade has that weird covering that looks like the fabric covering retro speakers. I'm sure Kwame would like to turn it into an actual speaker so he can hear it from the Coleman Young building.

You also forgot about the 1001 Woodward radiator.