Detroit Life Building to be Renovated

[Allan]

The Ilitches do not own that small parking lot next to the UA. The graphic artist made a slight mistake, and apparently ended up with a triangle lot intstead of a rectangular one.

[Mojo]

Reading this article it seems that the Illitches finally realize that revitalizing their building would benifit Foxtown. It's something that I thought would be apparentl to the average Joe, but I'm glad to see them making moves.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...3/BIZ/601130398

[rbdetsport]

Mojo, See post #73.

"Olympia Development is evaluating proposals for development."

The article says there are already proposals. Thats what I got out of it.

[Allan]

The "2210" has been removed from the facade, exposing "Life," as well as the original gold lettering.

[Allan]

Since I've seen workers going in and out of the building for several weeks, it is time to resurrect this topic. The lights are back on inside....at least on the second floor. It's nice to see this progressing, even if it is progressly rather slowly.

[detroitfan]

That's great, Park Ave is already buzzing with activity. That street will look amazing in a few years.

[statedude3]

I'm excited that development is slowly creeping west of Woodward.

[Allan]

It would appear that interior demolition is underway, judging by the garbage chute on the back side of the building.

[tombarnes]

What a beautiful building! This is great news for Detroit!

[dtown]

good news! cant wait til the boards come off it.

[JimInGR]

I agree it is a nice building. It would be cool if they could incorporate the fire stairs inside though, but oh well.

[Allan]

I believe the fire escape will be retained as a part of the renovation. That's what the original plans called for, but I'm not sure if they've changed. The other option is adding a second internal stair, which would take more space away from the small floor plates of the building.

[wolverine]

Usually I'm a huge fan of fire escape like this. I've always loved urban grit. But for some reason it looks really strange on this building.

[dtown]

Yeah, this building looks too classy for a fire escape, but it doesnt look that bad.

[Jasoncw]

I don't understand why the one side is fancy. Was there anything next to that building origonally that would make it make sense? Like a small park or something?

It's a really nice building though.

[statedude3]

Are there any photos of the interior? It looks like it's too small of a footprint to have an elaborate lobby. Am I wrong?

[Zissou]

I don't understand why the one side is fancy. Was there anything next to that building origonally that would make it make sense? Like a small park or something?

[Allan]

Statedude, I have some photos from 2004 that I can post tonight when I get home. The lobby is nothing too ornate, but the ceiling is very nice.

[statedude3]

Statedude, I have some photos from 2004 that I can post tonight when I get home. The lobby is nothing too ornate, but the ceiling is very nice.

[Allan]

The building hasn't been totally destroyed like most of the other downtown skyscrapers.

First floor will be retail...probably a bar and/or a restaurant. Upper floors will likely be offices for more Ilitch people.

[RustTown]

I know they are still studying usages, but I'm surprise that they are leaning towards more office space. I'm not complaining, but you'd have think they'd use this one for residential space considering it's roughly around the same size as the nearby Iodent Building which was convereted to residential space.

[Jasoncw]

I'm guessing that if the new Red Wings place was put across the street, residental wouldn't do well there.

[Allan]

From what I was told...although this was about 2 months before the renovation was first announced...the ground floor will be renovated immediately, and the upper floors will be white-boxed for now while they decide what to do with them.

The Iodent across the street has also been white-boxed upstairs. We'll see how quickly things happen. There's an awful lot of work happening on Park Avenue right now. The bar next to Cliff Bell's is nearing completion, the Women's City Club is getting a facelift, and they are working on the Colony Club building.