Midtown Development

[Mojo]

Earlier today I spoke with some people who were examining the two abandonned buildings (Can't remember their name, but I'll post a picture when I get home) behind the Garfield building, and the MOCAD. They said that they did a walk through of the buildings and are seeing what they can salvage, and what needs to be revamped. They didn't give me a start time for interior demolition, but said that I should see something (I can see the building from my living room) soon.

[detroitfan]

I wonder if they'll end up like the Mid-Med project and just keep the front and back facade. They're pretty much designed the same.

[Michi]

I heard this building was going under renovation as well. A friend of mine lives in the Garfield and she says she's seen activity there.

[Mojo]

I heard this building was going under renovation as well. A friend of mine lives in the Garfield and she says she's seen activity there.

[Ramcharger]

I see that the building at 3414 Woodward Ave., directly south of the Bonstell Theater (I don

[resourcefulidiot]

http://modeldmedia.com/developmentnews/kahn37.aspx

[dtown]

^cool!

[Ramcharger]

Thanks for the info. I checked the Model D site but I didn't think to do a search on the address, lol. It

[Michi]

Look what I found.

It's the South Village concept adjacent to Wayne State. Zero-setback and cornered structures are the key emphasis here, "closing in" Woodward and Forest Avenues and putting "eyes on the street". Enough of this "cars getting broken into in front of the police dept every single night w/o anyone witnessing it". (over use of " ") My only criticism is that they need to be a few stories higher to accurately meet the Woodward width/height ratio of true urban space.

Anyway, it looks like the bohemith lot across the street from the Whitney Restaurant also has development on it. And also the Woodward-Willis Mixed Use project. Construction is to start in 2006 (so there is about 15 days left to put the first shovel in the ground).

[Jasoncw]

That's a really cool illustration. I don't think they captured the hugenesss of Woodward though. But I wonder if that was intentional.

I remember seeing the second illustration a while ago and I like it it a lot. The only thing I don't like though, is that it seems like it's trying to be old. I hope that the project isn't permanently delayed.

[rbdetsport]

That is awesome. I hope it happens. The design is awesome because it shows the detail in the background and how this residential project would fit into the urban environment.

[RustTown]

Michi, wasn't South Village scrapped? How recent is that rendering, and where did you find it?

[Michi]

It was scrapped not too long ago. It was affiliated, in some ways to WSU and the university got cold feet toward the end of deal making and chickened out. They thought it was too risky of an investment supposedly. You can find information on this type of stuff on their 2020 Plan.

Here's the link to what I posted above:

http://www.taktixsolutions.com/wsu.htm

Oh, and the Woodward-Willis project...It's pretty cool, I'd say. It's better than the drive-through DickMonalds and the suburban, dumpy sign for that Italian Restaurant all the way over on Cass...I forgot the name all of a sudden.

[Zissou]

Damn it you got me excited over something that was scrapped. It looked pretty cool though.

[RustTown]

I'm glad I ask because you sure did write about it like it was pending, Eric.

[crotim]

actually this project is far from dead, if you want to accept semi-hearsay. my good friend is on the board of governors at WSU med school and when this project was reported dead by the papers, he ended having a chat with Dr Irvin about it and according to the good doctor he says it's nothing like the papers reported it being, rather he just didn't want to go throught with yet, in this economic climate and he apparently also had some issues with Colin Hubbel. Yeah but anyway, this project is still on the boards it's just been put on the backburner for now.

[Jasoncw]

That's good, it looks like a nice project. Thanks for letting us know.

[jbr12]

I was doing some searching around google and Wayne State's site and came across this:

http://procard.wayne.edu/webfiles/FPM-Sout...Master_Plan.pdf

AND

http://procard.wayne.edu/webfiles/FPM-Sout...d_Elevation.pdf

Its not that old, so it would be safe to assume something is still on going with this.

Oh yeah, I found that here under Bid Opprotunities:

http://www.wayne.edu/wsupurch/

You'll notice the parking garage just went out for RFPs

[resourcefulidiot]

Michi, it's Marios, and it's on Second not Cass

the WoodwardWillis project just got a cool cities grant not too long ago so it cant be dead yet

[Zissou]

Now would this be student housing or just a regular residential project? Either way it looks like it would be a great addition to the area. And I like anything that covers up that gold glass student housing already there.

[RustTown]

I think it was supposed to be student apartments as opposed to dormitories, but still students apartments, nonetheless. I could be wrong, though.

[resourcefulidiot]

well if it was student housing, idk why they would put it on the back burner for fear of a bad investment. It seems to me like if it was student housing there would probably be significant demand for it. Maybe it was condos or maybe it was apartments in which case a large number probably would have been students

[Michi]

I'm glad I ask because you sure did write about it like it was pending, Eric.

[Michi]

Oh yah, Crotim is correct...Wayne is still gung-ho about developing the site. Also, the corner of Woodward and Warren will be redeveloped in the years to come (Utrecht art store) nastiness. But I think most people are aware of that. What is envisioned is a hotel and conference center.

[Michi]

Michi, it's Marios, and it's on Second not Cass

the WoodwardWillis project just got a cool cities grant not too long ago so it cant be dead yet