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  #1941  
Old Posted Jul 31, 2013, 3:12 PM
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Originally Posted by LMich View Post
Anyone know the season for the fountains? I've never really paid attention, and the last time I did, it was years ago in the summer and they weren't on.

Anyway, good to hear. The parks always should have been seen as the places to center the downtown districts around, but I guess it's better late than never. BTW, what do you guys think of the reconstruction of Capitol Park?
They're both on now. Not sure if they're on a schedule but last time I was down there was in April and they were on.

Capitol Park seems forgettable. It's nice, but unlike Campus Martius or GCP, there's no real major draw to it and it just seems like a run of the mill downtown plaza. I think there needs to be a little more greenery and a tree canopy.

There's a small park on Grand River and Randolph that pulls this off pretty well and I would want Capitol Park to be similar to that one.
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  #1942  
Old Posted Jul 31, 2013, 3:24 PM
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Grand Park Centre sold to Bloomfield Twp.-based Princeton Enterprises
By Kirk Pinho




Bloomfield Township-based Princeton Enterprises LLC has purchased the two-building Grand Park Centre office complex at 28 W. Adams St. in Detroit from the Detroit Police and Fire Retirement System.

Princeton Enterprises likely paid between $4 million and $5.5 million for Grand Park Centre, according to real estate sources.

The deal for the 177,000-square-foot complex, previously known as the Michigan Mutual Building, also includes an attached 115-space parking deck and a surface lot on Woodward Avenue with 23 spaces.

Matt Lester, founder and CEO of Princeton Enterprises, said his company also plans to open a 5,000- to 10,000-square-foot satellite office in Grand Park Centre in the fall and to double the amount of available parking space "in order to be a first-choice facility among potential office users."

"We want to be down there," Lester said. "Then, longer-term, there are some thoughts about extensive renovations, particularly to the vacant floors in the (40,000-square-foot) annex, so that's where the action is going to be more mid-term."

Princeton Enterprises will remain headquartered in Bloomfield Township for the time being, although Lester said the company may eventually move its headquarters to Detroit.

...
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...on-enterprises


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M1 awards Calif.-based firm major contract for streetcar project
By Bill Shea



The nonprofit M1 Rail effort has awarded the contract to build the Woodward Avenue streetcar project loop to Alameda, Calif.-based civil construction firm Stacy and Witbeck Inc.

Stacy and Witbeck, which has built 17 transit systems, was awarded the project's construction manager and general contractor bids from a pool of five companies, M1 said in a statement tonight.

Detroit-based White Construction Co. has been subcontracted by Stacy and Witbeck to work on the project, M1 Rail said.

Because engineering is still underway, a maximum contract price hasn't been determined. M1 believes construction of the grade-level streetcar loop itself between Hart Plaza and New Center will cost $135 million to $145 million, which could drive the total project cost closer to $187 million from a previously estimated $137 million.

Of that, the state is funding a Woodward resurfacing and some overpass work concurrently with the streetcar line construction, M1 COO Paul Childs previously told Crain's. The MDOT work, at a cost of $35 million to $45 million, will be between Sibley and Chandler streets. That amount is part of the project's total, which could end up higher or lower than $187 million.

Future bids will include an estimated $9.5 million for construction of a vehicle storage and maintenance facility, $27 million for six streetcars, and for a private-sector vendor to operate and maintain the streetcar system at an estimated $5.5 million annually. The $187 million assumes only $5.5 million for a year of operations, so the total could rise under a multi-year deal.

...
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...eetcar-project
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  #1943  
Old Posted Jul 31, 2013, 4:35 PM
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Harmonie Park is the name of that other park. Capitol Park should have had more green. Granted, grass is probably more expensive to maintain.
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  #1944  
Old Posted Jul 31, 2013, 5:47 PM
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Or they could always go with sand. That seems to be the summer time trend for Detroit.

Quote:
Volleyball & Lawn Games Open on Detroit RiverWalk
By Clare Liening



One of Detroit’s most cherished gems for outdoor activities, the Detroit RiverWalk, is getting even better with new upgrades launching Monday evening. A beach volleyball court, along with oversized lawn games, beach toys and more than 100 pieces of beach-type furniture, will be featured along the stretch of the RiverWalk – from the G.M. Renaissance Center to Rivard Plaza & Pavilion – now through the end of September.

“Throughout the last decade, the Conservancy has been working to not only continuously develop and provide public access to Detroit’s riverfront, but to also offer a wide range of activities and amenities that help create a greater sense of community,” said Faye Nelson, president & CEO, Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.

....

http://www.after5detroit.com/article...109651&id=4551
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  #1945  
Old Posted Aug 1, 2013, 3:55 AM
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The lawn chairs are a nice touch. It makes me want to go just for that reason.
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  #1946  
Old Posted Aug 1, 2013, 7:13 AM
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Originally Posted by animatedmartian View Post
Capitol Park seems forgettable.
This is why I asked. The reconstruction seemed really "Meh", to me.

On Grand Park Centre, the sell doesn't sound like that big a deal. The building wasn't renovated that long ago, and from what I understand, it didn't have terrible vacancy. In my dreams, they'd eventually demolish the annex and the tiny adjacent lot on Woodward, and fill in the corner with something substantial and befitting an entertainment district.

SO glad to hear about the genereal contractor being chosen. This was kind of imminent, as it pretty much follows schedule, but it allows everyone to breath. No, we get shovels in the ground by next month with a successful, national company running the show.
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  #1947  
Old Posted Aug 2, 2013, 5:44 PM
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State Savings Bank owner, Andreas Apostolopoulos, files for demolition petition.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...n-for-demo.php
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  #1948  
Old Posted Aug 2, 2013, 10:15 PM
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Don't mean to rain on the parade, but am I missing something here? While I'm seeing all these developments, Detroit has tanked out to the point of bankruptcy. (???)
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  #1949  
Old Posted Aug 3, 2013, 2:09 AM
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I would hope you would understand the difference between municipal governance and private-sector development. The municipality of Detroit has such a massive load of debt, that it is not capable of paying for both its long-term obligations (bond payments, pensions, etc.) and its short-term municipal services (police, street-lighting, etc.) Because of this, it has decided to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection in an effort to focus more on short-term municipal services and either reduce or eliminate long-term obligations.

On the other hand, you have people, companies, and organizations that are mostly unrelated to the municipal government that are seeing the value of Detroit and are investing in the city. Dan Gilbert has purchased dozens of buildings and is moving thousands of employees into the downtown core. Other companies (large and small) are following suit. A new light-rail line (that is mostly privately funded) will soon begin construction connecting the growing residential, office, and retail base in Downtown, Midtown, and New Center. New residential units are being added (through renovation and new construction) throughout the downtown core. A new stadium/entertainment district is planned that will include retail, office, and residential. Public funding will be a major source, but tax revenue that is specifically generated for such downtown developments will be used. A newly renovated, regionally-operated convention center will soon be completed. New hotels are coming online or under construction.

All of this is occurring despite the financial status of the municipality of Detroit.
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  #1950  
Old Posted Aug 3, 2013, 3:08 AM
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Originally Posted by animatedmartian View Post
State Savings Bank owner, Andreas Apostolopoulos, files for demolition petition.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...n-for-demo.php
I hope the preservation community gives this guy hell. The demolition makes absolutely zero sense. If he's not going to do anything with the building - if he doesn't know how to reuse that building - then he should put it up for sell. No more of this. We've had far too many downtown slumlords in the past to accept another one.

Not enough parking downtown? You've got to be kidding me. He must think we're stupid. Downtown has been doing far too well the last few years to revert back to the olds ways of the early part of the previous decade. No more Madison Lennox situations, please.
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  #1951  
Old Posted Aug 5, 2013, 1:13 PM
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Book Tower (my second favorite skyscraper in the world) may be on the verge of renovation, at long last.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...book-tower.php
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  #1952  
Old Posted Aug 5, 2013, 2:18 PM
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Wouldn't this be great? It's also one of my favorite skyscrapers of all time, and my favorite in Detroit.

Quote:

(Left image via Ryan Southen; Right image via Emporis/Chris Cousins)


....

The renovation plan document dates back to September 2012, with an update written in April 2013. The plans are for the Book Tower, the Book Building, and the adjoining two-story building to the south. The renovation described includes apartments for floors 4-36 and retail and commercial space for the basement floor up to the third.

....
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  #1953  
Old Posted Aug 5, 2013, 3:49 PM
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I was wondering how vacant the David Stott was. It doesn't appear in the bad shape of the Book tower + building, but nonetheless in the need of at least a cleaning up, and maybe a heavy renovation that would plan a mixed reuse too.
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Wouldn't this be great? It's also one of my favorite skyscrapers of all time, and my favorite in Detroit.
Well, it may be the most heavily decorated and the most impressive at first glance, but then you take a better look at this slender Art Deco reddish silhouette...


http://fromthekage.blogspot.fr/2011/...kyscraper.html

What's the best is quite questionable, especially when Art Deco towers seem usually more appreciated than the neoclassical works of the same era. The David Stott has to be one of the very finest Art Deco pieces in the entire city, and maybe simply the best.
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  #1954  
Old Posted Aug 6, 2013, 2:46 AM
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Originally Posted by uaarkson View Post
Book Tower (my second favorite skyscraper in the world) may be on the verge of renovation, at long last.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...book-tower.php
I can't wait to see this imposing tower renovated. The large vacant building list is dwindling quickly!
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  #1955  
Old Posted Aug 9, 2013, 7:14 AM
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The renovation of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Memorial Hall continues to move forward:

Quote:

Ankru Dholakia | The Detroit News

Michigan awards $660K grant to renovate Detroit's old castle building

By Michael Martinez | The Detroit News

August 8, 2013

Detroit’s grand old castle building, shuttered since 1982, took another step toward revitalization Wednesday.

NewGAR, LLC, which owns the Grand Army of the Republic Building in downtown Detroit, will receive $660,000 for the renovation and was one of three companies to garner incentives Wednesday from the Michigan Business Development Program, which provides grants, loans and other assistance to businesses investing or creating jobs in the state.

“It all helps to add up and makes a project like this possible,” said David Carleton, one of three owners who started NewGAR. “It’s an important piece.”

The GAR building, 1942 W. Grand River Ave., was constructed in the late 1800s for Union Civil War veterans who belonged to an organization called the Grand Army of the Republic. Renovation plans call for restaurants, offices, and a Civil War museum.

Carleton said the restaurants will tip their hats to the history of the building. One will be a classic-themed diner that will “reflect the American heritage,” he said. The other, larger adjacent space will take advantage of unique ground floor aesthetics, which include high ceilings and squared pillars. That restaurant will be called Republic and have a tavern setting.

The second and third floors will be rented as office space, although no tenants have been found. Detroit-based Mindfield, a media project company that Carleton and the other two building owners are partners in, will take up the top floor. Mindfield hopes to move in by the first quarter of 2014.


...
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  #1956  
Old Posted Aug 13, 2013, 7:21 AM
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While the conception and development of this thing has been and continues to be a cluster-you-know-what, the Troy intermodal station will be opening in a few weeks, regardless:

Quote:

Nathan Skid | Crain's Detroit Business

Troy moves ahead on transit center

By Chad Halcom | Crain's Detroit Business

August 11, 2013

At the current pace of construction, there is a good chance Troy will be finished with its transit center project before the Michigan courts can say the same.

And if the center opens near Maple Road and Coolidge Highway next month with the legal question of ownership unresolved, the city could have to buy it back at substantial cost from Farmington Hills-based Grand/Sakwa Properties LLC in a long-running dispute.

The Federal Railroad Administration last week notified Troy it would resume reimbursements to the city for construction on the transit center, which had been halted for several months, after receiving a plan for continuous control from the city, said Rob Kulat, public affairs specialist for the railroad administration.

Reimbursements had stopped on the federal funding portion of the nearly $10 million transit center after the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in May that the property belonged to Grand/Sakwa, not the city. Troy has racked up about $1.6 million in reimbursable building expenses since then, said City Engineer Steve Vandette.

A three-judge appellate panel overturned a 2011 Oakland County Circuit Court ruling in Troy's favor, and ruled that Grand/Sakwa is entitled to reclaim 2.7 acres of land where most of the construction is taking place.

The city asked the Michigan Supreme Court to take up the case a few weeks ago, but has also requested an assessment on the property from an outside consultant, which is expected soon. The assessment would be a precursor to a possible condemnation case in court against Grand/Sakwa to retake the site if the courts continue to side with the developer.

...
Troy will never be the transit hub of Oakland County, but it can be - and now will be - one of them. Whatever the case, it will certainly be better for what passed as a station in Birmingham.

BTW, the skybridge is quite a bit taller than what I imagined it'd look like.
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  #1957  
Old Posted Aug 13, 2013, 3:35 PM
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The Detroit Free Press Building and the David Stott Building will be going up for auction next month. Gilbert has expressed interest in purchasing the David Stott before, so it will be interesting to see if he can snag it.
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  #1958  
Old Posted Aug 13, 2013, 7:15 PM
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More retail coming to Campus Martius, namely Potbelly Sandwich Shop and an unconfirmed Starbucks.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...us-martius.php
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  #1959  
Old Posted Aug 15, 2013, 3:56 AM
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Preservation prevails in Detroit!

Quote:
Detroit commission turns down State Savings Bank demolition request

Detroit’s Historic District Commission denied permission to the owners of the architecturally significant State Savings Bank to demolish the structure to build a parking garage.

The commission’s staff told the commission at the start of the public hearing today that the owners of the bank met none of the four criteria in the city’s landmarks ordinance that would allow demolition.

Triple Properties, a Toronto-based firm, owns the nearby Penobscot office tower as well as the State Savings Bank. It proposes demolishing the historic bank structure to build a $30-million garage with more than 1,000 spaces to serve the Penobscot tenants and ground-floor retail.

Bob Kraemer, a Detroit-based architect representing the owners who want to demolish the bank building, told the commission that demolition was a trade-off to save the equally historic Penobscot skyscraper. Without parking nearby, the Penobscot becomes less economically viable, Kraemer said.

“We are here to say we have make difficult choices. The Penobscot Building itself is in peril. … There’s a financial issue right there,” Kraemer said.

...
http://www.freep.com/article/2013081...ank-demolition

Bob Kraemer must have been paid some big bucks to support the demolition of a historic building. Doesn't exactly bring a good name to his architectural firm considering they've been behind a lot of the historic renovations around downtown.
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  #1960  
Old Posted Aug 15, 2013, 7:18 AM
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I was particularly disappointed to see Bob Kraemer's name pop up considering the focus of their work in Detroit. The idea that the Penobscot complex could do better with more parking seems less of a legitimate critique than the critique that the Penobscot complex could do better if it wasn't owned by borderline slumlords.

Honestly, Triple Properties are the kind of vultures you can attract when your real estate market collapses. In a more normal market, a company like mom-and-pop Triple would have to get in on the groundfloor; instead, they come to Detroit and buy landmark properties like the Silverdome and the Penobscot buildings for pennies on the dollar. I'd love to see nothing more than for them to cash out, and take their game back to Toronto, where they'd never be allowed to get away with the crap they think they can get away with in Detroit.

Welcome to Detroit, Triple. We're desperate; we're not that desperate.
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