Discuss Detroit » Archives - January 2008 » Casinos: good neighbors, bad, indifferent? « Previous Next »
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Hnewman
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Username: Hnewman

Post Number: 1
Registered: 01-2008
Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 5:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey all--

I'm a writer with the Free Press working on a story about the impact the three Detroit casinos have had on the city (and especially the neighborhoods that immediately surround them), and I'm looking for input. If you have any thoughts on the subject - or better yet, if you live near one and observe the effect first-hand - would you mind dropping me an e-mail? I'm at hnewman@freepress.com. My deadline is Thursday morning, Jan. 17.

Thanks in advance for your help, and sorry for the borderline spam; I've been lurking here for a while and I'm pretty impressed with people's passion about our town. :-)

Cheers,

Heather Newman
Detroit Free Press
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Hybridy
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Username: Hybridy

Post Number: 199
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 6:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

motorcity is the only casino with a true residential neighborhood around it
and that neighborhood is very empty
the new woodbridge development is not bad
as long as its maintained

unfortunately motorcity is the most gaudy and visible casino in the city-its also got the lowest rating, in my book, of the three

who would want to live near it?
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French777
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Username: French777

Post Number: 309
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 6:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Welcome to the Forum
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Neilr
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Username: Neilr

Post Number: 640
Registered: 06-2005
Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 7:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Before the sidewalk on Lafayette was closed to allow for the Greektown Casino expansion, I used to walk that way almost twice daily on my way to and from downtown, crossing the valet parking driveway exit. The Greektown valet drivers were noticeably courteous towards pedestrians. They always gave me the right of way. Even at times when they could have sped up across the sidewalk, they waited for pedestrian traffic to clear.
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Charlottepaul
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Username: Charlottepaul

Post Number: 2234
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 7:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Greektown is the one that BY FAR interacts the best with the surrounding neighborhood...
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Yaktown
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Username: Yaktown

Post Number: 292
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 9:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hello Newman...welcome to the forum.
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Goat
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Username: Goat

Post Number: 10017
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 12:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Bump
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Mbr
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Username: Mbr

Post Number: 279
Registered: 03-2005
Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 1:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Are there any DTE folks here? I'm curious to hear what they think about working across the street from MGM. Is there any other example of a Fortune 500 company with a headquarters next to a Casino?
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Gambling_man
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Username: Gambling_man

Post Number: 1042
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 3:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Heather, I hope you got the information you needed. I forwarded a couple of restaurant contacts to you through Martin Waymire, hopefully they helped.
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Terryh
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Username: Terryh

Post Number: 652
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 7:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I would be totally and utterly indifferent if I lived next to a casino. Casinos provide jobs and entertainment-excitement for many individuals. Some gamblers get out of hand, but that is one of the prices we pay for liveing in (supposedly) one of the freest societies in the world. Freedom of choice. I would mind my own business if a casino was near my residence.
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Tigers2005
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Username: Tigers2005

Post Number: 182
Registered: 02-2005
Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 1:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I love Greektown Casino, it provides me with free parking and access to the DPM (best 50 cents you can spend in Detroit). I don't think the Greektown District would have nearly as much going on if the casino didn't end up there. GC makes its neighborhood better. MGM and MCC are really just islands in their neighborhoods, so they really don't help or hurt their area. People drive to these casinos go inside and gamble or go to a bar/restaurant and go back to their car and leave. They don't really generate much pedestrian traffic in the surrounding area. It's too bad that they weren't more like Greektown. I really think it would be much more attractive for out-of-state casino tourism if they were close enough together to walk between them through lively areas. I would like to at least see some type of shuttle service between the casinos. I think that they would all benefit from having a little more connectivity between them. In the summer, it would be nice if there were a pedestrian ferry crossing the river from the Hart Plaza area to CW. If the casinos want to be attractive as a tourist destination, they need a more collaborative effort.
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Gistok
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Username: Gistok

Post Number: 6174
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 1:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Tigers2005... I doubt that you will find ANY interest with either the Detroit casinos, the city or the state in providing a convenient way for folks to cross over to Windsor Casino to support the Ontario Provincial Treasury! No interest whatsoever...

It was a likely reason for the gondola crossing to never get off the ground (that and providing for additional customs folks).
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Jeanofarc
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Username: Jeanofarc

Post Number: 12
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 1:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I live near the Motor City Casino and have a clear view of the light show hotel which is straight down my street. The mentioned light show runs all the time, with various themes from rainbow to american flag designs. The constant flashing can not be escaped by those living closer. I have a friend who's bedroom window glows even when his curtains are drawn.
I remember the neighborhood before it was demolished and there were many homes that probably housed people for nothing or so cheap they couldn't relocate and it created more homeless. I've witnessed the increase in homeless walking around my neighborhood. My street used to be quite and now many cruise fast down the street running stop signs. We have more police cruising the blocks, more petty crime. I don't see anything good out of it; esp the Motor City; but I'm not a gambler. The neighborhood has not improved over it.
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Elwoodp
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Username: Elwoodp

Post Number: 26
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 1:35 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Tigers2005: I agree with you regarding the Motor City and MGM lacking any integration with the surrounding neighborhoods. Furthermore, there has been and will likely not be any spin-off business as a result of the permanent casinos. The Motor City and MGM truly are islands unto themselves. For that reason, I regret that a stronger push to cluster the casinos within the CBD was never made. A study done during Mayor Archer's tenure recommended clustering the 3 casinos to better market a segment of the city as a gaming district. I remember all too well the problems the city encountered with attempting to acquire land on the east riverfront. Several businesses closed as a result. It may have been a blessing in disguise given the current development plans in that area. But I am sure enough land elsewhere in the CBD or nearby could have been procured to cluster two if not all three of the casinos.

As an alternative to clustering, I wish the city could have used this rare opportunity to leverage its position and push for the permanent casinos and hotels to include plans to renovate one or more of the many vacant buildings. MGM spent $800 million on its casino. I can’t imagine it would have cost nearly as much to renovate the Michigan Central Station as a hotel and build an attached casino (remember the Book Cadillac is being renovated for $180m). Who knows, maybe the Hudson’s building could have been saved. It was, after all, demolished in 1998; two years after voters approved a law paving the way for the 3 casinos.
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Detroitplanner
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Username: Detroitplanner

Post Number: 1523
Registered: 04-2006
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 8:25 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Not true, I can stay at the Viking and walk to both the MGM Grand and Motor City. Very convenient.
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Urbanpioneer
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Username: Urbanpioneer

Post Number: 25
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 11:42 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

So you've stayed at the Viking? Pray tell what your experience was like ... I'm fascinated about them the same way I rubberneck at traffic accidents. Is that transient population? hookers? Drug rooms?
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Matt
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Username: Matt

Post Number: 1240
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 11:53 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Where exactly do you live Jeanofarc?
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Lowell
Board Administrator
Username: Lowell

Post Number: 4480
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 12:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good post Elwoodp. I would like to have seen the casinos in a strip, behind the Fox as the first plan called for would have been ideal, related to nearby sports and entertainment. Definitely a lost opportunity there.

I would like to see an additional license[s] issued in exchange for the developer restoring and incorporating a fabulous ruin, the Book Building and the MCS you mentioned immediately come to mind. Regarding the latter, I would hate to see Moroun reap a windfall but, 'big dogs gotta eat first'. It might also negatively impact the blossoming Corktown neighborhood unless handle well.

Hnewman, welcome to the forum. Please update us as to what you produce.
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Detroitplanner
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Username: Detroitplanner

Post Number: 1525
Registered: 04-2006
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 1:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

NO! I've not stayed at the Viking, one of the few places that make the Leland House look good :-)
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Vetalalumni
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Username: Vetalalumni

Post Number: 888
Registered: 05-2007
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 2:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Have Riverboat Casinos been considered in Detroit? Went on one many years ago and my only complaint was the irritating second-hand cigarette smoke due to poor ventilation.

Out west here, many of the (Indian owned) Casinos are located in relatively rural areas outside of the city. Access is sometimes along (dangerous) winding two-lane highways.
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Gistok
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Username: Gistok

Post Number: 6179
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Sunday, January 20, 2008 - 2:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well since riverboat casinos are a step down from permanent landbased casinos, I think the answer to that question is NO.
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Elwoodp
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Username: Elwoodp

Post Number: 35
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 5:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Heather's article was published in today's Freep.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20080205/ENT 11/802050314/1035
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401don
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Username: 401don

Post Number: 254
Registered: 11-2007
Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2008 - 6:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Like we've said before, except for Greektown, the casinos have built fortresses. Seems to me I remember reading prior to construction that MGM was supposed to be much more integrated with the street. Fountains, benches, retail/restaurants facing the street. Did I imagine this?

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