  Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 479 Registered: 09-2004 |
http://www.detroitnews.com/app s/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200805 06/METRO01/805060364/1408/LOCA L Good news! | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 544 Registered: 03-2006 |
Back around 1994, that building was going for $70,000. It has increased in price. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 4741 Registered: 02-2005 |
Don't think, just do it. Approve that and let's move. Screw the Ilitchs for delaying the process for two years. | ||
Wpitonya Member Username: Wpitonya Post Number: 76 Registered: 08-2005 |
Definately. Didn't they have a year to start work, and if not, they lost the building? Either way, if someone is interested in it and has had success redeveloping a downtown property before, why would the city council possibly say no? Besides incompetence of course. | ||
Dtowncitylover Member Username: Dtowncitylover Post Number: 97 Registered: 02-2008 |
The first time I saw this building I absolutely fell in love with it. I am so happy that someone will take the initiative to revive such a grand structure! Good luck to them! | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6777 Registered: 08-2004 |
Only problem I forsee is parking. ALL of the parking within a block (or more) of this building is either owned by Ilitch Holdings, or Michigan Building owner Tony Pieroni. And with the Michigan Building at near capacity with tenants, he doesn't have parking spaces to spare. That would leave either leasing space from Ilitch, or valet only parking to a distant lot. | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 518 Registered: 11-2003 |
Gistok is obsessed with parking and is afraid to walk. Not all lots nearby are owned by Ilitch Holdings, or Michigan Building owner Tony Pieroni. There are others. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6778 Registered: 08-2004 |
Spare us your usual flippant comments Rjlj... I am just being a realist. Perhaps you don't remember the problems with developing the Women's Exchange Buildling? For years no banker would touch it because of a lack of nearby parking (Ilitch wasn't going to give a single spot for the building that he wanted demolished, but the courts said "no"). That's why more than one potential developments for that building (such as the never-to-be China Club) never came to fruition. It wasn't until Chris Chelios got some dedicated parking spaces from Mike Ilitch, that something happened with the Women's Exchange Building. It's not as though you can have parallel parking spots around the GAR Building... So, no, it's not that I'm afraid to walk... it's that banks will be asking the question... "where will people park?" (Message edited by Gistok on May 06, 2008) | ||
Awfavre Member Username: Awfavre Post Number: 243 Registered: 08-2005 |
I know the Carleton family. Hopefully, their successes will continue. I can’t wait to see their new offices!  | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 4744 Registered: 02-2005 |
Gistok I wouldn't worry about it. They'll do what they need to do to get there share of the overabundance of parking on that side of downtown. I'm sure you've seen the pavement prairie over there. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6779 Registered: 08-2004 |
Mackinaw, I know they've got that sea of parking... mostly Ilitch parking. If Mike is intent on putting his arena there, then he's not going to ante up any spaces. He's not only buying up all the land between Cass and Park Ave., but also between Grand River and Cass. We need to get VERIFIABLE to come up with an updated map of the remaining property in the area NOT owned by Ilitch. Based on his last map, there's not much left... | ||
Chris_rohn Member Username: Chris_rohn Post Number: 439 Registered: 04-2005 |
He could work a daytime parking agreement out with The Leland. There is plenty of parking over there, Illitch Holdings or not. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 4745 Registered: 02-2005 |
One would think that once the arena announcement comes, which could be before development plans are finalized on the GAR, a lot of land will be freed up, and the value of the lots that are distant from the arena site will drop to where they should be. I pray that Ilitch just goes with a few huge parking garages adjacent to the arena, so that this enormous quantity of empty parcels can be put to constructive use and a distinctive arena-district of bars and restaurants can be created. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6780 Registered: 08-2004 |
Mackinaw, I wonder why... with Ilitch putting a new roof on top of, and ventilation inside the Moose Lodge... he didn't make a go of it with the nearby GAR? Chris_rohn, yeah I forgot about the Leland. And I wonder who owns the triangle parking lot between the Leland and Michigan Buildings? | ||
Dan Member Username: Dan Post Number: 1539 Registered: 10-2003 |
Gistok is right, banks want to know were tenants will park, so this is an important question. That said there are lots of possible options, as well as a number of street spots for short term parking. I would love to see this happen! | ||
Vivadetroit Member Username: Vivadetroit Post Number: 14 Registered: 04-2008 |
Excellent news! Glad to see one of my favorite abandoned buildings is going to get new life. There is always parking in the old Michigan Theater structure. Which leads to the question of.. do you think anyone would ever restore that part of the building? Where the theater was, not the office building. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 276 Registered: 03-2008 |
Parking is not an issue. That spot is surrounded by parking lots. Some of those lots are expensive, but for sale. The area is also surrounded by unused (and unmetered) street parking. Remember, between all those parking lots is available street parking. The GAR is also surrounded by Park and Locks. Any parking needs could be rented for a decent price from them. Plus, the GAR isn't THAT big. How much parking could it actually need? | ||
Fishtoes2000 Member Username: Fishtoes2000 Post Number: 514 Registered: 06-2005 |
I imagined the GAR tenants riding horses not driving cars. | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 398 Registered: 10-2003 |
The only reason I can see that Ilitch dropped the ball on the GAR was that the terms of agreement between veteran groups and any new owners stipulated that it couldn't serve alcohol, so that negated any use of the building for entertainment or as a restaurant. Other than that the terms from the veterans were pretty light; a secure showcase displaying Civil War artifacts and some kind of plaque describing the original purpose of the building. Other terms like allowing the veterans access and the ability to meet in the building regularly were dismissed by the veteran groups themselves as unnecessary. My brother was involved in the early negotiations regarding the GAR and always felt they were both pragmatic and respectful to both the veterans who served in the Civil War and to a future use of the building. With that small stage area in the building and the buildings unique design, it sounds like a natural fit for the media group. Glad to hear some news that shows promise. | ||
Beatsworking Member Username: Beatsworking Post Number: 116 Registered: 08-2004 |
Model D did a little video on the Carleton's production company a while back... http://youtube.com/watch?v=r-W 2bYgdJ6A Definitely wish them luck with the GAR. | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 2499 Registered: 10-2006 |
"I imagined the GAR tenants riding horses not driving cars." "Their company and its 14 employees would relocate to the GAR Building if the proposal is finalized." "...plans to invest about $2 million renovating it into space for a restaurant, offices, gift shop and exhibit space for Civil War memorabilia." How much dedicated parking would something like that honestly require? 14 employees? Can't require that much. And a 'museum'--most museums in orban centers don't have dedicated parking. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 4765 Registered: 02-2005 |
Great points. Definitely don't worry about the parking getting in the way of this. Only for someone like Ilitch could parking or a perception of a lack thereof stimy a deal...oh wait, maybe that's what happened with their GAR deal? |
