Sg9018 Member Username: Sg9018
Post Number: 270 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 12:53 pm: | |
Mexicantown Mercado stalls In the Detroit News, http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20090216/B IZ/902160358/1001 |
401don Member Username: 401don
Post Number: 935 Registered: 11-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 2:02 pm: | |
This was one overhyped little strip plaza regardless of the economy. I saw nothing that would entice a tourist passing through to pull over before getting on I-75. |
Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 4478 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 2:07 pm: | |
Terrible way to develop the Mexican Village area. It's dying like Chinatown. |
Redvetred Member Username: Redvetred
Post Number: 198 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 2:11 pm: | |
What a waste of $17 million! Where were the checks and balances? Who approved this project and spending? |
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott
Post Number: 1794 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 2:21 pm: | |
I don't think it's dying at all, but I agree with 401Don, there's nothing about that place that seemed to me in any way enticing. Build on what you already have; don't create some faux tourist junk rest-stop that will draw people away from existing businesses. Mexicantown is one of very few areas in Detroit proper that has a fairly good mix of retail and dining options. There is a very good actual mercado a very short distance east of the proposed fakecado. No need for it IMVHO. |
Southwestmap Member Username: Southwestmap
Post Number: 928 Registered: 01-2005
| Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 2:48 pm: | |
The project was going to be a place to put retail that was just starting out and needed clean low-rent space. Mexicantown used to have a nice business entepreneurship program but when finished, the eager entepreneurs had no place to set up shop. With the Michigan information center as an anchor the small theme businesses would have some unique exposure. it was a good idea in a better economy. Two major problems cropped up: the friendship of Mayor KK with the arch-enemy of the project, Manny Maroun and also the desire of the mayor to control Federal grant funds that had been promised to the project. Those arrived too late. |
Homer Member Username: Homer
Post Number: 398 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 7:23 pm: | |
You go up against KK and Manny and you were bound to fail. Also why try to get something going when you are surrounded by construction for 18 months? Bad decisions by someone. |
Cloud_wall Member Username: Cloud_wall
Post Number: 10 Registered: 02-2009
| Posted on Monday, February 16, 2009 - 8:22 pm: | |
I was hoping "stalls" was a noun and not a verb. |
Crawford Member Username: Crawford
Post Number: 488 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 2:30 am: | |
I live part-time in Mexico, and occasionally pass through mercados. In 2009, Mexican mercados are 70% pirated/knockoff vendors. They would no longer exist if it weren't for illegal goods. Given this fact (mercados in MEXICO only exist because of illegal activity), how on earth is Detroit supposed to support a (presumably legit) mercado? Detroit's 40.000 Mexicans are a bigger market than the 20-25 million residents of metropolitan Mexico City? The romanticized days of indigenous vendors selling handmade goods are largely gone. As for Mexicantown in general, it's probably the healthiest non-downtown neighborhood in Detroit. Govt. should just get out of the way, and let business owners do their thing. |
Vivadetroit Member Username: Vivadetroit
Post Number: 163 Registered: 04-2008
| Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 8:57 am: | |
Well, the Mercado's problems began long before the Gateway Project began. Mexicantown Community Development Corp, the entity which was behind it, had major financial problems and they were unable to attract tenants. From what I'd heard, the rent was high and not viable for that part of SW Detroit. MCDC moved its office in there too and believe me, it was the fanciest office I'd ever seen for a non-profit. The woman who planned the Mercado and got it off the ground was great & knew her stuff, but as soon as she left MCDC, everything went down the toilet. They eventually laid off everyone in Nov. 2007 and the board took over control of the Mercado. And in the 5 yrs I volunteered for MCDC, I never met or saw any of the Board members at any of our meetings or events. So, I am sure there is a lot of problems for a Board to inherit a mess like this if they weren't ever involved in the group, except for going to a board meeting. There was major mismanagement of money and rumors of embezzlement by certain staff members. So, there is more to the story than the government, Maroun and the construction. |
Swingline Member Username: Swingline
Post Number: 898 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 10:41 am: | |
The problems may have started before the Gateway Project, but it is going to be impossible to fix them until the Gateway is finished. The area is a construction mess right now and it is going to stay that way for many months. The mess prevents casual, drive-by and/or impulse customers from finding the place. Unless they're going to give out tons of free rent, there won't be any tenants until the construction is finished. |
Bshea Member Username: Bshea
Post Number: 18 Registered: 01-2009
| Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 4:54 pm: | |
Since I'm tooting the Crain's horn today, here's this very story reported on Nov. 2: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/a rticle/20081102/FREE/311029995 I guess it's news only when the News and Freep get around to it. Of course, the Freep will do this story in June and act as if it's an exclusive. |
Funaho Member Username: Funaho
Post Number: 102 Registered: 11-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 5:12 pm: | |
Hmm, well I can't say I'm terribly upset by Cafe con Leche moving in two blocks down the street from my house. Finally a coffee shop within walking distance. |
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu
Post Number: 513 Registered: 09-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 10:38 pm: | |
Now, if they can only fix up the old 3rd Precinct... |