  Novine Member Username: Novine Post Number: 1264 Registered: 07-2007 |
"DETROIT -- To create more parking for the throngs anticipated for next month's NCCA Final Four basketball championship, Ilitch Holdings Inc. is using state Super Bowl XL funds to quickly demolish five empty downtown buildings." http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.d ll/article?AID=/20090319/BIZ/9 03190344 | ||
Leland_palmer Member Username: Leland_palmer Post Number: 577 Registered: 08-2004 |
My favorite quotes from Karen Cullen. The flurry of demolition is all about "added safety and security," and "The ability to move forward and remove non-viable buildings from the area ... greatly enhances the appearance for surrounding property owners and their venues." So he's doing all of this to help Bookies then? | ||
Urbanoutdoors Member Username: Urbanoutdoors Post Number: 1128 Registered: 11-2005 |
If there is one person I hate as much as matty moroun..... Its gotta be Ilitch.... Kwame comes in a close 3rd though... | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4305 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ah! The stupid; she burns! Can you call a guy who's razed more than he's built a 'developer? The Macedonian Parking Cartel is the wetdream of Metro-area demolition companies. Homrich doesn't even know what a recession is, anymore. Recession, what recession? I'll tell you, to be "Homriched" or "Ilitched" is a colloquialism that's going to catch on, yet. Just you wait and see. (Message edited by lmichigan on March 19, 2009) | ||
Novine Member Username: Novine Post Number: 1266 Registered: 07-2007 |
That's the kind of crap you get to say when your a VP of Corporate Communications: http://www.ilitchholdings.com/ Executives/KarenCullen/tabid/1 37/Default.aspx Or how about the intro. for Ilitch Holdings? "The Ilitch Holdings family of companies is dedicated to creating extraordinary and memorable entertainment and sporting experiences in the heart of downtown Detroit’s thriving Sports and Entertainment Foxtown District" Translation: "We had to destroy the village to save it." | ||
1kielsondrive Member Username: 1kielsondrive Post Number: 1069 Registered: 08-2008 |
"The Illitch Holdings family of companies is dedicated to creating extraordinary and memorable parking experiences in the heart of downtown Detroit's thriving Parking for Foxtown District". | ||
Leannam1989 Member Username: Leannam1989 Post Number: 226 Registered: 06-2008 |
How many other cities demolish numerous buildings to make the city look better? Maybe some do, but you don't hear of it much. | ||
Reddog289 Member Username: Reddog289 Post Number: 991 Registered: 08-2007 |
After looking through Illitch Holdings site I think it needs an update. Isn't Johnny Rockets no more. I am sad in a way that I never set foot in Chin Tiki or other buildings that were once cool places to go to in the D, Yet this is just a case of where big bucks win out. But isn't there enuff parking around Ford Field?. I think that the Wings will be playing Hockey somewhere round that area in a few years. Too bad you won't be able to hit a place like Chin Tiki before or after the game. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4306 Registered: 10-2003 |
Leannam, most cities did that...50-60 years ago. Most other cities have learned from the decades-old, dubiously named "urban renewal". Detroit hasn't. Cockrel picked a new planning director, yesterday. Anyone think that it will matter? I don't. Ilitch should quit the B.S. and simply rename the western end of downtown "Parkingtown" and call it a day. BTW, anyone know the last time the city did a parking study on downtown, and/or know how many parking spaces exist within downtown? If they haven't done one, I'd try and make this a campaign issue to ask any and all of the candidates for public office in this election year. (Message edited by lmichigan on March 19, 2009) | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 6816 Registered: 11-2004 |
Part of this is the greed of wanting to open up parking for the Final Four at Ford Field. I talked to one of the demolition guys around the Chin Tiki a few weeks back and they were given the mandate that the place had to be ready for parking by this week. Of course it was done and a wonderfully once hip place like the Chin Tiki was obliterated off the face of the Earth. I truly held out hope that just MAYBE Ilitch and his family had gone to the Chin Tiki back in its hey day and remembered how cool of a dining experience it was. And just MAYBE he would've thought that it was worthwhile buying and saving for future generations. Instead he had as much reverence for the place as we do for day old banana peels. The area truly does look like a ghost town now with all of those empty lots. And I know that in order to be a thriving downtown area we need parking but one wonders if wouldn't have been worthwhile to build a functional (and maybe even semi-decorative) parking deck as opposed to some empty slab of cold concrete that is occupied only on days of events and mostly strewn with bottles & refuse. I'm actually afraid to see what an aerial shot of the area must look like by now. It's got to be so desolate by now. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4307 Registered: 10-2003 |
Anyone noticed in the article that Fred Beal of J.C. Beal was helping Mike lobby to use the state funds they obtained to demolish these? What does Fred, a self-styled preservationist redeveloper/architect, get out of this? | ||
Pcm Member Username: Pcm Post Number: 30 Registered: 01-2009 |
http://employment.olympiaenter tainment.com/view_by_venue_par t_time.asp?venueid=0 "Job Title: PARKING SERVICES JOB FAIR! Venue Location: Fox Theatre Start Time: February Description: Olympia Entertainment Parking Services will be holding job fairs on the following dates: Monday, February 9 3 - 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 10 3 - 6 p.m. Monday, February 23 3 - 6 p.m. Thursday, February 26 3 - 6 p.m. We are looking for individuals to fill the position of parking lot attendant for the Fox Theatre/Comerica Park area. Candidates should have good customer service and cash handling skills, a Michigan drivers license or state I.D. and the ability to acquire a parking lot license, traffic court clearance and felony court clearance at a cost of approximately $20 prior to hire. Be prepared to fill out an application and interview with a representative. Complimentary parking is available in the parking structure behind Hockeytown Cafe." Ha! | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 553 Registered: 09-2004 |
All that demolition to park a couple cars for an extended weekend. Kinda reminds you of those blocks on the West Side of Woodward just north of I-75, doesn't it? | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 2272 Registered: 04-2006 |
Wait, so you have to PAY for a job as a parking lot attendant? What a racket! | ||
Noggin Member Username: Noggin Post Number: 90 Registered: 09-2004 |
Did I miss something? They are knocking down a parking garage to get more parking? Huh? | ||
Emu_steve Member Username: Emu_steve Post Number: 750 Registered: 11-2006 |
Is there an arena story here? Might it be that Illitch has MORE then one agenda? We have tunnel vision? Is he taking advantage of an opportunity to get the demo done and make a few bucks at the same time? I say hockey arena even though I've read the threads about the various sites which now seem very much in play. BTW, this credit crunch has to end say this year. No way does the U.S.A. become a 3rd world country with minus 6% growth (4th qtr. GDP) for the next year. The Fed, and Obama administration is really trying to open the spiqots. (see yesterday's Fed action). Incredible monetary and fiscal policy. Ilitch probably knows that say '10 will be a good time to borrow money for an arena. | ||
Norwalk Member Username: Norwalk Post Number: 473 Registered: 11-2006 |
whats up with the huge empty lot near the Motor City Casino. There has been a lot of activity there In the last month or so. It goes all the way up to MLK Blvd? | ||
Bobl Member Username: Bobl Post Number: 655 Registered: 07-2008 |
Get out your "wayback machine". Imagine being told 20 or 30 years ago that a $20.00 deposit would be required when APPLYING for a parking lot attendant job! | ||
Dcmorrison12 Member Username: Dcmorrison12 Post Number: 114 Registered: 02-2009 |
I don't know you guys, I think you've gotten it all wrong. I think this is a fantastic way to beautify detroit. | ||
Danindc Member Username: Danindc Post Number: 4585 Registered: 10-2003 |
Are the new parking lots going to be landscaped and lighted? | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 1113 Registered: 04-2006 |
I Like this little contradiction best: The title: "Buildings razed to open room for new parking lots" and the caption to one of the photos: "A parking garage at 145 W. Elizabeth is the latest to fall." ooooh... I see... we want parking... but not PARKING... just parking... good point. | ||
Novine Member Username: Novine Post Number: 1267 Registered: 07-2007 |
Did anyone notice that the writer of the article in the News glossed over the ownership of these buildings. These facts make for an interesting contrast: "Mike Ilitch, co-founder of the Little Caesars Pizza chain that started the family's billion-dollar sports, real estate and business empire, has hinted he prefers building a new hockey arena near the Fox." "In December, the city's Downtown Development Authority approved $2.5 million for the demolitions. The money came from state funding originally intended to level empty buildings in time for Super Bowl XL, three years ago." The owner of a billion dollar "empire" gets state tax dollars to demolish his own buildings. Welcome to Detroit's version of AIG bonuses. | ||
Danindc Member Username: Danindc Post Number: 4586 Registered: 10-2003 |
How DARE anyone say anything bad about Mike Ilitch! He renovated the Fox Theatre--over 20 years ago! | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 3870 Registered: 04-2006 |
So which mayoral candidate is more likely to stop this type of insane development strategy that Detroit has been subjected to for the past 50 years? Cockrel? Bing? Neither? This is the type of news that makes me least optimistic about Detroit's future. Not crime rates, not stories about Monica Conyers, not the auto industry woes, not even the dysfunctional Detroit Public School system. It's stories about the lack of foresight that goes into planning and development "strategies" for the city. Another great example of Detroit thinking five minutes ahead instead of five years. | ||
Urbanfisherman Member Username: Urbanfisherman Post Number: 120 Registered: 07-2008 |
So none of you ever saw that piece of shit garage that was torn down? Good riddance to old junk, I say. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 4565 Registered: 02-2004 |
So that's why the Chin Tiki, The Parking Garage and the building on Grand River Ave. was being torn down, PITIFUL! What's next? Tear down the Loyal Order of Moose Building. | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 1114 Registered: 04-2006 |
well, we also just lost the Chin Tiki. "Good riddance to old junk, I say." (sarcasm) | ||
Sciencefair Member Username: Sciencefair Post Number: 154 Registered: 10-2007 |
That was a pretty blown-out parking deck. I don't think anyone will miss it. I just think the whole process continues to set a bad precident. I talked with Cockrel briefly last fall regarding his stand on preservation and sustainability. It seems he's for it in theory, but has no real intentions of doing anything about it. | ||
Urbanfisherman Member Username: Urbanfisherman Post Number: 121 Registered: 07-2008 |
Yeah, Chin Tiki. A restaurant that closed 30 years ago. A place the vast majority of people in the city never went to and don't care about.. I rank that loss right up there with destruction of the Mausoleum of Maussollos (sarcasm). | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 840 Registered: 11-2003 |
Why is everyone on this board so concerned AFTER the fact that these buildings were torn down? The wheels were set in motion long ago and no action was taken to try and stop this. Spouting off on a forum doesn't do any good. If you want to make a real difference, get involved with trying to save the Lafayette Building. It is currently on the chopping block, bids for demo are out. Not to mention, it is more significant than these sh1tty little buildings everyone is b1tching about. |
