  Wirt Member Username: Wirt Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 64.243.32.9 |
I noticed some temporary storefront displays lit up on Woodward downtown last night. This one in the old Pepprs Shoes Building looked the best. Has anyone seen any of the others?    | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 455 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123 |
Some window display artwork has appeared in the Whitney Building windows. I don't get it, though. They're doing all of that work on it's first floor but from what I hear the owner refuses to do anything with it? | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 649 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 64.139.64.80 |
Those are all the same photo with either 1. tinting effects to change the color of the light or 2. The actual light in the window display rotates colors... What's the deal? -Q | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1339 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.250.205.35 |
The lights shining up on the photographs are actually a series of colored LEDs on panels that change color every few seconds. | ||
Sumotect Member Username: Sumotect Post Number: 154 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 64.243.32.9 |
Not Bad, I have only one criticism:  | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 297 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 35.11.158.84 |
I like it looks better than I thought they would | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 2531 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.236.185.105 |
RSA, Where do you fit in with this project? Vivio's tomorrow? | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4644 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 141.213.175.233 |
Enter Skulker to scold everyone about how he's known about this project for months... because that's what happened when I started a thread about this very project about two months ago. | ||
Ilovedetroit Member Username: Ilovedetroit Post Number: 1989 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.246.4.29 |
Now all we need is Catherine the Great to parade through and it will be perfect! | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 3655 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 207.74.110.156 |
Detroit needs some REAL downtown storefronts, not fakes! | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 609 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 69.14.76.187 |
Wow Danny. Thanks for the insight. Asshole. | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1346 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.40.193.105 |
Well, Aram, it HAD been reported on months before you started that thread. I think it might be time to move on. | ||
Fec Member Username: Fec Post Number: 71 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 4.165.132.76 |
They are called 'facades' and if you can recall, for Detroit's Superbowl XVI [1982], the Young Administration had awning strategically placed over the windows of downtown's vacant buildings. Of course, it was much less abandonment then as it is now. It worked, it was functional, and no one was the wiser. [Unless you frequented downtown before and after.] To me, downtown looks like one large advertisement picture for developers in that it's trying to appeal to those developers that will be partying and drinking and drunking and then deciding to buy one of those big tall monsters. Or these big tall monsters may be part of a property development tour. [Sounds good to me!] We'll see if the strategies work. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 904 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
Fec, the awnings were put up for the RNC convention in 1980. Superbowl XVI was in Pontiac. | ||
Wirt Member Username: Wirt Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 209.104.139.35 |
....I remember when the figures were painted on the boarded up plywood windows of the Statler Hotel - that was 1983.... but the whole point now is to showcase the new displays and their impact and not worry about obsolete threads. Has anyone seen some of the other buildings and their displays? | ||
Fec Member Username: Fec Post Number: 72 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 4.165.132.76 |
Oh, yeah, you're right. It was something spectacular going on in Detroit that we have to 'front' for. Thanks for the correction. | ||
Nellonfury Member Username: Nellonfury Post Number: 71 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 68.43.156.135 |
Danny's right. Since the city wants a display FAKE store fronts for the SuperBowl to impress vistors........should we tell them? For real...Is the city already having plans about REAL store fronts after the SuperBowl ? | ||
Skulker Member Username: Skulker Post Number: 3432 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.103.104.93 |
LOL @ DH4H..... | ||
Tabletop Member Username: Tabletop Post Number: 70 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 141.217.224.87 |
It's too bad this project is only for the Super Bowl. Boston has a new-ish year-round project that is similar -- art installations in the windows of vacant commercial property in downtown Boston. http://www.cityofboston.gov/br a/baw/ | ||
Crew Member Username: Crew Post Number: 806 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 146.9.52.146 |
Danny's right??? WTF? | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2946 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 192.220.139.6 |
Even all dressed up, a pig is still a pig. jjaba, on the Westside of Santo Domingo in the DR. Hello to everybody on the Forum. 85 and sunny. | ||
Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 474 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 69.246.5.196 |
We may not have 85, but it sho is sunny today. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 758 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.227.207.84 |
sorry jams, i was installing on friday. was at vivio's on sat. but only briefly; what's the deal with upstairs not being open? look for almost all of the storefronts to be completed this week or early next... | ||
Gwhobbies Member Username: Gwhobbies Post Number: 50 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 66.208.225.165 |
I'm not sure I follow some of the complaints on here. You want stores downtown right? Do you think potential developers are going to be more apt to invest in something that looks like a pig (ie. just sitting there like a rotting looking hulk) or in something that is dressed up, yet shows the potential of what the area could look like if fully developed. Sounds like some pretty petty crap to whine about. Dress up the empty store fronts. I think it's a good idea. It puts the best possible face on a bad situation, that may help, in some way (big or small) to get people to invest down here. In the grand scheme of things, why is this a big deal, or seen as something bad. The situation downtown is what it is. And dressing up store fronts is far from anything worth complaining about. End rant. | ||
Matt_the_deuce Member Username: Matt_the_deuce Post Number: 456 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.248.252 |
I think you meant to say "swine about"  | ||
Rust Member Username: Rust Post Number: 78 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 64.118.136.130 |
Gwhobbies, Couldn't agree with you more. Lets get the lights turned on lets make it so interesting that people want to get out of their cars and walk the business district. The new residents of downtown also are more likely to be pedestrians if it looks more interesting than boarded up buildings. Increased foot traffic is critical for making retail viable downtown. In fact last Friday my wife and I had dinner at "Small Plates" and walked down Woodward to "Hard Rock Cafe" for desert. I can't remember the last time other than a parade that I walked that section of Woodward with somebody else. I have walked it myself many times but in the past for anyone besides a die-hard Detroit fan it was to foreboding. | ||
Gmich99 Member Username: Gmich99 Post Number: 46 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 65.29.97.102 |
Drove by the pictured storefront tonight and thought it looked creepy. Like a red light district sort of store. Standard lighting would have looked more... "normal." | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 916 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
I would like to see the store fronts look like this. Woodward between John R and GCP, East Side Wright Kay, Mayflower shop (maxwell house coffee), Cobbs, Lane Bryant, ?, ?, Telenews (Blue), Cafetria, ?, ?, David Broadrick Tower.  WSU (Message edited by Psip on January 25, 2006) | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 917 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
The neat thing is the Wright Kay and the next 2 building are pretty much intact.  | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 760 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
Nice pics Psip.. What year was that older photo taken??? | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 924 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
I don't know B_m, I believe it was from the Detroit Days celebration judging from the banners on the light standards. I think that was in the late 40's or early '50s. Again, I am suprised about the Wright Kay (XS) building and its condition. Would I like to rebuild that Mayflower Shop next door. That would be a cool coffee house.  | ||
Gumby Member Username: Gumby Post Number: 804 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 204.39.224.11 |
It was weird seeing the older picture Psip. That is actually the wallpaper on my desktop. you have fine tastes in old pics. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 926 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
Thank you Gumby, I wonder if that A&M Coney Island sign is just covering the original Mayflower Shop sign? That would be super cool if it "fell down" Is the coney even open? That building just does something for me. Maybe its the iron facade. | ||
Thrice Member Username: Thrice Post Number: 59 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 207.91.250.131 |
That building just had a complete facade redo which finished this week. New windows on the ground level and both floors. It looks great. None of the old signs are evident, its pretty modern looking now. (Message edited by thrice on January 26, 2006) | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 767 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
I really adore the way the Woodward corridor is coming along. It has a good feel. I told my wife to get ready for some quick bus rides(from St Annes Gate Community) or walks to the downtown area. In my sons room, he will have the view of the city skyline.(from the Ambassador). I know those lights will provide for some wonderful views for him. i am almost envious that he will always have this great view, hehehehe | ||
Gumby Member Username: Gumby Post Number: 805 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 141.216.1.4 |
I remember when the A & M sign came down there was a window or something that did say Maxwell House Coffee. it is no longer ther however. | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1357 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.187.234 |
You are right Gumby, it was the remnants of the Mayflower Shop sign against a blue background. It was only there for about a week. | ||
Gumby Member Username: Gumby Post Number: 806 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 141.216.1.4 |
did anyone get a picture of that. I would love to see it again? | ||
623kraw Member Username: 623kraw Post Number: 748 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.224.200 |
What a pathetic waste! Why didn't they just do this at Donovan / Sanders? | ||
Collective Member Username: Collective Post Number: 315 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.30.131.49 |
623...I know it's a lame excuse, but it's true...Donovan isn't part of the Lower Woodward Cooridor. The project was very specific to this area. | ||
623kraw Member Username: 623kraw Post Number: 749 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.224.200 |
It's time to show the world a faux facade Detroit similar to the Statler awnings in 1980. Where will this lead? This makes us out to be nothing more than scam artists - street junkies. That's how the rest of the world sees us anyway. This entire fiasco is way too little too late. How can a city that is in "SUPER BOWL EGO TRIP PANIC MODE" and has sat on their collective assses for too long, justify money being spent on this crap? Carelessly tearing down hundreds of years of history for some out-of-towners to write a nice news article? GET A FUCKING CLUE DETROIT! THE ICING ON THE CAKE IS: It'll be all gone IN ONE FUCKING WEEK! The upside is you can go back to fucking off like you have been doing for the last few years...job well done, as usual. | ||
Jelk Member Username: Jelk Post Number: 3684 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 141.217.119.145 |
A question for those of you with development, real estate, and/or retail backgrounds... long-term will the new glass in these storefronts aid in making those properties more viable to rent? People are making pretty decent money "dressing" homes for sale. I guess my question is, what value will this cosmetic enhancement have post-Super Bowl? Even from the stand point that leasing a space next to empty storefronts would be more attractive to a retail tenant if said empty storefronts and fresh glass and interesting displays that boarded up windows. Is that assumption correct or just pie-in-the-sky optimism? Everyone has a right to an opinion but I am especially curious about the opinions and thoughts of folks with backgrounds/expertise in development, commercial real estate, and/or retail. | ||
Gumby Member Username: Gumby Post Number: 807 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 141.216.1.4 |
Well it only makes since that it is just one less thing for the new owner to repair which means less money needs to be spent on the rehab. Making the property that much more viable. | ||
Skulker Member Username: Skulker Post Number: 3454 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.103.104.93 |
Hey Kraw: Please list all the buildings that have been torn down BECAUSE of the Superbowl. I can point to two buildings (Donovan and Sanders) that were already slated to be demolished but whose demise was hurried along by the Superbowl. Those two were coming down now or in August. Either way they were coming down. On the other hand, I can point to the fact that more than 35 buildings with historic designation have received more than $5.5 MM in facade improvement grant money, leveraging another $8 MM in private money for those buildings. And Golly!, those repairs will be here for the long term, making the City a better place for a long time to come. Justify your hissy fit please. This is the second time you have foamed at the mouth about the phantom demo spree for the Superbowl. Perhaps you are seeing something different han the rest of us. Jelk: Repairing and upgrading the retail level windows has a handful of effects. 1. The nominal cost of the window repair is absorbed by somebody else making rehab costs slightly lower. 2. It improves the overall appearance of the area which has a couple knock on effects. - A. Potential residents feel more secure and lease rates at Merchants Row and Lofts of Woodward will tighten up making the market comparbles better for putting more units on the market - B. Retailers get a much better feel for what the street will feel like when fully built out, removing at least one question from their minds as they sort through the variables. 3. The restored windows setelegraph the message to developers that the City is serious about investment in the area. Time and time again, studies have shown that very often, public space investment by cities and downtown authorities / associations leads to greater investment activity, for the simple fact that money follows money. The majority of the retail preparation activity on vacant buildings has been financed through a state program aimed at encouraging retail in neighborhoods that are underserved. The program has been active in multiple neighborhoods around the City. I believe this is the first time it has been used in a downtown. | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1358 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.187.234 |
Well Jelk, that is a very interesting question. One of the problems - actually, the single biggest problem - I have run into over the past few months looking for retail space in that area is that the condition of the space available is very poor. From the building facade to the interior space to HVAC to electrical - most of these older spaces need serious work before they are viable commercial spaces. The problem arises when the building owners do not want to fix up their spaces, even to the standard "white box" that is typically rented for retail in any suburban location. One space I was looking at required nearly $70,000 in buildout - I would have had to put in two bathrooms (code issue due to the amount of space), a complete HVAC system, all electrical and plumbing, all drywall ... and my actual buildout for the store was not very complicated. Initially the owner did not want to put more than a fraction of the cost into it, but eventually was willing to put up about half. But that was still too much to put into a space that was leased, and that had *no* special requirements (like a restaurant or bar might have). It is frustrating because to open in, say, Ferndale would be a piece of cake. Everything there is already habitable, you just have to fix the space up the way you want and put in your fixtures. I'd have the doors open in 8 weeks at a fraction of the cost. So yes, I think the facade improvements are an important aspect of turning this situation around. However, until building owners are willing to make their interior spaces more attractive - which requires just the basics mentioned above - it is going to be a challenge to attract the independent retailers everyone seems to agree are the key to turning around downtown's retail situation. (Message edited by dialh4hipster on January 27, 2006) |
