  Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander Post Number: 1730 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 150.198.150.244 |
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060414/BUS INESS04/604140438/1017/BUSINES S I like the mixed use proposal but the hockey stadium wouldn't surprise me. | ||
Border5150 Member Username: Border5150 Post Number: 133 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 68.58.211.149 |
I agree Merchant, but I got a bad feeling that they will put a new hockey stadium there. Nothing against the Red Wings, but man, what a slap in the face that be to Tiger fans who are already critical of Illitch's favoritism towards the Wings. At least a remake of Olympia would be a much better fit in Corktown, aestheticlly, than a Wal-Mart. | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 1061 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
While in Chicago, I saw a 2 story target sitting atop a parking structure. I can't see whay this wouldn't work on the site. (Message edited by broken_main on April 14, 2006) | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 1062 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
Something like this... http://www.newurbannews.com/Ta rgetInsideOct05.html | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1609 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.40.42.197 |
The city might bend over backwards for it, but I doubt an arena will go there. Olympia doesn't want it there. Look for it close to some of their other assets: Behind the Fox On GR near cass/clifford Between CoPa and Woodward Northeast of 75 and Woodward Near the Motorcity casino Tuller/UA/Statler Sites Maybe even the old greektown site But not a mile west of woodward, nowhere near the people mover or the the family's casino. I think something along the GCDC wants will come to be, the real question is how much of the stadium will remain standing, or what kind of small stands will be built in its place if it is leveled. | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 425 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 35.11.210.161 |
Chicago also has a Home Depot like that. How does the Corktown community feel about something like this as opposed to mixed use? I'd give the mixed plans an edge since it does preserve the field, but an urban box wouldn't be bad either. http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/ archives/chicago%20home%20depo t.jpg | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 8 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 63.102.87.27 |
Make it a dirt track for USAC midget car racing. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1580 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.215.242.201 |
Can anyone really justify putting a big-box retailer like Wal-mart on the TS site? Corktown does not have the population to sustain such a large store and suburbanites aren't going to travel this far into downtown Detroit to do basic shopping. With all the redevelopment going on in the area, a Home Depot or Lowes might work on the site, but it would take business away from the Ace Hardware store on Trumbull. The idea of retaining the field and building retail and residential around it sounds like a great idea. Residents, particularly children, need a park/playfield in Corktown. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3524 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
You're totally missing the point. It has little to do with the population living in the immediate area. A bib-box would be filling a market with no competition. They could draw from quite a few miles away. I don't like the idea of a Big Box, and I'm pretty sure Corktown doesn't, either, but it's not because it doesn't make sense for the Big Box. It would make a lot of sense for them. I like Corktown's idea of preserving the field, and ringing it with retail and housing and other mixed-use options. I'd actually like to see the field preserved as a public park, square, or courtyard of sorts giving allowing for this both to be a small tourist attraction, but "giving back" the site to Corktown so they get something out of this whole thing. This could become their village square, of sorts, and still provide public space for anyone wanting to visit. Whatever happens. I hope they incorporate some of the old decorations and pieces of stadium into whatever new is built. Maybe, they could even keep one or two of the light towers as landmarks. | ||
Mw2gs Member Username: Mw2gs Post Number: 182 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 68.252.3.47 |
Oh yeah....with the recent retail creativity in the city, a nice new stip mall going down the third base line would be sweet. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1586 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.215.242.201 |
Lmichigan, again, Corktown, North Corktown and areas a few miles away have some of the lowest incomes in the city. Will these areas be able to sustain a Wal-Mart if built on the Tiger Stadium site? Many of the residents within these areas are on government assistance and receive a one time check at the beginning of each month. They'll shop at Wal-Mart that one time each month, but after the first week things will die down. Who will pick up the slack? Wal-Marts in Michigan appear to be placed in locations where they can draw more than just the residents living closest to them. They probably think of their locations as being regional draws. Could a Wal-Mart at the TS site attract customers on a regional basis? I don't think so, and that's why I don't think a big-box store will end up on the TS site. | ||
Danindc Member Username: Danindc Post Number: 1413 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.100.158.10 |
God, let's hope not. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3528 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Royce, WalMart specifically caters to lower-income folks (i.e. Always low prices, always). Walmart would most definitely work from the businesses perspective in that untapped market. Personally, I'd hate to see a big box fill that corner. That would be totally regressive, but it's not like it doesn't make sense from a business perspective. Have you ever shoppped or been in a Walmart? Where do you think the current poor get a lot of their groceries and such? From suburban Big Boxes. | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1080 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.73.55.190 |
Nice article. The mixed use proposal preserving the field would be a wonderful outcome for the neighborhood. It's good to see that option as "most likely" among that list. I wonder, though, from the previous article talking about the mayor's development team marketing the site at the shopping center convention in Las Vegas, if that type of convention mainly involves big box retailers or if it also includes mixed use developers... | ||
Bertz Member Username: Bertz Post Number: 547 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.61.15.89 |
One of the coolest aspects about Detroit is that it is not dominated by a bunch of big-box bullshit. Sure these stores bring in money but I think the uniqueness of being a city maybe the only major city without this generic corporate chain store crap is better for the “D” in the long run. Once you let “it” in you’ll never get “it” out. just my P.O.V. | ||
321brian Member Username: 321brian Post Number: 126 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.62.6.147 |
Bertz, How right you are. It's so nice to see a major city unincumbered by the type of retail establishments that employ and serve the people who live in the city. It so great that so many big box grocery stores have decided to stay out of Detroit and let the corner mom and pop liquor stores serve the community. I'm sure everyone in the city prefers to drive to Dearborn or Harper Woods or Oak Park or further to shop for anything. It's much better for the uniqueness of the city. Are you crazy? Detroit should put it's lips on every big-box retailers ass and beg them to come in to the city. What world do you live in? | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3532 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Detroit is a city built in such away that Big Boxes are fine...outside of the old city. There is room enough for ALL types of retail in Detroit, but putting a WalMart at the Tiger Stadium site (which, first, doesn't even fit into Big Box business models) would be a very bad fit for Corktown. WalMarts have rarely tried to fit into the context of an urban environment, and I sure as heck don't expect they'd have a change of heart in Detroit. If they could somehow get their hands on that site, you better believe they'd be looking to demolish the few other structures around the stadium to try and fit this square peg into a circular hole. One can take issue with WalMart's business practices, but, my main concern in the context of a central city neighborhood is that they don't respect history or the context of surrounding urban environments. They don't try to fit in, they make themselve fit, even if they could never do so, and that's against everything a city stands for (i.e. compromise). | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 1065 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
As much as I'd rather not see a Walmart there, i have to say that a Walmart would draw a lot of business from the Latino community in the area. They seem to patronize Walmart religiously. | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 141 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.43.107.72 |
putting a Fall-Mart on the corner is the ultimate diss to the city, residents, legacy of the stadium, and Wal-Mart is just plan BS. | ||
Mpow Member Username: Mpow Post Number: 185 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 200.65.7.239 |
here here chitaku, they better preserve the field at least. The place would become a tourist destination. | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 427 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.136.144.196 |
Does the GCDC have a developer lined up for the mixed use project? | ||
Histeric Member Username: Histeric Post Number: 677 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.61.194.66 |
Bertz, I couldn't agree more and it is 321Brian's world that I hope to never live in. I don't give blow jobs to corporate America in order to entice them to homogenize more of our landscape. | ||
321brian Member Username: 321brian Post Number: 127 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.62.6.147 |
Histeric, What world is that? One where people don't have to drive out of their neighborhood to get food? Detroit needs the people that any business will attract. No matter if thy work there or shop there. Detroit needs the tax money the employees will pay and the business will pay. Currently most of Detroits landscape sucks. If you like empty buildings (Tiger Stadium included), burnt shells of buildings, and vacant lots then by all means keep up the good work. Nobody says that Wal-Mart or whatever big box retailer builds in the city has to dump a cookie cutter building in the middle of the block. I'm sure the exterior ocan be modified to "fit in". As I've always said corporate America didn't push the neighborhood businees out of business. Consumers did!!! We shop where it is cheaper and also convienent. Which is why Detroit should do whatever they need to do to attract business like Wal-Mart, and Kroger, and Farmer Jack, and Meijer, and Best Buy, and Target..... | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3537 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Anyway... | ||
Histeric Member Username: Histeric Post Number: 680 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.61.194.66 |
No thanks Brian. You can keep that lifestyle. I will continue to buy my building supplies at a 100 year old business where I know the owners name...even if it cost more. Same goes for groceries at my high school friends family grocery in Eastern Market, not to mention Honey Bee. My socks, underwear and other essential at long standing National Dry Goods. Etc. Etc. Etc. What u are proposing is putting my friends out of business so u can feel comfortable here. Why not just stay where u r at and leave us poor suckers to our quiet desperation. I went into a Walmarts once when I needed a replacement car battery while out of town. It was one of the most nauseating experiences of my life. Keep your soulless experience and have fun with it. | ||
Pdtpuck Member Username: Pdtpuck Post Number: 8 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 208.251.168.194 |
What I find interesting about this thread is that around where I am from (central Illinois), Wal-mart infiltrated here around 20 years ago, helping to put the "mom & pops" out of business. Now, Wal-mart decides that all of their "original" stores aren't cutting the mustard, so they're abondoning their "original" boxes for even bigger "Super-Wal-Mart" boxes, and, fortunately, in my hometown's case, someone did move into the original store & seems to be making a go of it, but the rest just sit & rot. I prefer histeric's p.o.v., & I always say, I go to Wal-Mart for a quick self-esteem boost. The humanity (or inhumanity!) in my local one is ATROCIOUS!!!! I would patronize my local "mom & pops," if they were still around! | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1126 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
All of us love the old ball park. But Willie Horton summed it up best on Fox Sports Network recently when he said..."it's time to move on...." | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 470 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.237.10.39 |
Canadian Football League |
