  Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1603 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.209.158.194 |
I've mentioned before on a previous post that I often drop off mail at the main post office on Saturdays. After that I usually drive around downtown and other nearby areas of the city checking out the street scene. I observed a number of different things that haven't been mentioned on this forum and feel compelled to share with the forum my observations. If any one knows something about what I have seen please elaborate. One of the things I noticed Saturday was that windows were busted out of two downtown buildings. The dental office at Washington Boulevard at State and the lofts leasing office on Gratiot between Randolph and Library. Speaking of broken windows, I noticed a lot of broken car glass in the Brush Park area. I know that there was a Tiger day game Thursday. Could this have occurred then? Driving along Forest between Second and Cass, I noticed that the apartments have been closed and the ground floor windows boarded up. What's going on? Driving along Russell in Eastern Market, I see that there are some lofts being advertised at a building next to Sala Thai. The website is www.urbanlifedevelopment.com. I noticed that the Hub was closed. It was also closed on Friday. Closed on a Friday night on Cinco de Mayo! What's going on there? Also, the entrance to Centre Street Pub has a chain and a lock around it. What's up with that? Over in Midtown I noticed that the apartment building on Alexanderine behind National City Bank and the Union Street parking lot has a for sale sign up. Interesting that the building is being put up for sale after all the windows have been removed from it. It's in a great location and the views from the eastside of the building looking down on the Woodward scene would be great. Finally, I drove along Atwater where a lot of activity has been going on for weeks. The riverfront along this area is really coming along. The cement silos are down and the land has been cleared. Also, the Staples development appears to be in motion. Well, that's all for now. I'll chime in again in two or three weeks. | ||
Adamjab19 Member Username: Adamjab19 Post Number: 658 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.192.148.148 |
Regardless if there wass a Tiger's game or just residents' cars it's still bullshit to see that much glass on the ground. And if that many cars are getting broken into during a game, assuming they came around that time, that's ridiciulous as well. Midtown streets around WSU are consistently covered in glass as well and after a rain storm there is a whole stream of it along the curb. It's that petty crime shit that Detroit needs to reduce, especially in an area that's being redeveopled, to get even more people and better surroundings in certain areas. Instead of having reports on redevelopment they should have some city survival types to not leave even a penny in sight because a krakhed will break a window and steal it. Oh and if you own a Chrysler vehicle have at least 3 levels of anti-theft protection. | ||
Easydoesit Member Username: Easydoesit Post Number: 28 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 69.246.122.172 |
" I drove along Atwater where a lot of activity has been going on for weeks. The riverfront along this area is really coming along. The cement silos are down and the land has been cleared. Also, the Staples development appears to be in motion." - can someone post some pics? I would especially love to see how the Staples development is going along.... | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1689 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.212.42.214 |
They have been working on that building for a while. I'd imagine it is almost done. It is the old fire station central garage.
The university closed the building. They will be redeveloping the entire south have of the block.
There has been a development team working on it, but I've heard that team issues have stalled it. It is a great building. Look at googlemaps or terraserver. There is an internal light court. | ||
Shark Member Username: Shark Post Number: 223 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.255.61.194 |
Not sure, they were closed earlier in the week. too. Hopefully there's no problems there. | ||
Ron Member Username: Ron Post Number: 99 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 70.212.69.35 |
I saw an interesting event last evening in Greektown. Right in front of the Monroe entrance to Greektown Casino, a man snatched a cell phone right out of a guy's hand and took off. The victim took off after him, but couldn't catch him. This took place while DPD were standing right across the street in front of Plaka Cafe. They didn't do anything. Go figure. It is these quality of life, petty-type crimes that need to be cracked down on in order for us to truly experience a change in attitude about the D. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 450 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.176.190 |
Ron, Unless you saw badges, usually the guys in black are not cops. A couple of my friends work as security in front of those shops over there. I think they are there for "presence" more than anything else. | ||
Ron Member Username: Ron Post Number: 100 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 70.212.69.35 |
Vizion, They had the black and yellow DPD uniforms on that I believe the bicycle officers wear. They were standing next to a DPD van. In all fairness, it is possible that they did not see the altercation, as I only saw it because I was watching it. The victim did yell out "that guy just grabbed my phone," but it was fairly crowded. | ||
Ray Member Username: Ray Post Number: 688 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 69.215.242.220 |
That cell phone incident remainds me of a story. I witnessed a purse snatching in New York City in 1997 at a bar somewhere on the upper east side. Having spent a lot of time in NY in the early 1980s (when it had gone to hell), my instant reaction was to look the other way, thinking "This is NY, don't get involved." Long story short, the bartender leaped over the bar to chase the guy, literally smashing glasses on the floor. Police cruisers (plural) were at the bar in what seemed more like seconds than minutes. The victim, who was sitting next to me, was told by the police to stand by with her cell phone on. The police caught the guy and 30 mintues later, called her on her cell phone to come down to the station to ID the guy. This, friends, is law enforcemnet worthy of the name, and it made an indelible impression on me. This is what is required to bring economic opportunity to people living in Detroit. And until we have efficient, accountable, tough and effective law enforcemnet, people in Detroit will remain econmically isolated and trapped in poverty. The decrease in the NYC homicide rate has saved the lives of TEN THOUSAND plus young men, many Black, who would have otherwise been gunned down during the last 10 years. Ironically, tragically, having a good police department is entriely within the control of the city of Detroit and its political leadership class, but for whatever unfathomable reason they choose not to pursue this. I can't help but wonder cynically if the city's leadership class has a vested interest in perpetuating crime and poverty. (Message edited by ray on May 07, 2006) | ||
Susanarosa Member Username: Susanarosa Post Number: 814 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.79.94.221 |
The Staples site is nothing but a dirt lot with bulldozers and backhoes on it right now. From what I can see there isn't even a foundation yet. The Hub is closed. They have been for about two weeks. I was at a private function there two weeks ago, and was told that they've been closed. It's a shame, they had good food. | ||
Huggybear Member Username: Huggybear Post Number: 208 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.252.127.120 |
TIger fans who are too cheap to use the GCP parking garage or some kind of legitimate parking area get what they deserve. Penny wise, pound foolish. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 452 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.176.190 |
ahhh..... the cops in vans. I swear the cops in vans and the cops in the Ford Expeditions don't get involved in anything as far as I can see. | ||
Jjw Member Username: Jjw Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 68.33.56.156 |
people get what they deserve for parking on the street to save a buck????????????? ----tell that to the folks in baltimore or any other city for that matter and they will call you one BIG ass-hole. It is that kind of attitude that keeps Detroit back. unreal | ||
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 985 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.142.86.133 |
huggybear, that's the stupidest shit i've ever heard. I'll agree with Ray's NYC experience. Seen it in Chicago several time when I was there. People don't do stupid stuff, and can expect help when they need it. The way it should be. | ||
Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 255 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.169.179 |
I for one refuse to pay a dime for parking downtown when there are so many free options. | ||
Huggybear Member Username: Huggybear Post Number: 211 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.252.127.120 |
Every street parking exercise involves some risk: risk that your car will go bye-bye; risk that someone will see something in it that they want; risk that someone with an SUV, trailer hitch (mounted), and no ability to parallel park will plow into the front of your sedan. This is no different in Detroit than it is in any other city: if there are no witnesses to see something happen to your car, there are no guarantees. You just have to manage the risk and decide when saving a few dollars on parking is worth it and when it is not worth it. It doesn't matter where you are - police departments often cannot afford to patrol every side street and smash and grab and general vandalism are not priorities for them. If you don't grasp that, you're the one who needs the reality check. My only point was that people who park in areas that are obviously marginal (the "Brush Park" area still covers a lot of rough territory) are taking risks - and when their number is up, it's up. There is plenty of lower-risk parking available, parking that the taxpayers are funding through bond issues, parking that is convenient and cheap. Tigers fans have always been good at putting their cars in marginal places just because it's inexpensive. The "Brush Park area" is a great example - people parked well into the burned-out parts when Comerica Park opened (and still do). But this was no different from the way things worked at Tiger Stadium. | ||
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 986 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.142.86.133 |
i think the argument is that vandalism and smash and grab SHOULD be priorities. | ||
Jjw Member Username: Jjw Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 68.33.56.156 |
give it a break--there is no excuse for it regardless of where you park---saying it is the victim's fault is inane--game over!! | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 3256 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.79.114.44 |
...and people who decide to live in "marginal" areas of the City, upgrade their homes and property should just accept a home invasion or the theft of their vehicle because they should have known better to be there. | ||
Rocket_city Member Username: Rocket_city Post Number: 23 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 141.217.214.203 |
Auto break-ins happen anywhere in the city. My two incidents were across the street from the Ren Cen on Jefferson and the infamous Ferry @ Woodward near the Inn. Finally, my car was stolen the week after Super Bowl out of the lot behind the DIA. It was recovered at the MLK Apartment Complex at Lafayette & Chene a few weeks ago with everything left in it, except for some parts under the steering wheel. I originally intended to add that yesterday (Sunday) I noticed some of the lighting fixtures at Hart Plaza to be recklessly busted open and smashed. I question why so much vandalism has to take place, esp downtown where "normalcy levels" seem to be getting back to parr. | ||
Chris_rohn Member Username: Chris_rohn Post Number: 232 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.220.233.37 |
Now that The Hub is closed, do you think they could let pedestrians have the sidewalk back? When they installed their "patio" they didnt reduce the width of it from the old sidewalk, resulting in leaving people a 2-3 foot strip of concrete to pass each other on. Half the time you have to step into the street just to get by. | ||
Shark Member Username: Shark Post Number: 225 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.210.28.53 |
Frankly, I'm surprised that scrappers haven't stolen all that fencing! | ||
Erikd Member Username: Erikd Post Number: 618 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.242.214.106 |
The Hub closed after Tigers Opening Day. The Hub didn't make it for 2 big reasons: 1. Construction- The Hub was really hurt by all of the construction on Broadway. The street and sidewalks were torn out and replaced, making it very hard for people to get people in the door. The street reconstruction happened during the same time as a few other major projects on Broadway, and the result was total loss of parking. The street reconstruction caused the temporary loss of meter parking, the Opera House Garage reconstruction caused a temporary loss of garage parking, the new YMCA eliminated a large parking lot on Broadway, and the other parking lot on Broadway was also ripped up and completely rebuilt. As a result of all of this work, Broadway is vastly improved, but the time during this construction was very hard on The Hub. 2. The other big problem for the Hub was inconsistency. This was partly due to the construction issues, but even after all the work was finished, the Hub never defined itself. After a few openings and temporary closings, the constant changes to the hours and themes killed any hope of regular customers. One weekend it was a sports bar, a month later they had live rock bands, a month later they had karaoke, a month later they had techno DJs, etc. The weekdays were the same thing... they would be open for happy hour and evenings, and a month later they closed after lunch. They would be open for lunch 5 days a week, and a month later they were only open 3 or 4 days a week for lunch. It's hard to have consistent business with constant changes. |
