Itsjeff
Member Username: Itsjeff
Post Number: 5915 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.242.213.167
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 7:11 am: | |
The full-court press is on to find Quicken Loans Inc., controlled by Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, a new home in downtown Detroit. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his team are in the game. Gov. Jennifer Granholm pledged the state's full support over the weekend. And the state is putting the finishing touches on another multimillion-dollar incentive pitch to be presented as early as this week to ranking officials of Quicken Loans, parent of Rock Financial. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20060524/O PINION03/605240369 |
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 819 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 8:18 am: | |
Good news. With Gilbert being from Detroit, the State pushing for Detroit, and the city pushing for a downtown move, things look pretty good. |
1953 Member Username: 1953
Post Number: 835 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 209.104.146.146
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 9:21 am: | |
***Wipes soaking brow*** |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 1006 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 9:28 am: | |
Nothing is for sure until the first Quicken workers start moving in Downtown. Although these are good first steps. Does anyone get worried that if DeVos gets elected he will be pushing Grand Rapids for every project and ignoring Detroit, and not give us any help in trying to get large projects like this. |
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog
Post Number: 391 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.47.224.8
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:44 am: | |
quote:And Quicken's employees will have a say in whether they want to work downtown.
Does anyone have enough faith in humanity to think suburban office workers will CHOOSE to work in Downtown Detroit over suburbia? So do they take a vote or what? |
Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander
Post Number: 1795 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 150.198.150.244
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:54 am: | |
Employees will have a say about whether they want to work downtown. It is called employed or unemployed that is their choice. Gilbert is going to go where the best deal is. Employees will have very little say about where the company ends up. |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 7446 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:56 am: | |
Very true. With the economy in this State they could probably replace a large number of employees in no time if need be. |
Itsjeff
Member Username: Itsjeff
Post Number: 5917 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:00 am: | |
It's not as if Quicken is breaking new ground with regard to moving in from the suburbs. Compuware, Little Caesar's, EDS and GM have all done it. One of the soups should put together a promotional video, interviewing employees who transferred here. They can say how much they love the restaurant options and the walkability of downtown. Unless they think it's a craphole, in which case they should be edited out. |
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog
Post Number: 393 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.47.224.8
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:02 am: | |
quote:Compuware, Little Caesar's, EDS and GM have all done it.
Itsjeff, regarding GM, that's if you call New Center the suburbs. |
Itsjeff
Member Username: Itsjeff
Post Number: 5918 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:04 am: | |
No, I call Troy, Warren, Pontiac, Lansing, Flint and Farmington Hills the suburbs. |
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog
Post Number: 394 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.47.224.8
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:07 am: | |
We all know that GM has always had it's HQ in the city. So did they bring other suburban workers to the Ren Cen when they moved there from New Center? |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 7448 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:08 am: | |
Yes, they have consolidated a number of functions at the Ren Cen. As part of that they brought in employees from numerous out of city locations. |
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog
Post Number: 397 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.47.224.8
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:13 am: | |
That's great Jt1, I didn't know that! |
Gambling_man Member Username: Gambling_man
Post Number: 745 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 199.178.193.5
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:33 am: | |
I sincerely hope the workers don't get to vote on whether or not they want to move downtown.....it will lose badly......Most Compuware employees will now tell you that they like it downtown, but before they moved, it was a nightmare. PS, LOL @ Jeff.........funny shit man. |
Quinn Member Username: Quinn
Post Number: 726 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 64.139.64.80
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:55 am: | |
Gambling man you are incorrect. I have several friends at QL and they say everyone is for it. These are people who, btw, had previously thought as you and didn't want to move downtown. This past years worth of press and speculation have been worth it...everyone seems excited to be a part of something so cool. That's really what it's all about...and what QL is about. Being part of something cool. Building a new building in Livonia is not cool. It's blah. |
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289
Post Number: 1156 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.183.223
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 12:07 pm: | |
maybe they will spruce it up with a city of livonia flag... God wouldnt that suck if you read in the paper next month "Quicken Loans decides on site in Cleveland"... With this state going where it is unfortunatly i wouldnt be very suprised.. |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 1007 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 12:10 pm: | |
GM consolidated all the individual car companies headquarters into one at the RenCen. I remember what a big deal it was in Lansing when Oldsmobile moved to Detroit from Lansing. But the move was also what spurred CATA to do the study about the passenger rail line from Lansing to Detroit (via Ann Arbor) which spurred todays AA to Detroit commuter line. They thought lots of workers would want to communte from Lansing to Detroit, which never really materialed, but the study did say an AA to Detroit may be feasible. |
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog
Post Number: 401 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.47.224.8
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 12:18 pm: | |
quote:Most Compuware employees will now tell you that they like it downtown, but before they moved, it was a nightmare.
I have a friend who works at Compuware (before and after the move), and a lot of people did hate the idea when it was announced, mostly because they we already commuting from the exurbs to the burbs. When Compuware moved downtown their commute more than doubled. Some workers lef the company rather than drive all the way downtown. It does seem that most employees are happy to work downtown now and enjoy what it offers. |
Supersport Member Username: Supersport
Post Number: 10108 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.118.137.226
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 12:22 pm: | |
quote:Nothing is for sure until the first Quicken workers start moving in Downtown.
I think "If you build it, they will come," applies. So I would say building a $300+ million HQ would make things pretty sure, well before employees started moving.
quote:No, I call Troy, Warren, Pontiac, Lansing, Flint and Farmington Hills the suburbs.
You forgot Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor is a suburb. |
Jdkeepsmiling Member Username: Jdkeepsmiling
Post Number: 97 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 208.50.91.234
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 12:25 pm: | |
My father in law was one of those people that was very upset at the move downtown. They live in Farm. hills, so he had like no commute. Now he does nothing but sing the praises of being down there. He cannot tell me anough about being able to eat at Mexican Town for lunch. He said that his only previous option was a Wendy's. I do beleive that a lot of Quicken employees would want to move down there. Unlike compuware which employes generally older folks as in their 40's... there are a lot of Quicken employees in their 20's who would love to be closer to the action. I do not forsee a problem convincing the employees to move. |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 7454 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 12:42 pm: | |
I would guess that C-Ware would have a decent number of younger employees. No idea but it seems like a business that will always have a decent share of younger employees. |
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal
Post Number: 810 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 136.1.1.101
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 1:01 pm: | |
Compuware employees can be fairly old (Mainframe guys from waaaaay back in the day). Moderately old (finished college in the early to mid 90's) which could leave them in their mid-30's. After the Dot-Com boom it's been tough for younger folks out of school to get jobs in IT. Also keep in mind that a great many of C-Ware's employees are at a client site (Ford, GM, AAA, BCBS) and never even see headquarters. |
Ltrain Member Username: Ltrain
Post Number: 83 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.248.33.49
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 1:37 pm: | |
Mid 30's moderately old? Wow. I'm late for my appointment at the funeral home. |
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies
Post Number: 1839 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 129.9.163.234
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 1:41 pm: | |
LOL, I was thinking the same thing. I'm ancient by Sharmaal's point of view. |
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal
Post Number: 811 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 136.1.1.101
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 1:42 pm: | |
You are old as fu*k Ndavies! |
Thursdaynext Member Username: Thursdaynext
Post Number: 11 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 69.214.179.68
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 2:13 pm: | |
Wow, mid 30's is moderately old. Seeing as how I'm approaching 39 this year I guess I'd better start looking into selling my house and going into assisted living. Don't be surprised if a lot of us close to 40, and older, wouldn't mind the comute downtown. There are plenty of us who are single or married w/no kids that would like to be in this kind of environment since they spent most of their lives in suburbia. The company I work for is based in Southfield and there is nothing to offer there...so boring. You have to get out and drive somewhere to get a decent lunch. After 9 years they set me up to work out of my house. It has it's perks, but the most exciting thing I've witnessed today was the gopher crawling across my front lawn. If they would move their HQ downtown I would absolutely give up the home office and make the commute. |
Nellonfury Member Username: Nellonfury
Post Number: 154 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 68.43.156.135
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 2:48 pm: | |
I'm crossing my fingers for the big move for HQ in downtown. Most likely Detroit is gonna win it all!!! |
Detroit313 Member Username: Detroit313
Post Number: 47 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 72.229.136.103
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:11 pm: | |
What is good for DETROIT is good for Michigan. Livonia is nice and the outer cities of DETROIT are great places to live and work, but if Michigan really wants to compete with other states and cities, DETROIT has to be the focal point. Michigan has spread itself so thin that it has started to desolve into nothing and DETROIT is suffering. QL will do alot better in the central city than in the suburbs, but DETROIT has to stop looking at the BIG-OX companies to bring the city back from hibernation, it's the small companies that define a great city too. 313 |
Supersport Member Username: Supersport
Post Number: 10111 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.118.137.226
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:45 pm: | |
Shiiiit, I ain't even 30 yet. |
Mgd04 Member Username: Mgd04
Post Number: 159 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 64.79.90.206
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:54 pm: | |
I can name, although I won't, at least a handful of workers at QL who would not support any move downtown (and they claim a lot of other people feel the same way)Most of them have purchased property out there to be closer to work and now their commute is going to double/triple. Also, in addition to a longer commute with 3$ a gallon gas prices many of them will be forced to deal with paying for monthly parking as well. A lot of people are pissed off by this. We assume everyone wants the urban flavor or variet downtown but a lot of people (unfortunately) are quite content with their lives in the burbs. (Message edited by mgd04 on May 24, 2006) |
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog
Post Number: 408 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.47.224.8
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 3:56 pm: | |
Mgd04, their parking will almost certainly be subsidized by the company like Compuware does. |
Mgd04 Member Username: Mgd04
Post Number: 160 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 64.79.90.206
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:01 pm: | |
People would definitely b*tch if they didn’t subsidize the parking, I know Jay Walter Thompson doesn’t subsidize parking at the entry level and some employees there are talking about how the move out to the burbs will be nice as their commute will be shortened and they won't have to pay for parking anymore. |
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289
Post Number: 1159 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.183.223
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:02 pm: | |
Any new construction for a quicken HQ would almost certainly come with an equally large parking structure... |
Mgd04 Member Username: Mgd04
Post Number: 161 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 64.79.90.206
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:04 pm: | |
If they took the Hudson site could they take over the underground parking or is that already spoken for into the future? |
Itsjeff
Member Username: Itsjeff
Post Number: 5920 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:04 pm: | |
If the options were strictly Detroit or Livonia, then I guess your friends' arguments would have some merit. But according to Quicken, every city is on the table. So if they're loathing the commute to Detroit, guess what it'd be like if Quicken ends up in Troy. Or Southfield. Or Orchard Lake Road in Farmington. Or Cleveland... |
Mgd04 Member Username: Mgd04
Post Number: 162 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 64.79.90.206
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:07 pm: | |
Some of those options would be worse some better... Due to all the sprawl, Southfield is really the most central location in metro Detroit |
Itsjeff
Member Username: Itsjeff
Post Number: 5921 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:10 pm: | |
With the worst, god-awful traffic imaginable. |
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog
Post Number: 409 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.47.224.8
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:12 pm: | |
J Walter is moving to the burbs? That sucks. |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 181 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 209.220.229.254
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:42 pm: | |
itsjeff, my traffic was much worse when I worked for downtown (for J. Walter, actually) than it is now in Southfield. Despite that, I wish I worked downtown. And JLA parking is or was $50/month...anyone who can't walk 5-6 blocks to save $200 is one lazy bitch (and they even have a free shuttle). JWT is moving to Dearborn to be closer to Ford. I can't blame them, but it's unfortunate just the same. (Message edited by focusonthed on May 24, 2006) |
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog
Post Number: 413 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.47.224.8
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:55 pm: | |
The move to Dearborn makes sense but that's too bad for downtown. So few ad agencies in the city. I think none, now that Brogan has moved to Birmingham. At least the JWT workers will be able to enjoy tasty middle-eastern snacks on their lunch hour! |
Ilovedetroit Member Username: Ilovedetroit
Post Number: 2289 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 63.149.5.130
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 4:58 pm: | |
One of my best friends works at Quicken and he said they are excited about it to! He lives downtown so he VERY happy. Wish I worked downtown |
3rdworldcity Member Username: 3rdworldcity
Post Number: 242 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 70.236.187.247
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 5:54 pm: | |
Remember, although GM moved some people downtown from Warren and a few from Flint, 2600 Ford employees who occupied Ren Cen Tower 3 moved to Dearborn. Many say there was a net loss of downtown workers as a result of GM's move to the Ren Cen. Anybody have the facts on that? |
Jelk
Member Username: Jelk
Post Number: 3761 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.208.233.74
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 6:03 pm: | |
When Quicken moves downtown how long until Loan Giant follows? Let's hope! |
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field
Post Number: 562 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.38.31.54
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 6:39 pm: | |
This is the first time I've seen the riverfront mentioned as a potential site for a new QL hq. I have mixed feelings about that. I think the Riverfront should be reserved primarily for residential as it seems to be a big draw for people from outside the city to consider living in Detroit. And I'm still with the crowd here that thinks a majority, or at least a significant minority, of QL employees would be opposed to a downtown move. A vast majority probably live in the northern suburbs so who would voluntarily want to significantly increase their commute with gas at $3/gallon? And good for Daniel Howes for championing a downtown move to the masses as a major benefit to the city and the region. |
Mike Member Username: Mike
Post Number: 608 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 66.227.165.194
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 9:08 pm: | |
I agree with Detroit313, whats good for Detroit is good for Michigan. The future of Michigan is with its original central city. The future of Michigan is with Detroit. The suburbs and Detroit have to get their acts together and regionalize, and Michigan should spend every penny they have on Detroit, limit sprawl and try to champion major corporations to move to Downtown, and not from the burbs, but from other states as well. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 2154 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.147.75
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 10:57 pm: | |
3WC, IIRC, you are correct on your assumption. The overall effect of the GM move to the RenCen was a net loss of jobs IN DETROIT (not necessarily in downtown). But I am not 100% sure on this one. I just remember that some of the folks who left the RenCen (such as Ford), moved to the Suburbs. That was real cheesy of Ford to move out to Dearborn. Jacques Nasser negated the good that Henry Ford II did for Detroit by moving Ford workers downtown. Ford is the largest employer in Wayne County, but I doubt that they have any workers in Detroit. (Ford is not in Crain's top 30 Detroit employers.... whoever #30 is, they have about 300 workers in Detroit). |
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw
Post Number: 1579 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.218.79.65
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:04 pm: | |
Ford produces nothing in Detroit (the Rouge plants are near the border, obviously)...apparantly they have a 'Detroit empowerment zone' (whatever that means). |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 7478 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 4.229.99.159
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:12 pm: | |
What is sad about this whole thing is how much effort the State seemingly has to put in just to keep businesses here. If we have to struggle to keep biz in the State how will we be able to attract other business from elsewhere. |
Ilovedetroit Member Username: Ilovedetroit
Post Number: 2290 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 68.40.230.17
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:24 pm: | |
I just had dinner w/ a friend who works at Quicken (he is a position of knowing what people think)...he said most people are indifferent and are not against a move downtown. More positive than negative...if you count positive as neutral. |
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 3792 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 24.11.154.56
| Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 11:59 pm: | |
I don't think selling the employees on downtown Detroit is the problem, as I'm sure Compuware employees were MUCH more against (or wary of) the idea as downtown was still in the most early stages of setting up to be what it is now, and what it is becoming. The market was still very unstable and the area untouched for years. If Compuware could get its employees coming downtown at the beginning of the decade (when things were still looking dark), moving Quicken employees downtown isn't going to be a problem on that end of the spectrum. |
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog
Post Number: 415 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.47.224.8
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 11:52 am: | |
quote:This is the first time I've seen the riverfront mentioned as a potential site for a new QL hq. I have mixed feelings about that. I think the Riverfront should be reserved primarily for residential as it seems to be a big draw for people from outside the city to consider living in Detroit.
Mindfield, I generally agree that QL shouldn't build their HQ in the East Riverfront, but the East Riverfront should not be primarily residential. There should be equal parts retail and even some office space for smaller companies (above storefront retail of course). I agree though that the big office buildings should be in downtown including QL. They would make much more of a statement being right downtown. I bet the city is mentioning the riverfront because they would like to use a big project to jumpstart housing development there along the river, similar to how Brush Park was jumpstarted by the stadiums. |
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj
Post Number: 49 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 63.171.81.135
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 12:02 pm: | |
Rumor has it that they are keeping Tiger Stadium and QL is building a 30 story high rise in the center. |
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers
Post Number: 1726 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 12:09 pm: | |
I agree ESD, The area should be completely mixed use, but the scale of a large headquarters probably isn't right. I think they (the company and the city) can do more mutually benificial good if they are located downtown. The workers can't get most of the advantages of being downtown on the riverfront, and there would be very little foot traffic spillover into the CBD. My hope is that they will do the move (duh). My bet is that they will, but that they won't invest in a huge headquarters for everybody they might have in five years. They will keep employees in other areas, or they will rent office space downtown. There is too much risk of housing bubble, energy crisis, or high interest rates for them to invest a large amount of money assuming high growth. They might have to significanly downsize in the future. (I'm not saying that they are going to fail, but that they work in a volitile business, and if they are well managed, they won't over-extend themselves.) (Message edited by jsmyers on May 25, 2006) |
Jrr Member Username: Jrr
Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 198.208.251.23
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 12:15 pm: | |
Rjlj, If you think about it, that rumor isn't very feasible. |
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj
Post Number: 50 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 63.171.81.135
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 12:43 pm: | |
No, it is true. The sky scraper will be built in the center and Dan Gilbert will have his office on the pitchers mound. The floor of his office will be grass. The Detroit urban planners told me so. |
Nellonfury Member Username: Nellonfury
Post Number: 155 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 68.43.156.135
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 2:35 pm: | |
Hey Riji.If this rumor IS true about Gilbert is putting the HQ in the center of downtown, the only two sites we can think of: Hudson's Site and Monroe Block(both sites are in the center of downtown) But the Monroe Block wasn't their chosen site..but you never know that could change. |
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister
Post Number: 659 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.213.81.215
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 3:42 pm: | |
Why is anyone responding to Rjlj? |
Swingline Member Username: Swingline
Post Number: 498 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 4.229.60.110
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 4:30 pm: | |
The latest plan is that QL is moving into the Michigan Central terminal. They will be building several privately funded commuter rail lines from Michigan Central out to Oakland and western Wayne counties that will pick up the employees and bring them to work. There will be no charge to the employees for the transportation. The only obstacles right now are L. Brooks and Craig DeRoche who are opposed to the mass transit. Apparently there is a fear that "non residents" might ride these new commuter trains out to the suburbs and cause problems. I'm pretty sure that this will all get worked out. I can't wait. A new employer downtown and mass transit too. Yay. |
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj
Post Number: 52 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 63.171.81.135
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 4:53 pm: | |
Swingline was the only one who got it. Thank you. I was not serious and that would be ridiculous to build a building on the playing field of a ball park while leaving the stadium. I don't neither claim to know everything nor do I claim to be a urban planner but people need to stop spreading so many rumors on this board and stop believing everything they read. If you have ideas I would suggest getting involved in community groups. I sure hope QL moves to Grand Circus Park for personal reasons but you have to look at what drives companies to make decisions, Money. |
Detroit313 Member Username: Detroit313
Post Number: 48 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 72.229.136.103
| Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 8:38 pm: | |
Mike You and I are on the same page. The River should be residential and retail. Again DETROIT shouldn't relay on big companies to save itself or give it a big boost. Cities are made over time, DETROIT doesn't have to worry about compaines moving there from other places, it is the most attractive setting in the state and one of the best in the country. It will happen. But DETROIT should make a plan or devert back to the old plan of round-a-bouts, parks, ect.( Chicago always uses Daniel Burnham's plan even when they built there freeway system) And totally clear the river(east and west) for the residents of the city and state. 313 |
Ray Member Username: Ray
Post Number: 701 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 68.42.220.37
| Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 12:32 am: | |
What I hear is that despite all the flashy moves to attract business, once you open our business in Detroit it's a nightmare dealing with the city. I spoke the other day with the senior executive of a sizable professional services firm in downtown Detroit, who loves the city but who doubts that his company will stay downtown becuase the administration of the city is so poor. The tradegy of Detroit is that the city and its people are hobbled by a truly ineffective and overpriced city government. Maybe the greater tragedy is that this situation is tolerated by the voters and the city's political class. |
Detroit313 Member Username: Detroit313
Post Number: 49 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 72.229.136.103
| Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 1:31 am: | |
I know the city is not the best to work with. The bureacracy has gotten too big and too corrupt. My cousin was interested in purchasing the Lee Plaza and turning it into condos. He has the capital, with dozens of properties in LA, Las Vegas, and building a mid rise tower in Miami. He tried to reach the city for months a couple of years ago but no one ever returned his call. He gave up because LA, Vegas and Miami were happy to take his investments. Sorry to say it but DETROIT looks that way for a reason..........but it could be easier. 313 |
Bobj Member Username: Bobj
Post Number: 717 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.40.89.238
| Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 5:53 pm: | |
I have heard that same story from other developers (smaller projects than the Lee Plaza), but interested in land, small apt buildings all owned by the city, not to mention the red tape once you try to start a project. |
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289
Post Number: 1163 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.183.223
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 11:44 am: | |
thats why you always seem to have to ask.. Where the FUK does 1.4 billion dollars go if they cant even approve building permits. but i do sympathize with frustrated Detroiters who have between 2 corrupt people to deal with when voting. |
Llyn
Member Username: Llyn
Post Number: 1548 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 68.61.197.206
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 3:23 pm: | |
"What I hear is that despite all the flashy moves to attract business, once you open our business in Detroit it's a nightmare dealing with the city." What is the problem? Even though I'm sure you have the best of intentions, I hate it when something like that gets thrown out there without the details. Color me skeptical that city government hasn't done anything for whomever and whatever. What is there for them to do once they're already located? Do they have their own building? If not, aren't most of the issues handled by the building owners? |
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289
Post Number: 1166 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.183.223
| Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 3:27 pm: | |
developers usually are the building owners... you have city income tax, property tax, you have to have a permit to open a business ect. Ok lets say the space next to you becomes available and you want to expand... then you have to deal with the city multiple times. there are a number of ways that you can run into problems |
623kraw
Member Username: 623kraw
Post Number: 911 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.224.200
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 2:57 am: | |
Love the MCS idea... |
Trainman Member Username: Trainman
Post Number: 40 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 7:39 pm: | |
The answer to get Quiken to locate to downtown Detroit is obvious but DY has yet to see this. The answer is SMART 24/7, clean, safe, reliable, and frequent public bus service as fully described and detailed (including costs) in this website. http://savethefueltax.org Or, maybe Quicken will come to Livonia instead. |
Shark Member Username: Shark
Post Number: 230 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 64.109.212.31
| Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 9:42 pm: | |
quote:The answer to get Quiken to locate to downtown Detroit is obvious but DY has yet to see this. The answer is SMART 24/7, clean, safe, reliable, and frequent public bus service as fully described and detailed (including costs) in this website. http://savethefueltax.org Or, maybe Quicken will come to Livonia instead.
Quicken IS in Livonia and quit pimping your lame website. |
Apbest Member Username: Apbest
Post Number: 68 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.40.65.66
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 9:43 am: | |
jesus christ, I have never seen such senless plugs. EVERYONE who has even visted this site once knows ur frieking website, stop it for the love of god |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 696 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 10:46 am: | |
In response to trainman:
|
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister
Post Number: 669 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.30.158.46
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 10:49 am: | |
Somebody... Hit him over the head with a lamp or something, Please!!!!!!!!! later - naturalsister |
Rbdetsport Member Username: Rbdetsport
Post Number: 106 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 68.61.11.146
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 12:12 pm: | |
Thankyou for that E_hemingway! LOL! But seriously Trainman, you have a problem. Your website has no relevance to this topic and you again posted it. I can see why you posted it in the Mass Transit thread, but you only had to do it once. 6 and 7 times is an overkill, and thats an understatement. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 2181 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.3.110
| Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 2:37 pm: | |
Trainman, Just how old are you? Cuz I looked at what you say is a plan... and all it talks about are a bunch of run-on sentences that keep mentioning a plan. So your "plan" talks about a plan... and yet is not a plan"?? Your plan sounds like a political speech that is very short on substance. Why do you even bother with this forum? Your audience should be over 60 suburbanites without a high school diploma, not the metro-Detroit college educated people on this forum. P.S. You should take a "Business Writing For Results" class, a Logic 101 course, and get several urban studies/planning degrees. Then try writing a plan! And you should see someone about your obsessive compulsive behavior! |
Trainman Member Username: Trainman
Post Number: 44 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 11:05 pm: | |
I know I over killed my website. We need college educated young people to bring back mass transit. I'll be 50 soon and have a college degree and successfully work in the mass transit industry, but we need young educated minds to get the job done and not a bunch of great speeches about how we can all work together to make mass transit work. I got some good laughs on this forum and really do appreciate all the comments and am really a friendly person. I just think if anyone wants to raise taxes in Michigan that they should have a good reason to do so and not be a big talker. That’s what SEMCOG thinks of my website. So, I actually filled up some buses to improve Detroit to prove them wrong. I want people to shred my website up, so they can do things to make Detroit a really cool city and not just call it one but really make it one by getting more people to move back in and visit because Detroit needs more money to help out it's city government. Kwame can't do it by himself any more then you can. I like this forum and want you all to know that you should not rely on government for everything. I'm trying to help out the Transportation Riders United to understand this. They need to make sure that everyone can do something to improve the communities we live in, if they really want to improve mass transit like they say want to. I hope this helps you understand more. |