  Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1343 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Official asks if Wayne County needs new home With talks stalled on a new lease between Wayne County and the company that owns the historic building that houses county headquarters, the leader of the County Commission says it's time to decide whether to relocate. For more than two years, the administration of County Executive Robert Ficano has been seeking a cheaper lease from the private partnership that owns the Wayne County Building at 600 Randolph in Detroit. The lease is to expire in November 2007. .... http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060529/NEW S02/605290321/1004/NEWS | ||
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289 Post Number: 1167 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.183.223 |
... wow when people start abandoning the government buildings.. we have a problem. | ||
Commodore64 Member Username: Commodore64 Post Number: 214 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 71.65.11.254 |
I have spent lot of time in the County building and it’s in great shape. This county is going down the tubes; these guys spend millions to save thousands! | ||
Detourdetroit Member Username: Detourdetroit Post Number: 212 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.236.145.157 |
Ficano's folks brought this up a couple of years ago...it's posturing i think. agreed commodore... | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2180 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.3.110 |
Back in the 1980's former Wayne County Executive Bill Lucas sold the building to developers, and then had it leased back to the county at a very high lease rate. That was probably necessary, due to the fact that the developers put something like $30 Million into it. (The county did the same thing that the city does... it skimps on building maintenance.) Perhaps the tower scaffold fiasco was the last straw for the county. The building owners balked at expensive tower repairs. Not quite sure, but didn't the scaffolding rental come out of county money? | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3807 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 24.11.154.56 |
Alexei, a little over-exaggeration, don't you think? Plenty of old country courthouses and old government buildings have been left by the government and been turned into museums, retail arcades...I guess something is wrong with downtown D.C. because the old Post Office almost was demolished, huh? Let's stop the over dramatics for once. If the county left, you better believe there will be other tenants to take its place. | ||
Wilus1mj Member Username: Wilus1mj Post Number: 67 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 67.149.62.53 |
The County should re-bid the lease like every other government contract to get the best rate. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 598 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139 |
Years ago it was the seat of Detroit Municipal Ordinance Court. Traffic Court, to shorten the term. Worked very well as that; always thought it was kind of dumb to move it. I do totally agree with Gistock.....local governments skimp terribly on maintenance, from sweeping the floors to major overhauls. About twenty years ago, the officers at the Fourth (Fort-Green) police station were so pissed off at the appearance of their station, they bought paint from the cigarette/candy machine profits and painted it on their own time. AFSCME filed a grievance and the city had to pay the union a penalty for the non-union work. On the other hand, the friggin' place finally got a coat of paint.......... | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2185 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.27 |
Hey Ray1936... with the city and county the term "deferred maintenance" is an understatement... just look at the Police HQ! | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 602 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139 |
Yeah, and it's a darn shame, Gistok. It was a functionally attractive building in years gone by, and it was just neglect that it became shoddy. Even in the pre-Coleman days. Upgrades never happened. I don't think you'd find a three-pronged outlet in the place today. Except in the Chief's office, maybe........  | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 4198 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.173.169 |
When the Wayne County Gov't HQ. building open around the 1890s. The Wayne Co. Gov't problay have full control of the building. Now today some private corporation own that historical building. HAH! Sounds stoopid to me. The folks who work in those gov't offices at the Wayne Co. Gov't building MUST not leave. Instead they should buy back that whole building and make upgrades. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1601 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 68.248.4.60 |
"Ware's criticism is perplexing, noting the firm won an award this year from the Building Owners and Managers Association for its maintenance of the building." I don't know where Ms. Ware is getting this from. Do your damn job, and quit making up crap about your workplace. Does she think that if the government takes full ownership of the building then more money will be able to be spent on upkeep (clearly that's not what happens at Police HQ)? Didn't the building just go under an extremely long renovation? If they build something new, where's it gonna go--Canton? | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 4200 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.173.169 |
It better not be far away as Sumpter TWP. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2187 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.105.89 |
A reminder: Wayne County Seat = DETROIT So any new County HQ will be in Detroit. Also, I don't know where the reporter got the 1897 date from. That building opened in 1902.... unless the cornerstone dates to 1897. | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 5978 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
The Oakland County seat is in Pontiac. Yet they found a way to put the County Executive, commission, prosecutor, court and jail in Waterford. | ||
Commodore64 Member Username: Commodore64 Post Number: 215 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 66.73.225.162 |
If they move anywhere, it will be Downriver. The County owns a lot of property down there already. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1091 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
Construction on the building began in 1896. Cornerstone was laid in 1897. Building was completed in 1902. | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 5980 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
Sounds about right for a Wayne County project... | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2188 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.105.89 |
Not according to the Oakland County Official Website..... www.oakgov.com/maps/assets/doc s/occomplexmap.pdf The Oakland County Executive Office Building, the Courthouse, and the Jail are east of Telegraph (Pontiac). Here is a map of the Oakland County Campus, and all the buildings east of Telegraph are in Pontiac, those west of Telegraph are in Waterford. http://twp.waterford.mi.us/gis /maps/generic.pdf | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2189 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.105.89 |
In order to move the Wayne County offices out of Detroit, they would have to annoint a new Wayne County seat. Not gonna happen! With Detroit having nearly half of the 15 members of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, plus any from Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and the Grosse Pointes (who won't want a longer commute to downriver or western Wayne County).... I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.... (Message edited by Gistok on May 30, 2006) | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1603 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 68.248.4.60 |
Comforting words indeed. I still would like to know this 'Jewel' person's reasons for bashing the building. Sure she points out that it is expensive to have space there, but the fact is the county doesn't really own the space. Perhaps it's good that she's calling attention to the fact that perhaps the county finances would be better off in the long run if they completely owned the place...but, I am still suspect of her critiquing the cleanliness and maintainence of the place. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2197 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.24.35 |
As mentioned in another thread after viewing one of Hornwreckers old maps of downtown... it is amazing at how much bigger the Old County Building footprint was, compared to the old 1872 City Hall.... nearly 3 times the footprint size. I had always thought that they were somewhat the same size. Of course the old City Hall is no longer here for us to do a comparison with! | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1214 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.186 |
Finally found it, the County Bldg is a little cut off.  | ||
3rdworldcity Member Username: 3rdworldcity Post Number: 246 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 69.212.45.63 |
The whole deal between the County and Farbman is a travesty. A big political payoff. Some County people put a lot of bucks in their pockets. A previous poster said the developer would have no problem findinmg another tenant if the County vacates. What a dream that is. If the County goes, it will be decades, if ever, before Farbman will be able to find a non-municipal tenant. My guess is that Farbman has gotten every dollar of its investment back, plus a bundle, so they can afford to walk away or let it sit there. Anybody ever sat thru a conference there in the main conference room? The place would seat a 100 and probably never has more than 20 attendees. The ceilings must be 25 feet high and the cost to heat the building has to be astronomical. I don't know of a non-municipal tenant who would ever move in there. Historic = high cost. The County should offer to pay $14.00 per ft. per yr. plus electricity and tell them to shove it if they don't like it. The County could buy any number of buildings downtown for a new headquarters, for example: 1010 Rivard (Shapero Hall) from WSU. 150,000+ sq ft plus 250 car parking for $2.5 million +/- Penobscot Bldg, 13 story section, 153,000 sq ft for +/- $6.5 million [probably a lot less.) 455 W. Fort (old Smith Hinchman Grylls bldg), 120,000 sq ft, 100 car parking, for $11,000,000 [asking price.] There are several others. I know a lot of folks who would buy those buildings and enter into a long term lease w/ the County for MUCH less than its paying now. How many people here think the County will make a decision based on an arms-length, thoroughly vetted, strictly economic deal, w/ no kickbacks, political payoffs etc? If any, dream on. The taxpayers are going to get screwed again as sure a the sun will come up in the east tomorrow. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1628 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.220.63.57 |
Interesting that you bring up 1010 Rivard. I thought it was supposed to become some sort of home base for a legal aid clinic. Still on the market, though? You're right that they could locate somewhere else, and I agree that efficiency is the right goal for them. It kind of makes sense for them to stay in the landmark building that was built to be county hq, though. Since you say that they won't find another tenant to fill that building, it is best for them to stay. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2204 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.39 |
As always Hornwrecker comes thru! Thanks for the insight 3WC! You always bring the cold hard facts of "reality" to this forum of "development dreamers"! | ||
3rdworldcity Member Username: 3rdworldcity Post Number: 248 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 69.212.45.63 |
Mackinaw: Legal Aid and Defender Assaciation deal did not go thru. 1010 is still on the market. I don't understand why you think the County should stay in the building. The County does not own it any more and it is non longer the County's problem if it relocates. The County shoul not waste our tax dollars on that building merely to keep it occupied. Let Farbman worry about that. Gistok: Reality is sometimes hard to swallow. But, dreaming is necessary sometimes as well. Thanks for the comment. | ||
Rayraydetroit Member Username: Rayraydetroit Post Number: 12 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 67.72.98.45 |
How about if the county makes a deal to acquire the soon to be vacated MGM Casino with attached parking? There was some recent talk about creating a "justice center" combining many government offices. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1635 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 71.144.82.87 |
I'd have to see the spreadsheet on how much could be saved, in the end, if the county purchased a new space downtwon. If the savings are substantial and would make a difference in the overall budget, then I guess the county should move out of the county building. So, what about them just purchasing the entire building back from Farbman? |
