  Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 273 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.246.10.215 |
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.d ll/article?AID=/20060609/BIZ/6 06090385 Great news | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 735 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123 |
Now I would have thought the Book Cadillac and Lafayette Building renovations would have started before the Fort-Shelby, but I'll take it. I am so glad to see this one moving forward. | ||
Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 636 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 68.42.78.219 |
I'm curious about the view from this place, and how much they might want for a condo in the future? | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 856 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 209.104.146.146 |
Still not a sure thing, but certainly moving in the right direction. Is this the same team behind the Hilton Garden Inn? | ||
Gambling_man Member Username: Gambling_man Post Number: 757 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 199.178.193.5 |
The develper on Hilton Garden is Ferchill. | ||
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field Post Number: 573 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.38.18.195 |
This is one that I was almost sure would never happen, it was first announced MANY years ago and the location is in the middle of nowhere (relatively speaking). | ||
Rjk Member Username: Rjk Post Number: 331 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.41.145.5 |
I just finished reading a rather lengthy article dealing with the history of this hotel after seeing this thread. The article mentioned three people (Jay, Neena, and Vivian Ross) ranging in age from 20 to 24 who purchased the FS in the early 70's. An internet search on these three people produced nothing, anyone have any info on them? I was just struck by three inexperienced people purchasing a hotel that at the time seemed to be such a long shot to be successful to begin with. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 865 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.227.84.110 |
rjk; the detroitblog guy has been in there several times. here is one entry that deals a lot with the history: http://www.detroitblog.org/?m= 200509 there are others for pictures, just search the archives. then, there is the wonderful site by david kohrman. this should give you a very good overview of it's history, past condition, and current condition: http://www.forgottendetroit.co m/fsh/index.html | ||
Rjk Member Username: Rjk Post Number: 332 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.41.145.5 |
Rsa, thanks for the links. Interesting stuff. | ||
J_stone Member Username: J_stone Post Number: 311 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 63.77.247.130 |
Wow. Insane. Hope it works out. I never thought that building would be used again. Does this mean that Papa Pasta's will re-open and stay open late for those late night munchies? | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 714 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.255.240.120 |
Indeed great news. I'm glad he mentioned not putting anything on the building prematurely, or as posturing. Another win-win for the CBD. later - naturalsister | ||
Detroiternthemist Member Username: Detroiternthemist Post Number: 53 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 64.118.149.50 |
Hey how about the large suite being $65 WOW! Have times changed. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1001 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 12.34.51.20 |
The only bar in there for years was Shelby's. What?? How about the Anchor Bar, which was in the ground floor for years, before moving to Fort? Shelby's was there for maybe 9 months. Nice research. | ||
3rdworldcity Member Username: 3rdworldcity Post Number: 254 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 69.212.32.145 |
RJK: Re: Ross kids. Their father Herman bought it for them. He was a rich developer..very tough SOB...and I was surprised he gave anybody anything. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1717 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 68.248.1.213 |
Excellent news. This is another good sign, and I'm glad to see this sort of landmark investment in this corner of downtown. | ||
Rosedaleken Member Username: Rosedaleken Post Number: 181 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 68.43.122.151 |
Wow, a Doubletree. Very nice hotels, and tasty cookies when you check in. | ||
Wilus1mj Member Username: Wilus1mj Post Number: 73 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 216.111.89.3 |
Wow, maybe next time we host the Superbowl we'll have enough hotels downtown. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 436 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 35.12.23.59 |
The most important words in the article: "Developers hope to finalize the purchase of the property..." Skipper's rule! | ||
Jelk Member Username: Jelk Post Number: 3792 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.209.158.215 |
Excuse wilublahblahblah but I was unaware of any Super Bowl visitors sleeping in a park or ally because of a lack of shelter options. | ||
Wilus1mj Member Username: Wilus1mj Post Number: 74 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 216.111.89.3 |
No, they stayed in Troy and Southfield. | ||
Jelk Member Username: Jelk Post Number: 3793 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.209.158.215 |
Yes some did. And others stayed at the Marriott, the Hilton Garden, and the Holiday Inn Express downtown. To name a few downtown hotels. Some visitors rented private homes and apartment in the city and suburbs. Some probably even stayed in hotels and motels near Metro Airport. You imply that their was a shortage of hotel speace for Super Bowl visitors when clearly their wasn't. I'm sure the good people at Doubletree would like to fill up a restore Fort Shelby with Super Bowl-type visitors and I'm sure the city coffers would have a few more nickels if the Fort Shelby was open during the Super Bowl festivities. However suggesting that Detroit didn't have enough hotel rooms is balderdash. Go talk to people who went to Super Bowl 39 in Jacksonville if you want to hear about a Super Bowl city with a hotel room shortage. They were quite vocal about that. Of all the things for someone to bitch about, the number of downtown hotel rooms during Super Bowl XL is among the stupidest. Everyone who came to Detroit found a place to rest their head and most of them (at least all of those I met and I met a quite a few) had a good time that week. It seems to me you are trying to find something negative in a largely positive event. I suspect you'd probably bitch about paying taxes on lottery winnings. | ||
Wilus1mj Member Username: Wilus1mj Post Number: 75 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 216.111.89.3 |
Lottery winnings shouldn't be taxed either nor all my poker winnings. | ||
Spartacus Member Username: Spartacus Post Number: 120 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 209.114.251.65 |
Jelk- You don't think there was a shortage of hotel rooms downtown for the Superbowl? Do the math. There are approximately 3,000 hotel rooms in downtown Detroit. There were supposedly in excess of 100,000 people in town for the game. I know from reading some journalists blogs that they were not thrilled that they were staying in Livonia. They weren't exactly in the middle of the action. While I disagree with your assessment that there were enough rooms downtown, I don't think it's a point of any significance. Who cares about the Superbowl? It is a once every 20 year type of event. Personally I think any development of the Fort Shelby is great news. Maybe with more hotel rooms a few medium sized conventions will come to Detroit that wouldn't have otherwise. There is a point where an increase in supply can actually increase demand. In addition, I think that any time you improve a blighted area of downtown there are a slew of benefits that are hard to quantify. I think that with the exchange rate where it is there should be some serious tourism advertising in Ontario. There are a lot of people between Toronto and Detroit. There should be a big push by the hotels/casinos/professional sports teams/and cultural institutions to attract people here for the weekend. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2283 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.105.30 |
Jelk.... Detroit does have a lack of downtown hotel rooms! Why do you think folks stayed in Ann Arbor, Toledo and yes even Flint?? The city has been talking FOR DECADES about a lack of hotel rooms downtown being a problem with booking large conventions at Cobo! Surely you must be aware of that????? | ||
Andyguard73 Member Username: Andyguard73 Post Number: 70 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 64.25.200.14 |
Earlier I did a rough estimate. With the Ren Cen Marriott finished, and the Pontchartrain, Fort Shelby, and the B-C being renovated, plus the Hilton Garden Inn, MGM Grand, Motor City and Greektown hotels opened or opening, there will have been 2600 hotel rooms either renovated or newly built in the CBD between 1996 and 2008. I don't know if I missed any, but I thought that was a pretty pretty exciting number for the city. | ||
Pjazz Member Username: Pjazz Post Number: 37 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 70.236.145.162 |
WoW! I had no idea this plan was in the making. Great news! Jelk get a clue. The city is way under manned for hotel space for a Super Bowl, but we're improving! | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 726 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.30.4.121 |
Great point Andy, Those numbers and anything similar will definitely boost the travel and tourism industry in Detroit. Spartacus, you're on the money. Jelk must be drunk. Jelk, it seems the Superbowl was cited because of its scale and how recent it was. Long-term, we do have a shortage of hotel space, and that doesn't allow us to readily compete for major events. Ask Ms. Williams (Marriot) or Mrs. Papas (Ren Cen Conference Center) if they have lost convention bookings due to lack of availability of adequate hotel rooms Downtown Detroit proper. I've spoken to them both a number of times recently and this is the case. later - naturalsister | ||
Detroit313 Member Username: Detroit313 Post Number: 55 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 12.45.2.184 |
Good to see the hotel making a comeback. Any renderings?313 | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 1099 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 69.130.18.100 |
I stopped and talked to the guy who was working on the exterior assessment Friday. DTE had been out there that day to turn the power back on for the interior assessment crew and the environmental folks where also already there to take care of things during the interior demo that's expected. the guy said from what he'd seen so far the place is in good shape despite being vacant so long, but the basement's filled with water and the full interior assessment needs to be completed. He was really optimistic about the figures being low enough for the project to go ahead. | ||
Huggybear Member Username: Huggybear Post Number: 224 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.79.113.90 |
Jesus, how many of you missed Emmett Moten's name connected with this project? Director of planning and development for Coleman Young? Went to jail for refusing to turn over land acquisition records for the Chrysler Jefferson North Plant? Lots of other interesting stories? On the up side, given that the current administration's friendliness with Young personnel, at least we know the project will get done. |
