  Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2601 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.167.58.162 |
MidMedLofts under restoration/recreation on East Canfield.  Sojourner Truth Housing Project on Neveda at Fenelon.  Beth David Cemetery open for Mother's Day. Van Dyke at St. Cyril. See "Jews in Detroit" thread for more.  Conner-Gratiot are Factory [remind me of the name OCF gang]  Dorais Velodrome ruins Mound and Outer Drive.  Bike Racer's View. Should this be on the Belgian Thread?  Shot gun houses in Highland Park, Chandler and Brush. Gutters extra.  Stone House Bar: Ralston at State Fair. Occasional Forum Social Club watering hole.  | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1156 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.80 |
That's the Ivan Doverspike used machinery dealer, nee Cadillac stamping div, nee Hudson Motors stamping, nee Clayton & Lambert coachbuilders, designed by Albert Kahn, and built in 1925. Anybody know how long the velodrome was used? That's near me, and I can only remember maybe one or two events ever held there. I thought there'd be more trees in the track by now. What a waste. (Message edited by Hornwrecker on May 14, 2006) | ||
Ddaydave Member Username: Ddaydave Post Number: 410 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 67.149.185.244 |
Ahhh the stone house one of my fav watering holes in the summer ...when they bar-b-que in the summer buy a couple of beers and the owner will put so much food on your plate you can`t move ... | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 478 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.176.190 |
A few of those are in my neck of the woods.. the bar and the Sojourner homes.. | ||
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn Post Number: 52 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 68.40.195.233 |
Lowell - it's a small world. my friend mike dombrowski showed me his dad's rc plane footage, and aparently you and his dad have a mutual friend (the dad of my friend max, i'm not sure of his name) and there is video footage of mike, his mom + dad, you, and max's father flying RC planes around downtown. it's a small small world. thanks for the photos. the lofts (top picture) look amazing. though i'm new here, I really appreciate this site. thank you. .andy. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3716 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.167.135.133 |
I like those new houses. I'd hope more like that would be built to keep with Detroit's small lots. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2603 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.167.58.162 |
Yep, I know who you mean Andy. Didn't see the footage, but was intrigued by the idea. | ||
Gumby Member Username: Gumby Post Number: 1162 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.60.143.186 |
Wow I did not expect to see the midmed lofts looking like that. Lets hope thw Ilitches see that and think about the Fine Arts. | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 907 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.125.129 |
Not built by the Belgians. The velodrome was built for the 1969 nationals by Mike Walden and the Wolverine Sports Club. Chrysler donated the land for the track and soap box derby hill. Any trace of the soap box derby surface left?
The track was used till the early 80's. There are still some underground MadMax type races held on a very impromptu schedule. It was always a good time watching a race or trainign session there. | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 3283 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.249.44.157 |
I've had a bit of business to take care of in the area of the MidMedLofts in the last few weeks and have watched the deconstruction in the middle of those two facades. I'm very curious to see what is built between the two facades and how it is done. If successful, it may spark a new wave of incorporating the old with the new. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1157 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.80 |
Derby Hill is really overgrown with weed trees last time I drove by. I don't know if any of the track surface is still there or the last time a Soap Box Derby was held there. Where if anywhere do the hold them around here now? I fondly remember sledding down the back slope of that hill in the winter, dodging the fence posts that the put up to discourage sledders. Good times! | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 1019 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Crosswinds is building more affordable (from $140s) traditional neighborhood homes (~1000 - 1500 sq ft) in their Mason Run development in Monroe. I'd like to see some of these around here, too.   | ||
Jenniferl Member Username: Jenniferl Post Number: 273 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 4.229.57.153 |
Cute houses. With some trees and flowers and shrubbery, the area will look real nice. I've heard that the Stone House Bar is a fun place. I'll have to drag some friends down there someday and check it out. (I don't feel safe going to bars alone.) | ||
Jiminnm Member Username: Jiminnm Post Number: 558 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 68.35.85.184 |
Ah, Derby Hill. I went down that hill on a skateboard in 1965 whilst under the influence of some unknown substance. I made it intact, but am unsure how. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2606 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.167.58.162 |
Toolbox, I think you answered a question I had today. I climbed the hill, but did not remember that it was the soap box derby hill. Hence I was puzzled by a seemingly meaningless concrete sturcture at the peak. Now it makes sense, or does it. I think it was a launch platform for the soap box derby cars.  I was intrigued by this strange steel objects; now I suspect they are releases to launch the cars. Whaddya think?  | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4874 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8 |
Lowell, what's going on over at the St. Cyril's site? I haven't been over there in probably 2 years or so, maybe a little longer. Did the industrial park construction ever go through? | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1610 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.209.158.194 |
Put those Highland Park shot-gun houses together and call them townhomes and for the same amount of square footage, with upscale features, you can get someone to pay over $200,000. Just look at that the "Nine on Third" townhomes. They can't be any bigger than these houses, yet they command a much higher price. | ||
Miss_cleo Member Username: Miss_cleo Post Number: 194 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.47.85.139 |
those houses are nice, but waaaaay too close together (for me) | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1053 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 198.208.159.18 |
I walked my dog by midmed yesterday...I wonder if they are going to put in a big box between the fore and aft facades, the old buildings tenement configuration surely wouldn't have lended itself to lofts | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 824 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 209.104.146.146 |
Is anyone else amazed that the Mid Med Lofts are still standing? I'm waiting for the walls to cave in like they did at that strip club expansion at Griswold and Grand River. | ||
Rocket_city Member Username: Rocket_city Post Number: 27 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 141.217.214.203 |
^ I know, it's amazing to see how they meticulously disassembled the building and held up (what appears to be) a flimsy facade of bricks all on their own. Mason Run in Monroe is a New Urbanist community (a neighborhood build with the neotraditional style in mind). Detroit's closest resemblance is Woodbridge Estates...only the architecture and design is a little cold (read cookie-cutter) than most New Urbanist communities. I never knew what a velodrome was until today. Thanks for the new term! | ||
Grosseile Member Username: Grosseile Post Number: 5 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 132.250.154.130 |
Lowell: The metal bars were raised to hold the soap box racers in place for the start. When the bars were lowered the cars were released down the hill. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3821 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Wasn't there a Soap Box Derby Hill in Rouge Park also? jjaba seems to remember one. Is there such a hill anymore today? jjaba. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 854 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.212.43.221 |
hey, you guys with the questions about the mid-med lofts; notice there's a sign that lists the website in the picture? here's the link for you: http://www.midmedlofts.com/ind ex.html it lists features, floorplans, etc. is interesting that they gutted and are reusing the facade. i thought they were going to restore and add on. i am happy that they're reusing at least a little bit, but am curious why. the facade isn't extremely unique or detailed. they're not really saving any money by doing it that way. hmmmm. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1057 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 198.208.159.18 |
could they have saved the facade to (barely) qualify for re-development grants or some such thing? | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 855 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.212.43.221 |
hmmm. i'm not a banker, so i don't know about the financing end of it. they could've qualified for facade historical credits, but i don't think that building is in a historic district... | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 503 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.222.54.70 |
Thanks for the shots Lowell | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 1022 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Now I'm really feeling old - Dorais was still in use when I was in high school. Mike Walden had one or two sessions a week there. | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 1099 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
The_aram, the entire site for the tech park has been blocked off over the past 2 weeks. The contractors said that they were preparing the land for development. This tech pack is rumored to be a vast prooject, as told by the guys cleaning up the site. In addition, a lot of people had been dumping their trash and waste in the area and the locals were taking their johns there to do business. It was my route to work until they blocked it last week. Its amazing the things I have seen on that lot in the past 2 months | ||
623kraw Member Username: 623kraw Post Number: 903 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.224.200 |
Here's a few St. Cyril (Urban Prarie) shots that are semi hi-res but won't fit on the forum - more to follow... Shot 1 Shot 2 Shot 3 Shot 4 Shot 5 | ||
Rocketwhit Member Username: Rocketwhit Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2007 |
Lowell great pics i have also rode my bike on the bike trac and the back of derby hill on a sled what a ride!! |
