  Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 612 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 35.12.20.191 |
Does anyone have any renovation updates for the Pontchartrain Hotel? | ||
Drm Member Username: Drm Post Number: 1053 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.255.236.79 |
I don't know but they were unloading a truckload of new carpet this morning. | ||
Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 296 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.246.123.2 |
Funny you should ask. I was going to post something the other day on here. On Tuesday I decided to walk through it myself to see. The motor lobby is demolished and there are signs saying new indoor pool and fitness center coming soon but they are definitely a long ways away from that. Lobby looks the same but the restaurant is closed. The ballrooms on the lobby level are torn apart as are the ones on the terrace level. The old fitness center is still there but heavily run down as is the whole terrace level. The pool is not open and I don't think it was open at all this past season. I traveled up the guestroom floors. Floors 4-13 are closed to guests and all the rooms are in the middle of renovation. They completely gutted the rooms so they are all just complete concrete. Even the toilets, sinks, all fixtures, etc. have been ripped out. In fact the only thing that they left in the room is the bathtub. The higher the floor, the less work that has been done but the most work that I saw were gutted guestrooms, nothing even close to completion. They haven't started renovation of any of the guestroom hallways. Signs announce that it will be the Sheraton Pontchartrain in Fall of 2006. Fall is only a few weeks away and IMO I would be surprised if the hotel was completed by even the end of the Winter. | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6829 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
You're just able to wander around like that? Dang. | ||
Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 297 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.246.123.2 |
Yea, whats the problem? If you look like you belong there no one will say anything-usually. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 749 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 65.42.23.2 |
That's usually how it's done, if you look lost, people will stop you. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 613 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 35.12.23.130 |
Thnx for the updates. Yeah, fall 2006 sounds way too optimistic. The following link, http://www.swanhost.com/Swan/A SP/News/read.asp?id=137 describes how Richfield Hospitality said in March that it would be "completed in October 2006!" Richfield has a Starwood "Preferred Management Company" designation, so at least they know what they're doing here. But I'm not sure how, with a project wherein every guest room is completely gutted, the developer could think it'd be done in less than a year. Maybe the plans got more elaborate after the initial announcement. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 751 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 65.42.23.2 |
"All sleeping rooms, baths, public areas, the restaurant, lounge, health club, pool and meeting space are being completely re-built, re-furnished and updated in anticipation of our exciting change to the Sheraton Detroit Pontchartrain in winter 2006." taken from their website http://www.hotelpontch.com/ this says it all... | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 35 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
Gee, I think I'll make a reservation for one of the empty rooms. I hear the rates are cheap. | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1951 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 134.215.223.211 |
You'd be surprised how quickly hotel renovations go. The work may be behind schedule, but probably not that far behind. The guest rooms will really fly once the demo work is completed. The interiors are all cookie cutter type stuff so once the contractors get the hang of the first few rooms, they'll fly. The common areas sound like a lot of work is needed, but again you'll be surprised how quickly this stuff will all come together. Hotels of the era that the Ponch is from and later very rarely use truly high end stuff (it may look nice but it's actually pretty cheap materials) because they do ongoing renovations every few years, as has become the industry standard. Major overhauls of this type happen about every 7-10 years in the hotel industry, but Detroit has been way behind the times on this. Hopefully the hospitality industry will gain some critical mass in the D and get to the point where they're keeping the facilities up to date on a regular basis instead of getting to the point where many of the hotels are in a sad state. | ||
Flybydon Member Username: Flybydon Post Number: 12 Registered: 01-2005 |
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Rrl Member Username: Rrl Post Number: 635 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thanks for all the aerials Flybydon, a unique way to see what's happening around town. My gawd, I can't believe how FUGLY the Ponch looks around the street-level exterior of the building. Are they planning on sprucing up that sterile looking streetscape? Trees & landscaping, lighting, plaza, canopies, etc. Too much barren concrete. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 691 Registered: 12-2005 |
Yes, kudos to Flybydon! I see you're posting these pics to many threads. Great contribution. Thank you. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1109 Registered: 12-2003 |
Those rooms needed gutting! The layouts are beautiful I think, with the views of the river. At one time they were very plush and impressive. It's great to know they've gone this far. I was in the lobby bar a few years ago. The Pontch coffee shop used to be great. Hope they have one, although I know coffee shops are out of style. | ||
Rbdetsport Member Username: Rbdetsport Post Number: 171 Registered: 11-2005 |
That pic is older than 15 years. The Madden Building is not present along with the streetscaping and improvements to the lower level of the Pontch. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4496 Registered: 10-2003 |
No. I don't know how recent it is, but the garage for 150 Jefferson is readily apparent to the right of the building. | ||
Flybydon Member Username: Flybydon Post Number: 16 Registered: 01-2005 |
Rbdetsport: Sorry. That image was taken today. | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 277 Registered: 09-2004 |
I was going to say... You can see the shadow of the Madden Building to the right in that photo. I do hope they dress the streetscape up a little bit along there. MDOT fixed up the Lodge Freeway ramp right out in front and I think there are new streetlights on the road right in front of the building, so some landscaping/gardens/etc would be a nice change. Of course, with the cold weather coming, it may make more sense to wait till March or April. | ||
Fastcarsfreedom Member Username: Fastcarsfreedom Post Number: 62 Registered: 11-2005 |
I was about to say--it's obvious that it's current--the penthouse has no signage. 15 years ago it was either straight up Pontch signage--or Radisson--can't remember. Later on it was Crowne Plaza (twice)--and they current tiny Pontch signage on the penthouse is a remnant of it's last Crowne Plaza signage. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2856 Registered: 08-2004 |
Yup that's a recent pic alright. If you follow the inside curve of the People Mover, the curved edge of the multistory podium that the 150 W. Jefferson Tower sits on is just in view. | ||
Apbest Member Username: Apbest Post Number: 193 Registered: 03-2006 |
150 W. Jefferson is from like 1989...is that recent? | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4501 Registered: 10-2003 |
He just said he had taken the pic, today. Rbdetsport, mistakenly said he didn't see 150 West there, and it's to the right in the photo. | ||
Flybydon Member Username: Flybydon Post Number: 18 Registered: 01-2005 |
150 W. Jefferson, Next shot taken after the Pontchartrain.  | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6934 Registered: 10-2003 |
Don, Corner of Saint Paul and Van Dyke, please. I'd like to see if I need a new roof. Thanks. | ||
Kenp Member Username: Kenp Post Number: 71 Registered: 03-2006 |
Im going downtown Sat and take pics of some projects posted. I will try to get some pics of the Inside of the Ponch. ALso the Fort shelby, Greektown casino, Book Cadillac and anything else someone might want pics of. Let me Know. | ||
Flybydon Member Username: Flybydon Post Number: 20 Registered: 01-2005 |
 Itsjeff: Best I could do on such short notice. | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6936 Registered: 10-2003 |
You're scaring me, Don. | ||
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch Post Number: 1873 Registered: 06-2004 |
Itsjeff your roof looks like shit. | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6938 Registered: 10-2003 |
First thing I noticed in that pic. | ||
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch Post Number: 1874 Registered: 06-2004 |
I noticed how good those nice new townhouses on Coe look. | ||
Andyguard73 Member Username: Andyguard73 Post Number: 123 Registered: 03-2006 |
lol, Nice use of google earth don. You had me going there for a minute. | ||
Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 300 Registered: 11-2003 |
I hope they finally get a name up on the roof again like they did when it was Crowne Plaza and then just Hotel Pontchartrain (pre-Crowne Plaza days but still in Radisson days) It will will probably say Sheraton in big red letters if they do. I don't know what it is about Detroit but it seems like hotels are afraid to put their names in bold at the top. | ||
Detroitbill Member Username: Detroitbill Post Number: 23 Registered: 09-2006 |
I agree CMU, was actually just thinking the same thing when driving in Windsor looking at the skyline, why dont hotels use signage in Detroit,, they used to,,, strange,, |
