After what happened Friday to the firefighters someone in the City or the DFD should be notified about this hazard. Another tragedy may be averted if they knew about the bricks bowing off the building.
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After what happened Friday to the firefighters someone in the City or the DFD should be notified about this hazard. Another tragedy may be averted if they knew about the bricks bowing off the building.
The building has been for sale for some time. The problem is that Curtis, last I checked, wanted more than $2 million for it. Not gonna happen.
Indeed that won't happen but we can wish can't we? That is a great view from the top of that building. What was it originally used for? Could it be converted into a loft space or hotel? I wonder how bad the damage really is. Maybe it is just weak mortar and whoever scores this property can fix it. At least I hope so.
History, photos and more:
www.buildingsofdetroit.com/places/wurl
Thank you for being ever so helpful. :)
The last line there is a bit daunting. "Sadly, the Wurlitzer has been added to the city's hit list of buildings to demolish, and its foundation appears to be failing."
There is so much beautiful architecture in Detroit that is just being left to rot. I wish that more could be done for these types of buildings. Are there any active preservation organizations currently?
Here's a shot from Sunday from the Broderick Tower showing just how far the brick is peeling away. http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6889935_n.jpg
It is not a question of if that wall will collapse but when.
Wow, that's definitely not going to end well.
Since this brick is not load bearing, could we form some sort of "Building Patrol" and fire projectiles at it to bring about a controlled collapse of these dangerous loose bricks? Those fire escapes are mounted into the concrete load bearing pillars behind the brick facade and shouldn't be affected unless too much weight from falling brick is added to them. Maybe some sort of hard plastic cover on top to deflect them down to the street below? Seems alot cheaper to knock the failed bricks off the side of the building then pony up for the complete demolition.
Funny that someone mentioned "Ilitch"....:rolleyes:
Back when the United Artists Building closed in the early 1970s... AAA Michigan sold all the theatre fixtures and furniture... and moved to Dearborn.
Then in the 1980s on the Clifford Ave. side of the UA Building... a hail of masonry bricks fell off of the UA Building and landed on some very unfortunate crushed cars [[no injuries fortunately)... and Clifford Ave. was closed for one block for many years, until that facade was stabalized [[removing more bricks).
Then came the Grossman and Barden years at the UA... and finally the many years of Ilitch ownership... "benign neglectors" all....
And now Ilitch is renovating the UA Building... starting with the inside.... and one day they'll get to the outside... likely when a new Arena location is announced.
So for all complaining we do about "Ilitch" [[much of it deserved)... when it comes to buildings with masonry falling down.... it doesn't necessarily mean the demise of a building...
So I'm not going to be quite so pessimistic about the Wurlitzer... but it's time for the owner to get off his ass, and sell the damn building... and not for a ridiculous $2 million.
You mean like Ski Patrols firing Howitzers at overhanging snowbanks?Quote:
could we form some sort of "Building Patrol" and fire projectiles at it to bring about a controlled collapse of these dangerous loose bricks?
You have to admit, the exterior lighting scheme is pretty good on this. It may seem far fetched, but it would be great if Quicken's move of several hundred employees into the nearby Madison Bldg. could spur some facade stabilization to the Wurlitzer. It seems to be in a prime spot for redevelopment....it just needs someone to stick their neck out to make it happen.
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RSA posted a warning about this a few years back when the Wurlitzer building was being discussed, he had examined the building. He is an architect, and knows what he is talking about.
On my way to the gym this evening, I noticed construction dudes building a scaffold walkway in front of the Wurlitzer. I figured this is probably in response to the herds of people downtown is expecting for the parade.
I then saw that the frv
ont door was open and it looked like they may be working inside, too?
I can understand the scaff tunnel for pedestrian protection from falling history [[a la the Broderick tunnel and the Metropolitan tunnel), but why would they need to be inside?
So many scaffold tunnels, can't keep up with them all.
On the way to dinner at Small Plates Wednesday night also saw the scaffolding tunnel being erected...the front door was open and the workers were in and out. On another note, the old fire station on Michigan near Wesson had a small truck parked outside and it appeared they were pumping out the basement. This was this past Monday afternoon.
Detroit is falling apart...
http://www.freep.com/article/2010112...-from-building