Christensen
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Figures.... :D Christiansen is the name of the family that owns LEGO Inc. Both Danish... Christensen is [[or was) the Danish Consul General, thus making the building the Danish Consulate as well as a law firm. One year [[back in the 90s) they wanted me to do a LEGO display at the mansion for Christmas... but I didn't have the time with both parents ailing at the time.
That's true... and Woodward Ave. frontage adds to the value.
The law firm has kept the home pretty much intact... it could revert back to residential relatively easily [[but hardly likely)... except the basement and carriage house were renovated for office use... and I'm not sure about the 3rd floor.....
The Indian battle was the Fox Creek Massacre. I consider that land from Connor Creek to Fox Creek sacred land. The land looks after itself. All development projects have failed and will continue to fail]
You may want to get your facts straight, the state marker for the battle happens to be east of fox creek on Windmill Pointe. Funny thing I think that area has done quite well for itself over the years.
ooooooh, too funny.
p69, my theory is that GP fought to have the Fox Indian Massacre historic marker on their side of things so that way if it ever became a popular spot for historians to look at, they'd be turned away if they didn't possess a prized Grosse Pointe resident's pass that would allow them to view it. *tongue only halfway in cheek; I won't put anything past GP city regulations aimed at keeping "outsiders" away from their precious streets*
Well, to be fair, they are slightly controversial in that they benefit from not being taxed [[like a public park) but they are not open to the "public". Someone took that to the Mich Supreme court a while back. Obviously the GPs [[and its not just the GPs that have these..St Clair Shores comes to mind) won.
I believe that in the SCS case it was because they were using State money on their parks, whereas the GP parks are funded entirely by local tax dollars.
Regardless, what purpose does it serve to force local parks that are beautifully maintained by local residents that care to be open to the public, attracting people that could give a crap. This doesn't make the crappy parks any better, only serves to make the nice parks crappy...... thats what Metro parks are for - everyone....
We go to our local parks to socialize with other residents we chose to live around, to have our kids play with other kids in their schools that we chose to support with our tax dollars and time....
wintersmommy, I was a guest at a party during the holidays at 1500 Seminole. The hosts [[who shall remain nameless) were incredibly gracious, and every inch of the home looked lovely and impeccably maintained. The pictures don't even do it justice.
So when are you putting your offer in? *smile*
My choice for "Best First Post"! :D
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I have no problem with GP keeping their parks open to resident's only. They pay the taxes and, as far as the land being tax free, only their city looses money.
The lawsuit a few years back, I think only included Grosse Pointe Shores,m because their park is actually in St. Clair Shores.
Buddy of mine has a house a few doors down from the Manoogian. He was askin 1.2 but that was five yrs ago.
I would need 17 more promotions at work to buy that house. In the meantime, I volunteer on several of the historic house tours in Detroit, and get my fix that way. You can buy tickets, and support these wonderful neighborhoods and help their fundraising efforts.
What about the house in Palmer Woods once owned by the archdiocese [[sold to John Salley)? I wonder what that house is valued at.
And speaking of Palmer Woods, I know the owners of the Frank Lloyd Wright home have spent well over $1M in purchase and renovation costs. But not for sale again anytime soon...
Even without the purchase of the Turkel House, there is definately a place in heaven for them. They are very civic-minded and generous to causes they support. Active members of the community, and I am grateful they chose to rescue that particular house.
I heard when Frank Lloyd Wright was asked about Detroit, and he answered something along the lines of, "I think they should tear the place down and start over."
A million dollar house in Detroit. The supercondo at the Book Cadillac Hotel is the ONLY one that the owner brought. The rest of the homes is from a price a bag of doritos corn chips to a price of a VCR.
Frank Lloyd Wright produced some stunning architecture, but his houses and buildings don't hold up too well in the durability and maintenance end of things. He designed most of the Florida Southern University campus and they have had to do major renovations as the place was falling apart.
The city. He made that statement to the city council during a presentation about his view of urban planning and how to best make Detroit livable. His Broadacre City model was basically designed to empty out the cities and create a massive decentralized suburbia. I would say that 50-60 years of unintentionally following his proposal here in SeM has definitively proved his idea as a failure.