Development of State Fairgrounds site

[Rolfsy]

As much as I miss the State Fair, in all reality it belongs closer to the center of the state and not in Detroit. The idea behind it was for the people of the state to come and display what they had and view what others had to offer, and most of Michigan is far north and west of the Detroit area. Citizens to the north and west weren't given much consideration when the fair was placed here.

But aren't most Michanders around Detroit? This corner of Michigan eats the most i.e. pays the most farmers - would make sense that the trade show is here as well.

[Pam]

Here's a history of the Fair. It was held in various cities before the Detroit grounds were purchased.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-54463_18670_18793-53223--,00.html

[Baselinepunk]

"I guess those designations are meaningless if they can't provide any protection from "development"".

National register means no Federal dollars can be used for demo.

But, as we saw with Ford Auditorium, the fair City of Detroit will do what they want then decide what slush fund the money came from.

George Jackson, Stage Right for your entrance ...

[jcole]

But aren't most Michanders around Detroit? This corner of Michigan eats the most i.e. pays the most farmers - would make sense that the trade show is here as well.

Yes, but is Detroit an agricultural center? The people who own the livestock and raise the crops have to travel across more than half the state hauling their product to participate. It seems to me that it would be more equitable for all concerned to centralize the fair like many other states do.
Illinois state fair is in Springfield, not Chicago. Iowa's is in Des Moines which is in the center of the state.
It's just my opinion.

[DetroitPlanner]

Yes, but is Detroit an agricultural center? The people who own the livestock and raise the crops have to travel across more than half the state hauling their product to participate. It seems to me that it would be more equitable for all concerned to centralize the fair like many other states do.
Illinois state fair is in Springfield, not Chicago. Iowa's is in Des Moines which is in the center of the state.
It's just my opinion.

The same could be said about the location of Michigan's other official State Fair. Escanaba is about as remote as you can get and still be in the State. It might as well be in Wisconsin!

[jcole]

The same could be said about the location of Michigan's other official State Fair. Escanaba is about as remote as you can get and still be in the State. It might as well be in Wisconsin!

Exactly. More than half the agriculture in this state is up in the thumb or over on the west side of the state from St. Joe north.
Midland would be ideal, or maybe the Lansing area.

[Rolfsy]

Yes, but is Detroit an agricultural center? The people who own the livestock and raise the crops have to travel across more than half the state hauling their product to participate. It seems to me that it would be more equitable for all concerned to centralize the fair like many other states do.
Illinois state fair is in Springfield, not Chicago. Iowa's is in Des Moines which is in the center of the state.
It's just my opinion.

Springfield IL is a good comparison. But Des Moines is also the most populous city in IA, so it's hard to say which came first on that one.

Then there's the largest state fair:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Fair_of_Texas
And the second largest:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_State_Fair
Both of which seem to be near population centers vice geographic centers.

Either way, I know I'm wailing in the woods on this. If the center of LP Michigan [[Wexford Co., 5 mi. NNW of Cadillac) made more sense we should have rebooted the SF there in 2010 [[or 2012, with signs of recovery everywhere). Of all the things this state has etch-a-sketched in my lifetime, I'm surprised that this one seems to be going without a fight.