Detroit State Savings Bank Owner Wants to Demolish Historic Structure, Build Parking

[jpbollma]

Hell no. Hell no. Hell no.

There is so much space downtown to build a damn garage. Surface lots galore. If they were to let this happen I'd be so pissed and lose so much hope for downtown's future. It would be positively sickening.

This is idiotic. One of Downtown's greatest selling points is the historic property. There are tons of parking lots down there that should have parking garages on them. This is ridiculous.

[canuck]

This is idiotic. One of Downtown's greatest selling points is the historic property. There are tons of parking lots down there that should have parking garages on them. This is ridiculous.

I can tell you most other cities would not allow this to happen anymore. What you just said about Detroit's historic buildings is the one major card it has to draw in order to regroup and become a major city again. Maybe the Phoenix that was to renasce is the oe in Arizona after all. Maybe american culture in its Michigan essence is about planned obsolescence in cars and architecture and civic life come to think of it.

What is it with parking in Detroit?

This only illustrates the point that convenience for car users is an ably marketed commodity and it is now so engrained that developers cannot imagine any function for Detroit other than sheltering cars. Even Gilbert's evocation of a project on Woodward comprised a multistory lot in a sea of multistory and flat lots. Dog forbid.

[wolverine]

I can tell you most other cities would not allow this to happen anymore. What you just said about Detroit's historic buildings is the one major card it has to draw in order to regroup and become a major city again. Maybe the Phoenix that was to renasce is the oe in Arizona after all. Maybe american culture in its Michigan essence is about planned obsolescence in cars and architecture and civic life come to think of it.

What is it with parking in Detroit?

This only illustrates the point that convenience for car users is an ably marketed commodity and it is now so engrained that developers cannot imagine any function for Detroit other than sheltering cars. Even Gilbert's evocation of a project on Woodward comprised a multistory lot in a sea of multistory and flat lots. Dog forbid.

Chicago has let this nonsense happen.

The developer tore down a City Landmarked building because the column grid of the building didn't line up correctly with the tower and he needed space for 5 levels of parking garage. The compromise? The developer was required to reconstruct the building's exterior, exactly as it was when it was first constructed.

The Farwell Building in the early 2000's


The Farwell site after demolition as a cleared site.


The Farwell Building begins reconstruction


The Farwell nears completion


Street level details



Down the street is another replica, the art deco tower at Northrbidge. Reconstructed in the early 2000's. Again, the curvalinear contemporary shape of the 5 level shopping mall inside had taller floors and a different grid. He was allowed to demolish the building and rebuild the exterior a similar as possible. Though you can see some of the mall floorplates slicing through the middle of windows. This was also a historic landmark.