Downtown Development Rumor [corner of Broadway and Grand River]

**AGinthe313** · October-22-12, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Atticus

1. Thanks for posting the picture.
2. I guess it is good that a vacant lot is being replaced by a building[[s).
3. But I really hope they don't build it like what is shown in the picture. Is there anyone here who honestly thinks that building shown wouldn't look like pig vomit in 30 years. What a missed opportunity by the architect.

Agree - the design does not do much for me, but who knows, maybe this is just one of the options. Here is a link to Neumann-Smith, their other work looks decent -- http://www.neumannsmith.com/index.html

**Gistok** · October-22-12, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Atticus

3. But I really hope they don't build it like what is shown in the picture. Is there anyone here who honestly thinks that building shown wouldn't look like pig vomit in 30 years. What a missed opportunity by the architect.

You must be psychic... you read my mind....

**AGinthe313** · October-22-12, 06:42 PM

I'm going to miss the view from my bedroom window

Name: 258858_4296525664122_216865579_o.jpg
Views: 1393
Size: 19.2 KB

Name: 339274_2871505079498_1636073808_o.jpg
Views: 1489
Size: 50.1 KB

**Atticus** · October-22-12, 06:55 PM

It is almost as if we are going back to the dreaded architecture of the 60s. Lets build something that totally contrasts, is not really practical, and once the novelty of the wow factor wears off the design is completely hideous. Give me something that is harmonious any day of the week.

Thrown out the window is the concept that the best way to do urban design in this type of neighborhood is to place residential over a ground level retail that invites the customer in. This type of design does the exact opposite.

Looking at the architect's other works, I have visited the Sparrow hospital addition [[in Lansing). The project was a main entrance and new parking ramp. Sorry to be a negative Nancy, but in that project the architect spent so much time creating the atrium they overlooked making a practical connection between the parking ramp and the hospital, which is very necessary for the elderly. As it turned out, to connect the two things designed you pretty much enter the hospital through a service closet. Hopefully this project is more thought out.

**stinkytofu** · October-22-12, 07:46 PM

While I agree that is not the most promising rendering, we need to at least see an official announcement with an official rendering [[I mean, we can't even tell colors on the building yet) before forming a firm judgement.

**southen** · October-22-12, 08:09 PM

anyone else think it looks like a dressed up parking structure? i wouldnt be surprised if that was the parking part of the project with the residential being located on broadway.

**jtf1972** · October-22-12, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by Atticus

1. Thanks for posting the picture.
2. I guess it is good that a vacant lot is being replaced by a building[[s).
3. But I really hope they don't build it like what is shown in the picture. Is there anyone here who honestly thinks that building shown wouldn't look like pig vomit in 30 years. What a missed opportunity by the architect.

Who said this would have to wait 30 year to look like pig vomit? If built like this it would be an eyesore immediately. [[Though it does seem more along the lines of what seems to be built here more recently. Look at midtown's new developments.)

Compare this rendering to a recent building in NYC that houses both residential and retail space.

http://goo.gl/maps/CIk9Q

That's a building that has staying power. Simple. Elegant.

**downtownguy** · October-23-12, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by southen

anyone else think it looks like a dressed up parking structure? i wouldnt be surprised if that was the parking part of the project with the residential being located on broadway.

It's hideous and an affront to the Skillman Library across the street.

**Jason** · October-23-12, 03:33 PM

Yeah I agree, I think that's a parking garage and the apartments will be on the Broadway side. That's not a bad way of doing it but it's a shame that the library will be pretty much surrounded by parking garages. Broadway is the more important street though.

Maybe we'll see some better renders soon so we can get a better idea of what it's going to be. I'm grateful that it's not tacky shallow faux historic, but I hope it's not going to be tacky shallow "contemporary" instead.

**Gistok** · October-23-12, 04:11 PM

You know rebuilding old styles and "tacky shallow faux historic" are mutually exclusive... you'd be surprised at some of the beautiful traditional style architecture that is being newly built....
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...1479484&page=3

**401don** · October-23-12, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

You know rebuilding old styles and "tacky shallow faux historic" are mutually exclusive... you'd be surprised at some of the beautiful traditional style architecture that is being newly built....
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...1479484&page=3

Very nice and well worth the debt financing bankrupting the local municipalities.

**Gistok** · October-23-12, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

Very nice and well worth the debt financing bankrupting the local municipalities.

And just think what a nice county jail $360 million could build if our local units of government didn't have a "friends and family plan"...

**Jason** · October-24-12, 03:31 PM

So a letter was sent out saying that the entire thing is going to be a parking garage, not just part of it...

What a joke. There are huge garages to the north and south of the site, and the site itself is parking lots. Plus there's the Hudson's garage. I don't think more local parking for the shops and stuff there is needed. And there are several People Mover stations right there, so if you need parking for your office workers you could build it somewhere else and they could take the PM.

I could accept a big parking component for a mixed use development, because you need it for residential, but this is just disappointing.

**401don** · October-24-12, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Jason

So a letter was sent out saying that the entire thing is going to be a parking garage, not just part of it...

What a joke. There are huge garages to the north and south of the site, and the site itself is parking lots. Plus there's the Hudson's garage. I don't think more local parking for the shops and stuff there is needed. And there are several People Mover stations right there, so if you need parking for your office workers you could build it somewhere else and they could take the PM.

I could accept a big parking component for a mixed use development, because you need it for residential, but this is just disappointing.

Well, that certainly explains the rendering of a parking garage. I guess if Gilbert needs more parking for all these additional office tenants you can't really blame him as long as he follows through with his plans for building residential elsewhere.

**AGinthe313** · October-24-12, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Jason

So a letter was sent out saying that the entire thing is going to be a parking garage, not just part of it...

What a joke. There are huge garages to the north and south of the site, and the site itself is parking lots. Plus there's the Hudson's garage. I don't think more local parking for the shops and stuff there is needed. And there are several People Mover stations right there, so if you need parking for your office workers you could build it somewhere else and they could take the PM.

I could accept a big parking component for a mixed use development, because you need it for residential, but this is just disappointing.

Consider the source of the letter [[the Broadway Lofts), not Bedrock, Quicken, or Gilbert. From what I'm hearing, the first floor will be retail on both sides [[Broadway and Library). Parking structure with retail is not all that bad -- look at Compuware's parking/retail building.

**wolverine** · October-24-12, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Atticus

It is almost as if we are going back to the dreaded architecture of the 60s. Lets build something that totally contrasts, is not really practical, and once the novelty of the wow factor wears off the design is completely hideous. Give me something that is harmonious any day of the week.

Thrown out the window is the concept that the best way to do urban design in this type of neighborhood is to place residential over a ground level retail that invites the customer in. This type of design does the exact opposite.

Looking at the architect's other works, I have visited the Sparrow hospital addition [[in Lansing). The project was a main entrance and new parking ramp. Sorry to be a negative Nancy, but in that project the architect spent so much time creating the atrium they overlooked making a practical connection between the parking ramp and the hospital, which is very necessary for the elderly. As it turned out, to connect the two things designed you pretty much enter the hospital through a service closet. Hopefully this project is more thought out.

Totally agree.

**wolverine** · October-24-12, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by AGinthe313

Consider the source of the letter [[the Broadway Lofts), not Bedrock, Quicken, or Gilbert. From what I'm hearing, the first floor will be retail on both sides [[Broadway and Library). Parking structure with retail is not all that bad -- look at Compuware's parking/retail building.

It is bad. Essentially these big blocks of parking structures are one of the lowest intensity of uses of land you can have.

If you want Detroit to come back and be a vibrant place to shop, live and work give no concessions to any sort of parking. You wonder why alot of those ground floor spaces are unfilled or have taken so long to fill? Who goes to them, the people that park in the garage across the street? Or the lot over there? Or that garage down the block? There needs to be more vertical development in Detroit with floors with you know....people working and living on them.

**AGinthe313** · October-24-12, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by wolverine

It is bad. Essentially these big blocks of parking structures are one of the lowest intensity of uses of land you can have.

If you want Detroit to come back and be a vibrant place to shop, live and work give no concessions to any sort of parking. You wonder why alot of those ground floor spaces are unfilled or have taken so long to fill? Who goes to them, the people that park in the garage across the street? Or the lot over there? Or that garage down the block? There needs to be more vertical development in Detroit with floors with you know....people working and living on them.

No kidding - you don't say!?!? People living and working in buildings is much better than parking structures? Wow thanks for enlightening me! What would I do without people like you?? You missed my point. That being -- it's probably [[from what I hear), not just a parking structure, there will likely be more to it, maybe even residential, but won't know until it's announced.

**wolverine** · October-25-12, 12:55 AM

It's not particularly directed at you. Just stating the obvious. I've heard the "well at least the new garage will have ground floor rentable space". No. It's another garage, it will never be good. Even the minimal residential is a waste. What a sunk cost all for nothing. If you get through the approvals to build 8+ floors you might as well build 30...then at least you can consider the garage auxiliary

**canuck** · October-25-12, 05:59 AM

Gilbert, Dog bless him, is working on his little agenda and that is the way things are done in Detroit I guess. No need for cohesive action. Just put up what seems right at the moment. I wonder how much could be accomplished if all the live forces in places like UofM were unleashed on planning a better city instead of having them leave for other parts of the country and the world.

**Flintoid** · November-01-12, 09:53 AM

http://www.quickenloans.com/press-ro...wntown-detroit

It's official. 33,000 square feet of new retail and....sigh....10 stories of parking. I do take this as an overall positive though since from a pedestrian standpoint 2 parking lots will be replaced by shopping. I think we all wish there were apartments above these shops and not parking, but oh well. I do look forward to this project being done and a lot more retail in this stretch. At least Gilbert is acknowledging the need for activated sidewalks and ground floor retail spaces which is a lot more than other parking structures do. If they can cover most of the parking portion with art [[like the renderings here have shown) than it may not be too bad. More retail is always good.

**401don** · November-01-12, 10:16 AM

Sure there's a desire for more retail but is there a market demand for more space?

**Scottathew** · November-01-12, 10:20 AM

New construction in Downtown Detroit! W00t!

I'm glad there's retail on the first floor. I'm a little bummed it doesn't include any residential spaces though.

Parking is much, much needed in this area. My friend that work for Quicken in the Chase building has to park at the Joe Louis Arena and takes a shuttle in!

**raptor56** · November-01-12, 10:41 AM

Today's Press Release

Z Parking Structure day rendering night rendering

I never thought I'd say this, but a larger parking structure would be HUGE for this area. Quicken and it's related companies currently park folks at Compuware, the Primier Garage [[former Hudson's site), MGM, Greektown Casino, One Detroit, Joe Louis, Cobo Roof, At&T, 1001, and now some garage over in BFE, with shuttle busses constantly running back and forth. Adding a shload of nearby parking would be super cool.

Shollin · November-01-12, 11:05 AM

For a city that is over 40% vacant, people sure do complain about the development that does happen. When was the last time a new structure was built downtown? Greektown hotel? Comerica tower in 1993? People act as if no other city has parking garages. I would rather have more centralized garages and then allow the surface lots to develop.