Dan Gilberts Retail Renaissance to include 70-90 retailers, including Target & Apple

[Honky Tonk]

If you've seen any of the models for Detroit in 2025 or 2050, much of the city outside of downtown has reverted back to forest/farmland while downtown is some skyscraper forest [[I.E. Atlanta).

[[Father & son that lives in downtown Detroit camping in the woods in 2050)

*Grandfather: You know son, thousands upon thousands of people used to live on this land back in my day. There were streets bustling with all sorts of commerce. Two of them went by the names of Mack and Kerchevel, and there were tightly packed residential blocks with names such as Lenox and Drexel that you only find in big cities such as New York or Chicago these days.

*Grandson: Really Granddad? You're kidding me!!! why would anyone want to live out here in the middle of nowhere?

*Grandfather: I kid you not. I would have laughed myself if someone told me when I was a lad that I'd actually be camping amongst miles and miles or forest in what was once one of the densest urban neighborhoods in America.

Cute story. So then what you're suggesting is I either move into Downtown or Mudtown, if I want to remain being a Detroiter, with any chance of receiving City instead of Shitty services, because I'm wasting my time, money, and energy trying to better anywhere else?

[stasu1213]

If GM wanted to be an island, why did they open up the Ren Cen and free it from its moated walls? The fact is, there is such a thing as a building that is too large. They took a building that was built just far to big and spent hundreds of millions trying to make it into something that was more welcoming and functioning.

Why would Ilitch need the UA? He has theatres at his command ranging in size from the very small City theatre to Comerica Park. He has a concert venue approximately the size of the UA with SoundBoard at the casino. Part of the casino agreement with the City required that the casino provide convention/auditorium space. He was more interested in making the casino cash.

What has GM done fore the building since it was paid off a couple of years ago? I know that they had updated the building during their 16 years ownership of the building. The berm had been removed to open the front making the building more inviting. What are they inviting me to? The car display closes after 6pm on weekdays and remain close during the weekend. There are no reasionable retail in the building. The food court is only fully open on weekdays during business hours.

Illitch does own the UA. He had been renovating it for more than 6 years. Don't get me wrong. Illitch had done a lot for Detroit in the past 30 years. Sometimes with the help of taxpayers. Gilbert has him beat in the catergory of renovating a building immediately and knowing what to do with the building that he had renovated. I still think that an Apple Store would do good downtown. The city just have to step up the patrolling of police in the area and be more aggresive with it.

[313WX]

Cute story. So then what you're suggesting is I either move into Downtown or Mudtown, if I want to remain being a Detroiter, with any chance of receiving City instead of Shitty services, because I'm wasting my time, money, and energy trying to better anywhere else?

Short answer: Yes.

[Honky Tonk]

Short answer: Yes.

Ok, well, my short reply would be, it's time to "abandon" Detroit. I'm not interested in that type of lifestyle or expenditure

[313WX]

Ok, well, my short reply would be, it's time to "abandon" Detroit. I'm not interested in that type of lifestyle or expenditure

I think we both reached this agreement before.

Though, I'm taking it a step further and abandoning Michigan.

There's a reason everyone calls us "Michissippi" now.

[casscorridor]

If you've seen any of the models for Detroit in 2025 or 2050, much of the city
outside of downtown has reverted back to forest/farmland while downtown is some skyscraper forest [[I.E. Atlanta).

Yeah I have see maps produced by the Detroit Works Project and they are quite disturbing to say the least. I was shocked to see massive sections of the city that will essentially be cut off-- sections that still to this day have substantial population density--, with small areas that will be redeveloped [[So basically just greater Downtown/Midtown, University District/"Uptown", Grandmont-Rosedale, the Villages, Southwest and a few other pockets here and there). The rest of the city will be a modern day plantation and wildlife refuge.

[313WX]

Yeah I have see maps produced by the Detroit Works Project and they are quite disturbing to say the least. I was shocked to see massive sections of the city that will essentially be cut off-- sections that still to this day have substantial population density--, with small areas that will be redeveloped [[So basically just greater Downtown/Midtown, University District/"Uptown", Grandmont-Rosedale, the Villages, Southwest and a few other pockets here and there). The rest of the city will be a modern day plantation and wildlife refuge.

Indeed.

And this is why, even if misguided, the opposition and frustration by those in the affected areas that you see in the city council meetings is valid.

What's scarier now is, now that Bing has the the help of Snyder and his favorable legal backing at the state level [[with judges from the Engler administration stlll maintaining control in the Supreme Court, who I'm sure are/have been vehemently anti-Detroit/Detroiters), the Detroiters impacted as proven by the last few months really have no way to stop these radical changes short of the conspiring individuals getting put out of office sooner rather than later [[thus the Bing recall attempt).

Since the signing of the Consent Agreement, what was an otherwise DOA plan has accelerated 10x speed with the passing of the lightning authority that will leave Detroiters who aren't in these "desirable areas" in the dark in addition to the Hantz Woodlands deal on the lower east side which has tons of slippery slope potential.

[Detroitdave]

ah got it makes sense now ! well I won't try to kill you , but I would love for Detroit to look something like those plans .

I know alot a folks, lol just not too many people listening. If I tell you what and who I know you will try to kill me.

[AGinthe313]

Just found this on the Bedrock website -- could Detroit be getting an Urban Outfitter and Lucy at the Z building?

[AGinthe313]

Kind of cool... Bedrock has a camera set-up with a live feed of the “Z” Building construction site.

http://bedrockmgt.com/properties/video.php?id=22

[Gorath]

http://bedrockmgt.com/properties/ava...ties.php?id=22

This page lists the storefront spaces on Library as retail [[and shows a plan).
And lists the storefront spaces on Broadway as office [[the table scrolls much farther then it looks).

Edit: Found the plan for the Broadway side [[by changing the id number in the url):
http://bedrockmgt.com/properties/ava...ties.php?id=23

[tkelly1986]

I may be in the minority, but that design is a missed oppertunity.

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

Why could they not have worked to blend this structure in with the other buildings on the block? Why does it have to be so "modern".

[dmike76]

I don't mind it. Detroit needs a few 'modern' buildings IMO. Compuware, for instance. And hey, he's not painting it pink so that's a big step for Gilbert.

[rjlj]

I will make judgement once the final result is up but the huge modern YMCA structure is right next door.

I may be in the minority, but that design is a missed oppertunity.

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

Why could they not have worked to blend this structure in with the other buildings on the block? Why does it have to be so "modern".

[Armin]

Chalk up another! Gilbert just went under contract to purchase 1001 Woodward.

[AGinthe313]

Chalk up another! Gilbert just went under contract to purchase 1001 Woodward.

Someone get Dan Gilbert a glass of water please!

[gthomas]

Someone get Dan Gilbert a glass of water please!

OKKKKkkaaayyyy! Because he on FIIIRRRREEEE, 2013 is gong to be a great year for him, hopefully plans afloat for the Hudson and Monroe Block next!

[DetroitPlanner]

Chalk up another! Gilbert just went under contract to purchase 1001 Woodward.

Please provide a link. I can't find anything that substantiates this.

[Gistok]

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...NEWS/301069966

[401don]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...own-skyscraper

Not a done deal yet but I'm sure Gilbert wants to get his paws on the parking garage as much as the building.

[canuck]

He is putting pressure on the big players to come and invest in their properties or to buy and establish a retail presence in the cbd's many treasures. One would hope Illitch's people start tailoring their new project to "add finer grain" amidst the massive stadium proposal. Why not work at integrating the older blocks into the mix, which Gilbert seems to be doing recently.

[Spartan]

New article about Gilbert and retail, along with M-1 Rail:

And Gilbert, one of downtown's major employers and private land owners, said his group has "definitely gotten commitments" from retailers who will be ready for business when the M-1 debuts.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130119/BIZ/301190353

[esp1986]

Heard from a close friend in the Quicken organization... says Gilbert has a team that is calling on all of their vendors and contacts in the suburbs to move downtown. Gilbert is using his market status as leverage to attract others to come downtown. In some cases, he is cutting ties with companies that choose not to move downtown.

On a related note, for all of his rehab projects, he is sourcing to Detroit companies for materials and services. Only in a rare case is he buying from companies outside Detroit.

New article about Gilbert and retail, along with M-1 Rail:

And Gilbert, one of downtown's major employers and private land owners, said his group has "definitely gotten commitments" from retailers who will be ready for business when the M-1 debuts.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130119/BIZ/301190353

[serpico]

When will the Pied Piper pay for the infrastructure and services needed to support his plans/ideas?? Nice buildings demand Fire trucks that operate ALL the time. Why doesnt Dan Gilbert dip into his own funds and pay for all new aerial trucks and fire houses with modern working equiptment? It makes no sense to lure in the public with such grandiose schemes yet the Detroit fire department has no means to put out large buidling fires.

[Gistok]

When will the Pied Piper pay for the infrastructure and services needed to support his plans/ideas?? Nice buildings demand Fire trucks that operate ALL the time. Why doesnt Dan Gilbert dip into his own funds and pay for all new aerial trucks and fire houses with modern working equiptment? It makes no sense to lure in the public with such grandiose schemes yet the Detroit fire department has no means to put out large buidling fires.

Instead of depending on Channel 2 for your fire truck education... try this...
http://www.thefullwiki.org/Fire_truck

150 ft. is the maximum height for ladders, so many of Gilberts taller skyscrapers, such as the 420 ft. One Woodward Ave., depend on building sprinkler fire systems...