DTE purchases Salvation Army Building and lot across from GAR

[emu steve]

the part of downtown where this is happening isnt the most desirable for new residential developments. you need things like the GAR building and potentially this new park to make it more desirable for people to develop. they want food trucks and for this park to be active, if its a success you will see people trying to capitalize on it. right now there is just a whole lot of nothing over there, no harm in putting a park in.

Here is Crain's article which is quite good:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...estern-detroit

and a quote from that article:

"Berris said DTE CEO Gerry Anderson has said the energy company plans on developing the neighborhood piece by piece and purchasing additional properties as they become available."

I wonder if DTE might be interested in that trapezoid block MGM owns?

By looking at the map, that block seems 'strategic' to DTE to control unused blocks in the area of their 'campus'.

[downtownguy]

DTE Never owned the block Fionia's was on. It did however on the land N of it.

My recollection of the details is a bit hazy. Couldn't remember the name of Fiona's when I made the post. What a great place that was.

[Spartan]

Crain's article discussing the possibility of that park becoming another Campus Martius-like area. That's great, but we really need streetwalls!

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...estern-detroit

[Lowell]

Work in nearing completion on the Art Deco-styled Salvation Army Building on Bagley across from DTE HQ in downtown Detroit as this picture indicates...

Click Image^ for larger full screen view

A conversation with Scott Simons of DTE Public Relations revealed that the restoration / renovation will be completed around the end of December.

Asked if it had tenants, he replied that the building will initially be occupied by DTE staff while its future purpose is evaluated. Asked if he had anything he wished to mention about it he cited the addition of LED exterior lighting, its Art Deco significance and that it represented a part of DTE’s commitment to the improvement its immediate neighborhood.

Side note: regarding DTE’s development of a park on Grand River, across from the GAR Building, Simons said its opening date was yet to be determined.

[WPitonya]

They really should re-connect 2nd Avenue from Bagley to Abbott. This would add to the street grid and make the blocks more manageable for new development. This building would look even better if it was actually on a corner as intended.

[DetroitPlanner]

They really should re-connect 2nd Avenue from Bagley to Abbott. This would add to the street grid and make the blocks more manageable for new development. This building would look even better if it was actually on a corner as intended.

It will cause sprawl.

[1953]

They should also reconnect Abbott to First, Abbott to the Lodge, put Second through the gravel lot that spans Abbott to Michigan, reopen First from Michigan to Lafayette, and reopen Howard from First to Cass.

1953

[DetroitPlanner]

They should also reconnect Abbott to First, Abbott to the Lodge, put Second through the gravel lot that spans Abbott to Michigan, reopen First from Michigan to Lafayette, and reopen Howard from First to Cass.

1953

The Feds closed those for security reasons. For some reason after Oklahoma City, they became paranoid of nutjobs.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

I'm not familiar with this building but find it quite striking. Glad to see it being rehabbed.

[KarmicCurse]

^Agree. Beautiful building. I love Art Deco so much. You don't see that kind of stonework anymore. Does anyone have pics of the original interiors? Anything special?