Ilitch announces Huge plans for Red Wings Arena Project - Renderings Released

[stinkytofu]

FYI - it appears that that ball has officially begun rolling today. I drove by this morning and a lot of it is fenced off, they had a bunch of semi trailers, and workers were on-site. Plus this tweet [[I think I may have actually seen him take this photo) from Richard Etue...

[SpartanDawg]

That's awesome!

More details came out with Chris Illitch today:

"Chris Ilitch: Looking for folks like the #DetroitHomecoming ex-pats to buy the 100 land parcels to build around #RedWings arena district."


"Chris Ilitch: New #RedWings arena district will be 14 buildings built concurrently, likely will cost more than current $650M estimate."

14 buildings will be broken ground on within the next few months!

This is great news... he won't just sit on them and make them parking lots, he's going to build the infrastructure and make it extremely desirable for people to buy them and develop them


"Chris Ilitch: We can't build arena district on old infrastructure, so Olympia will spend to fix/modernize it. #DetroitHomecoming"

[emu steve]

That's awesome!

More details came out with Chris Illitch today:

"Chris Ilitch: Looking for folks like the #DetroitHomecoming ex-pats to buy the 100 land parcels to build around #RedWings arena district."


"Chris Ilitch: New #RedWings arena district will be 14 buildings built concurrently, likely will cost more than current $650M estimate."

14 buildings will be broken ground on within the next few months!

This is great news... he won't just sit on them and make them parking lots, he's going to build the infrastructure and make it extremely desirable for people to buy them and develop them


"Chris Ilitch: We can't build arena district on old infrastructure, so Olympia will spend to fix/modernize it. #DetroitHomecoming"

Guys, I predicted that the development would happen and would happen quickly.

Timing is everything and the timing is now right.

MSNBC [["Morning Joe") was in town today. Saw Mika with some WSU clothes [[that's okay, I have a WSU degree). Bloomberg, Snyder, Buffett, etc were there.

Big love in.

Think Warren Buffett said he's interested in getting into Detroit [[commercially).

Getting back to the Ilitches. Got to go big, move quickly, etc. etc. The idea of building an arena and then a parking structure and then an apartment building and then a condo and then... Like all over 5 - 10 years is how to devalue your investment and plans.

Want to make the biggest WOW possible.

The key is that the arena because it will take time and construction is construction the other nearby buildings shouldn't be finished before the arena is mostly finished at least on the exterior.

[anonJD]

That's awesome!

More details came out with Chris Illitch today:

"Chris Ilitch: Looking for folks like the #DetroitHomecoming ex-pats to buy the 100 land parcels to build around #RedWings arena district."

Predictable, but the homecoming had to have taken an awkward tone when the hard sale for Detroit parcels came up.

[401don]

What's in all the containers? Shouldn't they start by digging a hole?

[Honky Tonk]

What's in all the containers?

Stuff from China.

[stinkytofu]

What's in all the containers? Shouldn't they start by digging a hole?

LOL - I thought the same thing.

[emu steve]

What's in all the containers? Shouldn't they start by digging a hole?

There goes my parking space for Tigers and Lions games.

[[I always park west of Woodward between Henry and Sproat when I'm in town).

Guess I'll have to change my behavior. It'll be tough... Lol.

[SpartanDawg]

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroi...l#incart_river

"He said development plans call for not only building a pedestrian bridge over I-75, but also having storefronts on the bridge itself."



YESS!!!!!! The bridge over I-75 on woodward will have storefronts!!!! making it EXTREMELY more walkable

[stinkytofu]

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroi...l#incart_river

"He said development plans call for not only building a pedestrian bridge over I-75, but also having storefronts on the bridge itself."



YESS!!!!!! The bridge over I-75 on woodward will have storefronts!!!! making it EXTREMELY more walkable

Wow - that would be great news if indeed true.

[mikeg19]

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroi...l#incart_river

"He said development plans call for not only building a pedestrian bridge over I-75, but also having storefronts on the bridge itself."



YESS!!!!!! The bridge over I-75 on woodward will have storefronts!!!! making it EXTREMELY more walkable

I know it's in the design, but doesn't that have to be approved by MDOT or other agencies? Haven't heard anything on whether that was ever a go or not. Either way, pretty excting if 14 buildings are going up concurrently. I'm just hoping that two aren't coming down as well, if ya catch my drift....

[Hypestyles]

is there going to be any kind of central hub for applying for the various purported spinoff jobs [[construction and otherwise) that this entire endeavor is supposed to generate? Should people visit the local Michigan Works! office, or what, exactly?

[SpartanDawg]

"One of the more unique elements of the project will be reconstruction of the nearby Woodward Avenue bridge atop I-75, which will be lined with storefronts for pedestrian traffic."

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140918/NEWS/140919667/construction-to-begin-sept-25-on-new-wings-arena-entertainment




Confirmed by Crain's... this is absolutely HUGE in connecting midtown and downtown.. especially along the m-1 rail line..

this coming to fruition would be a grand slam job by the Illitches.. they honestly checked everything off the list on my dream of how this arena would revitalize the area and greater downtown.. major props

[animatedmartian]

Wasn't there some plan to put a cap over 75 to connect Park Avenue? I would be even more excited to hear about that.

[bassab]

Appears they are placing the containers in a large oval, to represent the new arena. Or they figured out a way to expedite construction and keep costs down.

[animatedmartian]

Apparently it's something to do with the groundbreaking ceremony.

[stinkytofu]

Apparently it's something to do with the groundbreaking ceremony.

As a taxpayer, I'm not particular pleased with my money being used for some ridiculously over-the-top groundbreaking. Just cut a damn ribbon and get digging.

[animatedmartian]

As a taxpayer, I'm not particular pleased with my money being used for some ridiculously over-the-top groundbreaking. Just cut a damn ribbon and get digging.

I'm pretty sure groundbreakings aren't included in construction costs so chances are this is done with Illitch's money.

[SpartanDawg]

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroi...l#incart_river

there's an ice rink open for the public until october 5th for free skating

[emu steve]

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroi...l#incart_river

there's an ice rink open for the public until october 5th for free skating

the article refers to it as 'synthetic' - never heard that term used with ice rinks before...

"Later, beginning Saturday, Sept. 27, a synthetic ice rink will be set up at the future site of the new arena."

[ndavies]

the article refers to it as 'synthetic' - never heard that term used with ice rinks before...

"Later, beginning Saturday, Sept. 27, a synthetic ice rink will be set up at the future site of the new arena."

It's synthetic because they aren't using ICE. They're using a slippery sheet material instead. There's an entire industry built around it. Some Examples http://www.kwikrink.com/ and http://www.ezglide350.com/

[Hypestyles]

It's synthetic because they aren't using ICE. They're using a slippery sheet material instead. There's an entire industry built around it. Some Examples http://www.kwikrink.com/ and http://www.ezglide350.com/

wow, seriously... lol..

[gumby]

wow, seriously... lol..

Well how else to you expect them to construct an ice rink in 50-60 degree weather?

[Honky Tonk]

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroi...l#incart_river

there's an ice rink open for the public until october 5th for free skating

It's not "free", it cost the "public" $350 mil.

[SpartanDawg]

It's not "free", it cost the "public" $350 mil.

good one....