What is going on at Red Wings arena site?

[EL Jimbo]

People live in apartments year-round. However, the big draw is that they can watch baseball. The side-effect is that you have year-round residents, despite the seasonal use of the facility.

Exactly. One of the big gripes about downtown stadiums, convention centers, etc is that they are seasonal/limited use mega blocks that sit empty most of the time and add nothing to the every day life of the area. Residents would use that site [[well...part of it anyway) on a daily basis regardless of season or the Tigers' schedule.

[EL Jimbo]

Okay, but I was responding to El Jimbo's post stating left and center field. A high rise on the empty lot to which you're referring would be fine but it really wouldn't do any more to make Comerica a year round spot than the other apt. buildings proposed along Woodward.

Yeah, I meant to say right field and had a bit of a brain fart. Left field would be way too problematic for all the reasons mentioned.

As for making it a year round spot, having people live there all the time would definitely be more of a year round use than people living year round in an adjacent property.

[EL Jimbo]

Responding to the bold-print section, mikeg19, you should be worried. There probably hasn't been any mention of that area being developed because it probably won't be in the near-future. Ilitch and Olympia need that area for parking. Surface parking lots are cheaper to maintain than to build parking decks.

Have you noticed that in all the years that the Ilitches have been downtown, they have only built two parking decks prior to this year [[the one behind Hockeytown Cafe and the one north of Comerica Park at the Fisher Freeway. The new one west of the new arena is for the players and Olympia/arena staff. It's not for the public. The one behind the church north of Comerica Park is being built to free up surface parking for the apartments being built in front of Comerica Park. This deck should have been built when Comerica Park was built.

Now, the one that is supposed to be built near Clifford and I-75 for the future residential site probably won't be built until that development is built and I'm confident that neither development will be built by Olympia. The same thing applies to the deck that is supposed to be built around the Eddystone. The bottom line is: Ilitch is too cheap when it comes to building parking decks. That's why you see a sea of surface parking lots behind the Fox. The development of the buildings that are behind the Fox that Ilitch owns, a few apartment buildings, and three or four parking decks with ground floor retail could do wonders to improve that area. However, it's not going to improve waiting for Ilitch. Hey, that's my two cents.

I'm not going to argue against the fact that Mr. I is cheap. That being said, the economic situation needs to be understood. Sure, we would all have loved to see that area get redeveloped at some point in the past 15 years since CoPa opened, but the demand simply hasn't been there. If demand for development isn't there, no businessman worth a dime is going to go through the expense of building parking structures when they could simply get away with surface lots.

If and when demand for downtown development starts making it economical for them to start turning those lots into something else, I'm sure they will.

[emu steve]

is there a new rendering of the Ilitch School of Business building?

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/bus...tion/87309632/

EDIT: Watching the ceremony and the design is much different than the original markup.

Ground has been broken.

[bust]

is there a new rendering of the Ilitch School of Business building?

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/bus...tion/87309632/

EDIT: Watching the ceremony and the design is much different than the original markup.

Ground has been broken.

What shoddy writing the article includes both the old and the new renderings without explanation, leaving us to wonder what will be built. Crains and Curbed didn't do any better; they show the old rendering too, without the new one. Couldn't even find the groundbreaking mentioned in the freep. It's sad what passes for journalism in Detroit.

So let's turn to an original source. The Wayne State web site clears it up:

http://ilitchbusiness.wayne.edu/news.php?id=20400

And here's a strong vote in favor of the new design. Nothing spectacular, but much better than unfortunate.

[1953]

That is an awful redesign, and it makes me cry inside. Ah, typically Ilitch, though.

[emu steve]

That is an awful redesign, and it makes me cry inside. Ah, typically Ilitch, though.

Is it an Ilitch or WSU design?

I thought that the Ilitches fronted the money but the rest was up to Wayne State.

[hybridy]

Chris Illitch was the primary point person on the client side regarding design. Similar to little ceasars

[David L]

The original design was a mix mash of architectural elements thrown together. The new design is much simpler and better choice architecturally.

[emu steve]

The original design was a mix mash of architectural elements thrown together. The new design is much simpler and better choice architecturally.

I assume it will be green. Green seems to be a big part of new large buildings these days...

[Gistok]

I think the back portion of the original design would have been very nice had it just been that green tinted glass and curved wall [[brought forward to the street)... without all that faux historical stuff on the front.

But instead we are rewarded with yet another design with a carport top....

[emu steve]

I think the back portion of the original design would have been very nice had it just been that green tinted glass and curved wall [[brought forward to the street)... without all that faux historical stuff on the front.

But instead we are rewarded with yet another design with a carport top....

I try not to comment on architecture...

One thing which should be noted, though, is that a new hotel, arena, and school of business building will all be new buildings and their architecture should be harmonious.

Whatever style is selected for the school of business building should look good next to the arena.

Ditto for the hotel south of the arena.

[mikeg19]

I try not to comment on architecture...

One thing which should be noted, though, is that a new hotel, arena, and school of business building will all be new buildings and their architecture should be harmonious.

Whatever style is selected for the school of business building should look good next to the arena.

Ditto for the hotel south of the arena.

Very good point, especially considering it's the same people involved with all of the development of those structures. It should be taken into consideration. The new design looks okay, don't love or hate it. But it's hard to completely judge it on paper when in real life it could look totally different within its surroundings. We will see.

[emu steve]

Very good point, especially considering it's the same people involved with all of the development of those structures. It should be taken into consideration. The new design looks okay, don't love or hate it. But it's hard to completely judge it on paper when in real life it could look totally different within its surroundings. We will see.

Indeed, I'd TRUST [[but I can't verify, Lol) that the architects have access to the model of the arena and the two buildings should look harmonious.

If they don't, I hope the architect never gets another big job in Detroit...

That is the big advantage of a big development with only one major existing building, Eddystone, which is part of the immediate landscape.

Again, I know little about architecture, design, etc. but I'd guess that virtually any new buildings [[arena, office, residential, etc.) can be designed to be consistent with one another AND consistent with the townhouses across the street.

OTOH, the arena would not fit well arch wise say among skyscrapers, for example. That would be tough. I have been near Madison Square Garden a few years ago but didn't pay attention to the arch of the area. [[I went that day to the new Yankee Stadium - beautiful stadium. Area - not too much).

All of that said, I'd say Woodward, both sides of the street, from Fisher to Temple will have a fairly consistent 21st century style. Correct?

[downtownguy]

I find it curious and ironic that they chose to name this the "Mike Ilitch School of Business." Marian Ilitch has long been known to lord over the finances of the organization. In company literature, they say that Little Caesar's was co-founded by Mike and Marian Iltich. She is the sole owner of Motor City Casino. So why didn't they go with "Mike and Marion Ilitch School of Business" or simply "Ilitch School of Business?"

[subsidized]

An Ironworker friend of mine just put word on Facebook about a promotion he received and mentioned working until April 2017 on a 6 story new construction project going "next to Comerica Park". I'll get more details later if possible. Could this be the long promised apartments replacing the surface lots on Woodward? Fingers crossed but remaining skeptical.

[emu steve]

An Ironworker friend of mine just put word on Facebook about a promotion he received and mentioned working until April 2017 on a 6 story new construction project going "next to Comerica Park". I'll get more details later if possible. Could this be the long promised apartments replacing the surface lots on Woodward? Fingers crossed but remaining skeptical.

Interesting.

How would six story buildings [[plural) look next to Comerica?

For those who are into architecture, what is an appropriate height for buildings which will be a stone's throw away from Comerica?

Will Comerica look surrounded? Encapsulated?

[Gistok]

Interesting.

How would six story buildings [[plural) look next to Comerica?

For those who are into architecture, what is an appropriate height for buildings which will be a stone's throw away from Comerica?

Will Comerica look surrounded? Encapsulated?

From Woodward those 2 blocks may make the area look more urban.... but from the sunken bowl of Comerica Park.... the best term that comes to mind is negligible....

At 6 stories, neither building will loom above the stadium... hidden by the upper deck. That plus only one of the 2 blocks is next to the stadium... the other is farther north near the NW corner of Comerica Park. It's not like these residential units will be marketed with anything resembling a view of the upper deck, let alone the field.

The only building that would have had any "presence" [[besides the downtown view), was the 17 story Wolverine Hotel, which was pounded to rubble to make way for the parking lot that is now making way for a 6 story building. Now that would have loomed over the ballpark and had "rooms with a view".

[CrashDummy]

I think six stories would put them just above the roof of the stadium, but not nearly tall enough to see in from that side. To give some perspective, the tallest part of the United Methodist Church building is six stories, which would be right next door. You can see it at the far right of Gistok's photo from the top floor of his proposed 80 story building in Brush Park.

Still, April '17 seems too soon to have the apartment buildings finished, doesn't it? Maybe he's referring to the parking garage construction.

[Gistok]

3 of Detroit's movie palaces do now offer rooftop entertainments, some of which include Tiger game views.

The Detroit Opera House now has a Coors Light Skydeck on top of their building. The former Madison Theatre now has a lounge on top of the building portion of the former theatre, and Music Hall now has a 3Fifty Terrace on top of their theatre.

I imagine that the Detroit Opera House has the best viewing... but it is nice that some of the city's rooftops are used for entertainment. Here is an article about the rooftop of the Detroit Opera House...
http://detroit.eater.com/2013/7/11/6...all-over-there

Ironically in the days before air conditioning [[before 1928) most theatres were too hot to show movies in the summer, and often theatres around the country would have rooftop entertainments. Looks like that is coming back here in Detroit, but for different reasons...

[Gistok]

Also came across this cool drone video of the 12 story Francis Palms Building [[home of the Fillmore Theatre).... although there's no rooftop space in use, there are a few glimpses from the top of the office building looking towards Comerica Park.... nice video....

https://www.francispalmsbuilding.com/

[emu steve]

3 of Detroit's movie palaces do now offer rooftop entertainments, some of which include Tiger game views.

The Detroit Opera House now has a Coors Light Skydeck on top of their building. The former Madison Theatre now has a lounge on top of the building portion of the former theatre, and Music Hall now has a 3Fifty Terrace on top of their theatre.

I imagine that the Detroit Opera House has the best viewing... but it is nice that some of the city's rooftops are used for entertainment. Here is an article about the rooftop of the Detroit Opera House...
http://detroit.eater.com/2013/7/11/6...all-over-there

Ironically in the days before air conditioning [[before 1928) most theatres were too hot to show movies in the summer, and often theatres around the country would have rooftop entertainments. Looks like that is coming back here in Detroit, but for different reasons...

So I can go to a DD [[e.g., near Wayne) and have a coffee and donut, pick up a Little Caesars pizza somewhere and have a Jack Daniels on the rooftop of the Opera House.

Not sure my doctor would agree, but it would be the Detroit way of enjoying a day in the D and watching a night baseball game...

[emu steve]

I think six stories would put them just above the roof of the stadium, but not nearly tall enough to see in from that side. To give some perspective, the tallest part of the United Methodist Church building is six stories, which would be right next door. You can see it at the far right of Gistok's photo from the top floor of his proposed 80 story building in Brush Park.

Still, April '17 seems too soon to have the apartment buildings finished, doesn't it? Maybe he's referring to the parking garage construction.

Six stories sounds about right. United Methodist Church doesn't look out of place.

I don't think they want a monster building[[s) next to the stadium.

Think all did a good job with Ford Field making it fit well with Comerica.

[mikeg19]

Still, April '17 seems too soon to have the apartment buildings finished, doesn't it? Maybe he's referring to the parking garage construction.

I was thinking the same thing. Less than a year to completion? They won't even start on those 6 story buildings until the season ends in October. Maybe he was referring to the to only the steel skeleton of the buildings, as he pointed out that his friend was an iron worker. So if steel is done by next April, I'd think the actual buildings would be finished by fall/winter of 17'.

[emu steve]

BTW, as we are discussing 'the neighborhood': What is with the small surface parking area at Brush and Montcalm? Was there a post about something being done to it?