The PM schedule says it runs until midnight on weekdays, 2am on the weekend. What time does Uncle Vito get to sleep?Yes, the People Mover is an eyesore, and earsore, and should be underground.
That said, I would definitely stay at the Wurlitzer on trips back home...IF I didn't have to hear the PM whizzing by my window at all hours. For that racket, I could stay at Uncle Vito's and hear his foghorn snore all night, and for zero money, too.
Yes, the People Mover is an eyesore, and earsore, and should be underground.
That said, I would definitely stay at the Wurlitzer on trips back home...IF I didn't have to hear the PM whizzing by my window at all hours. For that racket, I could stay at Uncle Vito's and hear his foghorn snore all night, and for zero money, too.
uhhh , the people mover rides right in front of the David Whitney Aloft hotel , I've stayed there and never heard a whisper of the PM, so I don't think this will be a problem.
Man, if this and the Metropolitan come back from the brink, there won't be to many really large abandoned buildings left in downtown.
By my count off the top of my head it's:
Book Tower, UA, Stott, Freep.
I read the title of this thread as "Turned Into Burlesque Hotel"
now that would be interesting
It would be great to see the Wurlitzer redeveloped. I wonder if the plans also include any use of the adjacent corner lot that the people mover passes over?
The Free Press did an article on this a couple of days ago. There is not a lot new but a there is fun rendering and an announcement of the proposed boutique hotel's name ASH NYC. I find it interesting that a rooftop garden appears on top of 1515 Broadway. The last time I spoke with 1515 owner Chris Jaszczak he said he was negotiating with Ash for the right to build balconies jutting out from the hotel, but nothing of using his rooftop.
Other tidbits...
The Brooklyn-based firm has drawn up plans for a $20-million makeover to the historic 14-story building at 1509 Broadway, which dates to 1926 and is one of the most slender towers in Detroit. It has been vacant since 1982.
Work on the Wurlitzer Hotel could start as early as this fall and finish by September 2016. It would add a street-level café and bar to the building as well as a restaurant on the second floor, according to a proposal submitted this month to local officials."For years and years, people would stay in Dearborn and the rest of the suburbs and drive downtown to do business and then drive back out to the suburbs -- that's not so true anymore," said hotel consultant Chuck Skelton, president of Ann Arbor-based Hospitality Advisors.
"You've actually got people going downtown and staying downtown now because there's activity down there, there are things to do, there are nice hotels and you have the casinos," he said.
The average hotel occupancy rate in greater downtown Detroit was 70% last year, up from 54% in 2010, according to the latest "7.2 SQ MI" statistical report on the area. The report says there are about 4,500 rooms in greater downtown.
The developer behind the proposed Wurlitzer Hotel is ASH NYC, a design and real estate firm in Brooklyn. Its past projects include a $7.4 million renovation of a 60-room hotel in downtown Providence, R.I. — The Dean — that was formerly a strip club.
That's true. Hopefully any newly built parking structure will be architecturally harmonious with the area. The last thing we need is some Brutalist monstrosity assaulting the view.
If they don't have additional parking in their plan, the building department shouldn't be granting an occupancy permit for another hotel. Most other cities, like Windsor across the river, have by-laws in place that don't allow hotel conversions without providing for new parking lots or structures. And why should Dan Gilbert allow them to park at Z-lot or the Greektown casino garage when he owns a competing hotel at Greektown? The opera house spots are for the opera house. This was previously an office building, so there's no parking grandfathering once it's a zoning change to a hotel, which makes it a new development.
Last edited by davewindsor; March-30-15 at 09:51 PM.
If they don't have additional parking in their plan, the building department shouldn't be granting an occupancy permit for another hotel. Most other cities, like Windsor across the river, have by-laws in place that don't allow hotel conversions without providing for new parking lots or structures. And why should Dan Gilbert allow them to park at Z-lot or the Greektown casino garage when he owns a competing hotel at Greektown? The opera house spots are for the opera house. This was previously an office building, so there's no parking grandfathering once it's a zoning change to a hotel, which makes it a new development.
Dan Gilbert would not screw over another hotel by not working out a deal to use some of his parking. It is still money in his pocket. Not to mention I know of some very nice things that Dan Gilbert has done for competitors that actually sort of surprised me truthfully.
I suspect they'll cut a deal for the Opera House garage or Z-lot, and valet will be the main system of parking. Realistically, even in the current low-transit Detroit, only so many people will arrive with a personal car to park, and this is a small hotel. Should be a minor parking strain.
There's literally several other hotels downtown that don't have dedicated parking and manage just fine.
Last edited by davewindsor; March-31-15 at 08:31 PM.
Since you are unaware... the Detroit Opera House built a huge parking structure as part of their endowment. That structure and the parking spaces around the Opera House are more than enough to handle ANY opera.
They built it huge to earn money off of other endeavors, such as sports functions, and leased spaces to other businesses. This way it helps pay for their $65 million [[$42 million for the theatre, $23 million parking structure) Opera House expansion debt. It's not poor planning by the city to allow a boutique hotel... it was shrewd planning by Michigan Opera Theatre to allow for expansion of the neighborhood, and to profit off of it.
When Dr. DiChiera built the Opera House Parking Structure, he was planning on using the the Opera House and parking structure as a catalyst for the revitalization of the neighborhood as he discusses here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODXZsamv2UM
Last edited by Gistok; March-31-15 at 09:46 PM.
Doesn't make it right? The only time a downtown hotel is ever fully occupied is during a major event. Not only is every other parking space downtown already going to be used anyway, but most patrons probably aren't even arriving with their own private car. There's literally never a need for a hotel this small to ever need 1:1 parking spots for each hotel room.
Sorry that I'm not a fan of riding a Shinola bike from the suburbs to downtown like you. I cherish my own personal safety by riding around inside a 4,600 lbs safety box. I don't car pool. I use my own private car during major events. I've seen a lot of others do it too. Downtown does have a lot of major events and I've seen traffic lined up for blocks to get parking during major events plus parking gets quite expensive during major events [[in some lots as high as 50 bucks a day because there isn't enough parking). I've also been stuck on the highway for half an hour to get on the offramp exit to downtown during a major event. This is called the motor city because it was supposed to be built for cars. I don't personally know anyone out of town that visits downtown with anything other than a car.Doesn't make it right? The only time a downtown hotel is ever fully occupied is during a major event. Not only is every other parking space downtown already going to be used anyway, but most patrons probably aren't even arriving with their own private car. There's literally never a need for a hotel this small to ever need 1:1 parking spots for each hotel room.
There is a need for more parking in downtown and hotels in downtown should have their own parking garages. Period.
Last edited by davewindsor; April-01-15 at 09:10 AM.
Apparently you didn't read my Opera House comments..... are you this daft every time you cross the border?Sorry that I'm not a fan of riding a Shinola bike from the suburbs to downtown like you. I cherish my own personal safety by riding around inside a 4,600 lbs safety box. I don't car pool. I use my own private car during major events. I've seen a lot of others do it too. Downtown does have a lot of major events and I've seen traffic lined up for blocks to get parking during major events plus parking gets quite expensive during major events [[in some lots as high as 50 bucks a day because there isn't enough parking). I've also been stuck on the highway for half an hour to get on the offramp exit to downtown during a major event. This is called the motor city because it was supposed to be built for cars. I don't personally know anyone out of town that visits downtown with anything other than a car.
There is a need for more parking in downtown and hotels in downtown should have their own parking lots. Period.
plan accordingly and quit whining. it is a major city and cars/parking is an issue in all of them. also, if im in town visiting a place the last thing im doing is using my car regularly. i will use public transportation or cab/uber to any destination.Sorry that I'm not a fan of riding a Shinola bike from the suburbs to downtown like you. I cherish my own personal safety by riding around inside a 4,600 lbs safety box. I don't car pool. I use my own private car during major events. I've seen a lot of others do it too. Downtown does have a lot of major events and I've seen traffic lined up for blocks to get parking during major events plus parking gets quite expensive during major events [[in some lots as high as 50 bucks a day because there isn't enough parking). I've also been stuck on the highway for half an hour to get on the offramp exit to downtown during a major event. This is called the motor city because it was supposed to be built for cars. I don't personally know anyone out of town that visits downtown with anything other than a car.
There is a need for more parking in downtown and hotels in downtown should have their own parking lots. Period.
Oh, I get it now, I must have missed this one earlier. You are already VERY challenged by the parking situation now. I have always wondered who sits in those lines at the ramps. I always figured it was kids that had just learned to drive or newbies that feel comfortable sticking to their GPS routes but now I know another group.Sorry that I'm not a fan of riding a Shinola bike from the suburbs to downtown like you. I cherish my own personal safety by riding around inside a 4,600 lbs safety box. I don't car pool. I use my own private car during major events. I've seen a lot of others do it too. Downtown does have a lot of major events and I've seen traffic lined up for blocks to get parking during major events plus parking gets quite expensive during major events [[in some lots as high as 50 bucks a day because there isn't enough parking). I've also been stuck on the highway for half an hour to get on the offramp exit to downtown during a major event. This is called the motor city because it was supposed to be built for cars. I don't personally know anyone out of town that visits downtown with anything other than a car.
There is a need for more parking in downtown and hotels in downtown should have their own parking garages. Period.
What you don't see, that a bunch of us who do travel see and are not afraid of a "crowded Manhattan" or any other large city, is that Detroit is laughably easy to park in. I mean really easy. I do all the events and can think of 2 off the top of my head last year with both Ford Field and Comerica Park sold out. It just was not hard at all, it never is. Of course I know my way around and am not going to cough up $50 when there are a hundred lots charging $20 or less. But hey, that's capitalism. As P.T. Barnum said "ones born every minute" and someone is going to pay just because they don't know what they're doing. But you can't really expect the city to fix stupid people who don't know how to park. They already have plenty of their own stupid to work on.
anyone ever stay in the holiday inn downtown?
God forbid anyone would have to walk 2 blocks after parking or drop it off with a valet.
the new hotel should have free Wi-Fi in all its rooms. [[though I'm sure costs will be merged with the base fees).
What are you even doing here Davewindsor? You are our smug Canadian version of Bham. I honestly don't get it, and don't follow your line of reasoning here at all. Why is it such a moral imperative that a new hotel build new parking in a downtown full of parking? Why is this such a crisis? You are being a weirdo.
[Insert additional safety/crime/Windsor's better comments here...oh, and 'get off my lawn!']
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