Hudson's Site Building Thread

**313WX** · July-02-20, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by mkd

Cincinnati and Cleveland both have observation decks, in the Carew and Terminal towers respectively. So, yes, we should have one here too.

Detroit does, in the Penobscot Building

**EGrant** · July-02-20, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by 313WX

Detroit does, in the Penobscot Building

Did that ever open to the public? I remember there was some talk, but I don't recall seeing it open.

**Satiricalivory** · July-02-20, 05:24 PM

No it didn't. The owner is a well known slumlord who owned the silverdome for years. He refuses to invest anything into the building.

We'll get a Penobscot observation deck when Bedrock buys the building [[lets hope). The views are pretty incredible, you can see all the greatest landmarks in the city and it would be outdoor.

**hybridy** · July-02-20, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Satiricalivory

No it didn't. The owner is a well known slumlord who owned the silverdome for years. He refuses to invest anything into the building.

We'll get a Penobscot observation deck when Bedrock buys the building [[lets hope). The views are pretty incredible, you can see all the greatest landmarks in the city and it would be outdoor.

Andreas Apostolopoulos - aka Detroit's very own Jabba the Hutt

**Dexlin** · July-02-20, 07:58 PM

Again, if y'all are so hard-up on needing an observation deck, go grab you a bite at Highlands Steakhouse or Hearth 71, or a drink at High Bar, at the RenCen. I mean, order yourself a cheap appetizer or salad or a damn glass of water or something and gaze across the skyline to your hearts content. The entire 71st and 72nd floors are a 360-degree observation deck, folks.

**Satiricalivory** · July-02-20, 08:38 PM

What is your problem? Just because that restaurant exists doesn't mean the Penobscot wouldn't make an incredible observation deck experience.

Sometimes the view is better from other buildings too. And outdoor decks are always better.

**Gistok** · July-02-20, 10:06 PM

The 73rd floor of the RenCen is 727 ft. above downtown, but nearly 760ft above the river. Carew Tower is about 575 ft., and the Terminal Tower rises 708 ft., with an observation deck at a lower height.

So yeah, a deck wouldn't be bad... but the RenCen viewing is more spectacular, especially since it has a glass elevator.

**Dmberko11** · July-02-20, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by hybridy

Andreas Apostolopoulos - aka Detroit's very own Jabba the Hutt

Lol! That quote is an internet win in my book. Too funny

**bigboat** · July-03-20, 04:15 AM

Originally Posted by Dmberko11

Lol! That quote is an internet win in my book. Too funny

I agree the "Jabba the Hutt" comment is just what we all need to laugh a little on this "hot" Friday morning.

**Satiricalivory** · July-03-20, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

The 73rd floor of the RenCen is 727 ft. above downtown, but nearly 760ft above the river. Carew Tower is about 575 ft., and the Terminal Tower rises 708 ft., with an observation deck at a lower height.

So yeah, a deck wouldn't be bad... but the RenCen viewing is more spectacular, especially since it has a glass elevator.

Taller height doesn't really mean a better view. The Hancock center is usually agreed as the best view in Chicago. I think Rockefeller center in New York is the same.

**Scottathew** · July-03-20, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Satiricalivory

Taller height doesn't really mean a better view. The Hancock center is usually agreed as the best view in Chicago. I think Rockefeller center in New York is the same.

Agreed about Hancock.

I never went to 30 Rock, but I can say that I was very displeased with the Empire State Building experience. One World Trade Center was a good one though.

**preserve** · July-03-20, 11:26 AM

I loved the views from the Sky Bar, so sorry that didn't last. High enough for me.

**stinkytofu** · July-03-20, 03:14 PM

Here is the top of the Penobscot. If it ever got an owner that cared it seems like the top has legit potential for an observation deck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLrgxT-MkoY

**Atticus** · July-03-20, 04:36 PM

In Hudson Tower news, Matt Cullen is no longer at the helm of Bedrock and thus no longer overseeing the development. Not sure what that will mean going forward, but Cullen has essentially left to run the Cleveland JACK casino, which he just bought from Gilbert.

kudos to Crain’s and Kirk Pinho for breaking the story.

**Satiricalivory** · July-03-20, 04:59 PM

Here's a good one from 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UcorfYLUO8

I think it would cost a good deal of money to make the roof suicide safe and to figure out the logistics of people going in and out.

**Scottathew** · July-04-20, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by Atticus

In Hudson Tower news, Matt Cullen is no longer at the helm of Bedrock and thus no longer overseeing the development. Not sure what that will mean going forward, but Cullen has essentially left to run the Cleveland JACK casino, which he just bought from Gilbert.

kudos to Crain’s and Kirk Pinho for breaking the story.

Source: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...-c-suite-shake

Cullen out as Bedrock CEO in latest C-suite shake-up

KIRK PINHO

NICK MANES

- Matt Cullen no longer CEO of Bedrock; begins running pair of Cleveland casinos he bought interest in
- Bill Emerson to return to Bedrock as interim CEO
- Cullen took role at Bedrock in September amid other leadership changes at Bedrock and Jack Entertainment

Matt Cullen is no longer CEO of Dan Gilbert's Bedrock LLC real estate company. He and Mark Dunkeson, who was Bedrock's president and COO, are now working primarily on a pair of Cleveland casinos, of which Gilbert is a minority owner and Cullen is a lead investor.
Bill Emerson returns to Bedrock as interim CEO, marking the second time he has held that position in less than a year.
The change, which was confirmed on Friday morning, is yet another C-suite shake-up for Bedrock, which owns more than 100 properties in and around downtown Detroit, mostly buildings and parking decks. It is also working on a series of large-scale development and redevelopment projects, some of which have been beset by delays, cost overruns and substantial design changes.
"Beginning July 2, 2020, I will resume my role as interim leader of Bedrock," Emerson said in a statement. "One year ago, we asked Matt Cullen and Mark Dunkeson to step in and assist in managing the direction of Bedrock during a time of great growth and continued excitement for downtown Detroit. I, along with Dan Gilbert, would like to thank Matt and Mark for their dedicated service in their roles and now, as they transition to focus on the Cleveland-based Horseshoe Casino. I anticipate acting in this role while we conduct a search for a long-term replacement."
In a Friday afternoon statement, Cullen said he bought a controlling interest in a pair of northeast Ohio casinos earlier this year and that his tenure at Bedrock was always intended to be brief.
"As you know, I joined Bedrock last year at Dan's request to provide needed direction and focus for the organization," Cullen's statement read. "We agreed it would be a short-term role as I was concurrently negotiating the purchase of a controlling interest in the two Jack [[Entertainment) casinos [[Jack Casino and Jack Thistledown) in northeast Ohio. The transaction closed earlier this year and I am now the chairman and lead investor of the $1 billion enterprise, which is no longer part of Dan's family of companies. Running this company with my partner Mark Dunkeson takes enormous time and attention."
Cullen's statement continued: "Bedrock is a great team of people well-positioned to carry forward Dan's development plans in the city of Detroit. I wish them well. But it's time to get back to my own businesses. I will continue to live and work in Detroit, my hometown and personal passion, and I will remain intensely active in Detroit business, real estate and community development."
Cullen joined Gilbert in 2008 after working for nearly three decades for General Motors Co., primarily in economic development, getting credit for persuading GM to buy and move its headquarters to the Renaissance Center.
He has also been active as chairman of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy board and is the volunteer president and CEO of the M-1 Rail Streetcar initiative that produced the QLine streetcar system running along Woodward Avenue between downtown and the New Center area.
Cullen became Bedrock's CEO in September, taking over for Emerson, who returned to Gilbert's Detroit-based mortgage giant Quicken Loans Inc. and Rock Holdings as vice chairman.
Cullen and Emerson said at the time that the timing of the leadership changes aligned with Jack Entertainment's disposition of properties around the Midwest, including Greektown Casino-Hotel in downtown Detroit, which sold for $1 billion in 2019.
Also at the time, Jim Ketai, a longtime Gilbert confidant and childhood friend, parted ways with Bedrock, a company he cofounded with Gilbert in 2011, to "pursue other opportunities." That followed the June 7, 2019 departure of Dan Mullen, the former executive vice president of business development.

Earlier this year, Bedrock recruited Lawrence McLaughlin, who spent more than four decades working at Detroit-based law firm Honigman LLP, to serve as chief development officer and executive vice president.

**NSortzi** · July-04-20, 02:42 PM

It says in the article they knew it would be a short term role. I doubt this will affect Bedrock’s projects at all.

**David L** · July-07-20, 12:11 PM

Someone please adjust the camera at the construction site. The angle is way off and most of the site is not visible.

**Scottathew** · July-07-20, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by David L

Someone please adjust the camera at the construction site. The angle is way off and most of the site is not visible.

I'm reaching out to someone to have them reposition the camera. Most of the tech staff are still out of the office, which has lead to the camera slipping out of position

Thanks for letting us know.

**Scottathew** · July-07-20, 01:21 PM

The camera is moved back into position, but the computer was having issues and had to be rebooted. Today's video will be messed up, but hopefully it will be good for tomorrow.

**EGrant** · July-07-20, 04:22 PM

Thanks for the update! I'm sure the always rational YouTube commenters will appreciate this.

**Dmberko11** · July-07-20, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by EGrant

Thanks for the update! I'm sure the always rational YouTube commenters will appreciate this.

I’m one of the irrational commenters 😈
Just kidding. It is amusing to me though to see the negativity in the comments. People love to whine. I’d like to see THEM open their wallets up and try building a skyscraper

**EGrant** · July-07-20, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by Dmberko11

I’m one of the irrational commenters 
Just kidding. It is amusing to me though to see the negativity in the comments. People love to whine. I’d like to see THEM open their wallets up and try building a skyscraper

It seems like a few of them might not speak English as a first language.

Anyway, there seemed to be some more activity around the base of the crane today; hopefully we're getting closer to seeing it installed.

**Dmberko11** · July-07-20, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by EGrant

It seems like a few of them might not speak English as a first language.

Anyway, there seemed to be some more activity around the base of the crane today; hopefully we're getting closer to seeing it installed.

Great news! Hopefully the camera will be fixed too so the daily uploads can give us a better look-see. Admittedly I haven’t checked out today’s upload, so maybe it’s already back to normal. Also popped over to Frankai Videos on YouTube and watched one he did on TCF HQ. I think that’ll go up quick.