New Police Headquarters Thread

**Gsgeorge** · March-25-10, 10:34 AM

esp1986, you make a decent case for the UA, but think about it -- why would DPD want to move from one historic [[read: outdated) building to another, especially if it has a theater that they would probably have little to no use for.

My bets are they move into the former MGM site, the State Plaza building at 6th & Abbott, or build new at the empty site at Gratiot & I-375.

**esp1986** · March-25-10, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Gsgeorge

esp1986, you make a decent case for the UA, but think about it -- why would DPD want to move from one historic [[read: outdated) building to another, especially if it has a theater that they would probably have little to no use for.

My bets are they move into the former MGM site, the State Plaza building at 6th & Abbott, or build new at the empty site at Gratiot & I-375.

They wouldn't be using the theater. The Ilitches own the building, but are just waiting for a full time use for the office space before they pour a ton of money into the theater.

**casscorridor** · March-25-10, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by esp1986

They wouldn't be using the theater. The Ilitches own the building, but are just waiting for a full time use for the office space before they pour a ton of money into the theater.

It would be excellent to see the UA building renovated. And having the Theatre restored would be more than excellent!

I hope this is what happens.

**KENSINGTONY** · March-25-10, 01:20 PM

Aw gee,if the city had been on the ball sooner it could have used the LaFayette Building for the new police headquarters.
With the over capacity of hotel rooms downtown right now why would 1300 Beaubien need to be converted to a hotel?I think it's best converted for use as something else like jail space or space for the jail staff.

**gnome** · March-25-10, 01:26 PM

The downside of the old IRS/MGM is the lack of windows. Fine for a casino but a problem for office drones. The pluses:
- location and having its own entrance ramp at Howard,
- it is newly wired for electric and CAT5
- it is freshly plumbed.
-HVAC new
-Elevators work. Escalators work. ADA compliant. Parking for days. Kitchens installed.

The UA would require a ton of money to just get it close to being fit for humans. New windows, elevators, ADA issues, bathrooms, plumbing, electric, HVAC parking, blah,blah

If we are in the situation of needing to pinch every penny until it bleeds, the UA is a poor choice.

**exmotowner** · March-25-10, 01:48 PM

Any chance of it going into the MCS? Probably not huh. Sure would be nice though. Would the GAR be big enough? Again, probably not huh.

**DetroitPlanner** · March-25-10, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by exmotowner

Any chance of it going into the MCS? Probably not huh. Sure would be nice though. Would the GAR be big enough? Again, probably not huh.

I doubt it, Matty is suing every govt from the Canadian and U.S. Feds on down. He owns MCS. This was floated before and never amounted to anything.

The GAR is nowhere near big enough.

**Gsgeorge** · March-25-10, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by esp1986

They wouldn't be using the theater. The Ilitches own the building, but are just waiting for a full time use for the office space before they pour a ton of money into the theater.

A good point, but I can't see a police station sharing space with a theater [[lots of people coming in and out, lines down the street impeding traffic, more parking needed). Not to mention, Ilitch is about to dump a ton of money into the new hockey arena, and has made significant investments in the light rail plan. Why not wait until a few years after these projects are completed to tackle the monstrous task of renovating the UA complex? Space is available now for the Police, and it will come in the form of one of our newer, 'move-in ready' vacant downtown office buildings.

**esp1986** · March-25-10, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Gsgeorge

A good point, but I can't see a police station sharing space with a theater [[lots of people coming in and out, lines down the street impeding traffic, more parking needed). Not to mention, Ilitch is about to dump a ton of money into the new hockey arena, and has made significant investments in the light rail plan. Why not wait until a few years after these projects are completed to tackle the monstrous task of renovating the UA complex? Space is available now for the Police, and it will come in the form of one of our newer, 'move-in ready' vacant downtown office buildings.

By the way Mayor Bing said it, "lining up financing" is sounds as if it may be a bit of a project. Being the police, they aren't likely to share office space either. Probably either the MGM or a currently vacant building, like the UA. He wouldn't be lining up financing to lease space in an already move in ready office building, but the UA or MGM, would need some major changes made to be ready for police. An office would just need security, but then again, I have a VERY hard time believeing that the police would share office space.

**Hypestyles** · March-25-10, 11:04 PM

can 1300 beaubien be turned into a museum?

**agirlintheD** · March-26-10, 08:44 AM

Always thought MCS would the perfect locale for DPD HQ. Even mentioned it to former Mayor Archer at a luncheon. He nodded, smiled and continued with his lunch. Oh well.

**jackie5275** · March-26-10, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by M CD M

If DPD moves out of the old HQ, maybe Wayne county Sheriff would take it over.

Why would the Sheriff take over that building? They already have one across the street on St. Antoine.

**jackie5275** · March-26-10, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by kryptonite

What about the old WC court house? Didn't the county vacate that building?

Yes, but there are plans in place to move WC FOC into that building in June, 2010.

**jackie5275** · March-26-10, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

can 1300 beaubien be turned into a museum?

Possible, but not probable. Greektown casino has been looking for more parking. I can see it being demolished & turned into Detroit's latest surface lot.

**gumby** · March-26-10, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by jackie5275

Possible, but not probable. Greektown casino has been looking for more parking. I can see it being demolished & turned into Detroit's latest surface lot.

Bite your tongue. We don't want to give them any ideas.

**Ray1936** · March-26-10, 05:58 PM

If they do tear it down, I want the cornerstone. I know what's in it.

**Mackinaw** · March-26-10, 10:54 PM

This is incredibly stupid. Renovate the current building and build up on adjacent lots if necessary.

**Gsgeorge** · March-27-10, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by Mackinaw

This is incredibly stupid. Renovate the current building and build up on adjacent lots if necessary.

Seems to me like renovating & building new would be a helluva lot more expensive than moving everyone into a more modern ready-to-go facility [[like the MGM site or the Plaza at 6th & Abbott) for a city as cash-strapped as Detroit.

**wolverine** · March-27-10, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

My best guess is the old MGM Grand with a design build contract, setting up a public-private partnership. MGM needs to get some revenue out of this old space to pay for its other developments. If anyone needs parking, it is the police force, and this site has thousands of relatively new spots. One the old Police Building is empty, it can be renovated and used for the additional space needed by the jail and Frank Murphy. Who knows, maybe the crime lab can go there too.

It will, but not as a police station....

**CLAUDE G** · March-27-10, 01:34 AM

I still thought the best idea was from Kwame, which was to turn the old train station into the new Police headquarters.

Not that I ever cared for Kwame, but this was the only good idea he had.

**canuck** · March-27-10, 11:37 AM

This is a link to a picture of the building in '21. I posted a cache of old pictures of Detroit on a new thread. They are from an architecture museum and resarch facility in Montreal called the CAA.

http://svrdam.cca.qc.ca/ZooMI/Defaul...bj=PH2000:0597

**artds** · March-27-10, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by esp1986

Only problem is the old casino isn't really set up for offices that they Police Headquarters would require.

The old IRS building wasn't exactly set up for the open gaming floor space that a casino would require, but that' wasn't any big hurdle.

Putting up some drywall in order to create office space and hallways out of all that open space wouldn't be a big deal at all.

**Fury13** · March-27-10, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

If they do tear it down, I want the cornerstone. I know what's in it.

The Purple Gang's lost treasure?

**Fury13** · March-27-10, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by CLAUDE G

I still thought the best idea was from Kwame, which was to turn the old train station into the new Police headquarters.

Not a bad idea in terms of a reuse for the Michigan Central Depot, but cost-prohibitive for the City, I'd say.

**jackie5275** · March-27-10, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by canuck

This is a link to a picture of the building in '21. I posted a cache of old pictures of Detroit on a new thread. They are from an architecture museum and resarch facility in Montreal called the CAA.

http://svrdam.cca.qc.ca/ZooMI/Defaul...bj=PH2000:0597

Thanks for this. I wonder what used to be behind it where the new jail is now located.