What Ilitch is sitting on

[buildingsofdetroit]

while this is an interesting line of inquiry, i'm personally more curious about what ilitch holdings has its mitts on NORTH of the freeway. in my mind, resolving the "NEW OLYMPIA" issue with as little historic fabric lost is one of the more important planning decisions that need to happen downtown. i hope it happens south of the freeway so that we can begin to meaningfully take steps toward a masterplan for an integrated and mixed use lower corridor that is more dynamic and better quality than brush park.

Detour, I love you, man, but we're going to have to disagree on this. The Eddystone and Park Avenue cannot be saved. Is it physically feasible? Sure. But it's just not going to happen between the economy, the real estate market, the horrendous state of the neighborhood around them ... This is a case where it would benefit the city as a whole if these two National Register sites are razed and the arena goes there. It would help keep the Masonic afloat, help gentrify Cass Park and the area on the west side of Cass, possibly spark development interest in old Cass Tech and perhaps spark renewed interest in saving Brush Park landmarks. Would it do ALL of those things? Perhaps not. But I believe it could do some of those things. Building west of Foxtown makes little sense to me, but then again, building east of the Fox didn't make a lot of sense to me at the time, either.

[Lorax]

North of 75 is where Ilitch will build the new Olympia Stadium.

Look at the vast vacancy between there and the Masonic Temple. He stands a better chance of making a sweeping change in that area demolishing the Eddystone, Cass Tech is coming down too. Plus there's Woodward frontage which is largely vacant. The Artisan Ballroom is the only notable building still standing there.

With the Masonic Temple and Kresge Administration building anchoring the one corner of the rectangle, and the Stadium the opposite corner.

Other parcels recently demolished such as Chin Tiki and such will be parking lots.

[buildingsofdetroit]

North of 75 is where Ilitch will build the new Olympia Stadium.

Look at the vast vacancy between there and the Masonic Temple. He stands a better chance of making a sweeping change in that area demolishing the Eddystone, Cass Tech is coming down too. Plus there's Woodward frontage which is largely vacant. The Artisan Ballroom is the only notable building still standing there.

With the Masonic Temple and Kresge Administration building anchoring the one corner of the rectangle, and the Stadium the opposite corner.

Other parcels recently demolished such as Chin Tiki and such will be parking lots.

D'accord, Monseiur Lorax.

[Gistok]

Every year there's a thread that mucks up the confusing names and ownerships of the Park Ave. buildings... the Women's City Club and the Colony Club. The Forbes owned Colony Club has the beautiful 2 story Louis XV style ballroom that is often used for weddings and the like.

As for the Midtown Buildings... I hope Ilitch gets the last 6 parcels he needs to build in the west Foxtown area instead. Midtown doesn't need to lose any more of its' density [[high rises).

There was a DYES poster named Venerable who hasn't been seen here in a while. There are at least 2 old threads [[1-2 years old) where he posted every parcel [[and address) that Ilitch Holdings owned in the Foxtown/Midtown area, under more than one alias.

[reddog289]

While on the BuildingsOf Detroit site I had the same question. Thought of it also viewing Lowells Autumn tour.

[bartock]

While on the BuildingsOf Detroit site I had the same question. Thought of it also viewing Lowells Autumn tour.

This may be off topic a bit, but I've wondered why Illitch wouldn't just put an "experiment" on one of his properties...a well lit 7-11/gas station combo, just to see if it can stick. Could it be any more risk than putting $7-18 million dollars on one of his Tiger players [[take your pick) for a year? Even with the astronomical insurance costs I doubt he'd be risking more than a few million dollars. Easy for me to say, not my money, and probably been discussed before.

[Lorax]

Buying buildings and vacant land west of the Fox Theatre is, in my opinion, just a move to secure cheap land near his other developments.

I still contend Olympia will be built north of 75, and specifically within view of 75 and it's nearby exits/entrances.

When it was announced that he had secured the Masonic Temple, this convinced me that this was the place most likely to house a new stadium.

Also, the fact that the Fox and Comerica are on Woodward lends creedence to this theory, since economically it makes more sense to focus on Woodward frontage as a main entrance. Why not? It's Detroit's main street and land is cheap. What is great about this idea, is with the existing Masonic Temple and Kresge Administration bldg anchoring a revitalized Cass Park creates a much improved campus environment for further development of restaurants and stores.

As well, any service areas/entrances for the stadium can face the freeway rather than take away from new development that might object to facing the rear of the stadium.

I would hope, too, that the old Americana? Hotel next door to the Masonic could be preserved since it's massing compliments the Temple and park frontage.

What would be an added plus would be to preserve the Artisan Ballroom and old Greenfield's Restaurant next door, and add to the street frontage additional storefronts as a new facade for the stadium. Make these storefronts the new face of the stadium, with opened up rear entrances that would line an indoor shopping concourse, all attched to the stadium.

Since hockey is played in a domed environement, I could envision an enclosed shopping area fronting Woodward that would revitalize that part of Woodward, and would access Cass Park on the rear as well, and hopefully additional storefronts facing the park.

Turn the Masonic into a hotel joined to the Americana next door and you'd have a super nucleus of urbanity marching up Woodward Avenue. And while we're at it, convert the old Cass Tech into a parking garage by retaining the facades only. It could double as parking for the school as well.

[Novine]

http://www.theverifiabletruth.com/

[esp1986]

North of 75 is where Ilitch will build the new Olympia Stadium.

Look at the vast vacancy between there and the Masonic Temple. He stands a better chance of making a sweeping change in that area demolishing the Eddystone, Cass Tech is coming down too. Plus there's Woodward frontage which is largely vacant. The Artisan Ballroom is the only notable building still standing there.

With the Masonic Temple and Kresge Administration building anchoring the one corner of the rectangle, and the Stadium the opposite corner.

Other parcels recently demolished such as Chin Tiki and such will be parking lots.

He is unlikely to build the arena north of I-75. A very reliable source told me a couple years ago that he wants to keep it on the south side to help in the continued redevelopment of the Foxtown/Grand Circus Park area. It is not a coincidence that a number of buildings behind the Fox have been renovated over the past couple years. He is still trying to aquire a few pieces of land integral to any potential project though. The source also told me that the arena was to coincide with a redevelopment of the Stadler and UA/Tuller Blocks on Grand Circus Park as a bigger entertainment project, but then the economy went south.

Some Canadian on here said he thinks that there will be an arena connected to Motor City Casino. This is largely false, as this would link Mike's name with the casino, something that is heavily frowned upon by Major League Baseball. The Ilitches remain heavily dedicated to improving their immediate neighborhood surrounding the Fox, per a quote from Ilitch communications officer Karen Cullen, [[I will try and find the quote) reaffirming my source's info.