Concrete Block Wall Replaces Storefront Space on Woodward

While walking by this week I noticed construction taking place on the vacant lot next to the Broderick on Woodward. Many of you will remember that as the storefront space that collapsed a year or two ago.

http://detroityes.com/webisodes/2012...l-IMG_4430.jpg

Great I thought, they're building something there - that is until I walked by on the other side and noticed it was simply a featureless concrete block wall.

http://detroityes.com/webisodes/2012...l-IMG_4432.jpg

Does this seem a bit blunt and unaesthetic to anyone else? Or is this a 'better-than-what-it-was' situation?

I would imagine they would dress it up a bit when finished. Perhaps it is temporary.

perhaps ask the contractors

perfect for the graffiti guys

That is to conceal the HVAC units, but I agree - it does not integrate well with the surroundings. Even the berms in front of the RenCen [[designed for same purpose) had "some" esthetic appeal.

Jeeze, do you think maybe they aren't done with it?

I would imagine they're going to put something over it.

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Originally Posted by 48091

I would imagine they're going to put something over it.

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Yeah, that makes sense. The skills needed to set brick are expensive. Likely they'll coat it with a few panels of "brick" cladding.

Interesting. Attached is one of the early sketches from Kraemer Design Group…

Attachment 15484

There will be a granite wall featuring a "Broderick Tower" lit sign.

You can tell from the setback alignment of the tower this is the subwall. However, this is a missed opportunity for future economic activity. It could have been a storefront with a mechanical mezzanine. Either consciously eliminated through value engineering or else shortsighted design with a sign wall as the excuse.

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Originally Posted by wolverine

You can tell from the setback alignment of the tower this is the subwall. However, this is a missed opportunity for future economic activity. It could have been a storefront with a mechanical mezzanine. Either consciously eliminated through value engineering or else shortsighted design with a sign wall as the excuse.

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I agree.

Hopefully one day when retail is booming on Woodward is booming they'll go back and correct their mistake.

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Originally Posted by 48091

I agree.

Hopefully one day when retail is booming on Woodward is booming they'll go back and correct their mistake.

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Maybe, but the more mistakes of this sort are made there, the less likely it is that retail will ever boom [[IMO).

Beautiful. Plain wall along Woodward. Reminds me of a Party Store that was bricked up long ago.

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Originally Posted by 48091

I agree.

Hopefully one day when retail is booming on Woodward is booming they'll go back and correct their mistake.

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Depending on the equipment that's definitely possible. Most of it is designed to be swapped out after a life cycle and anyway

eh, more late-stage capitalism.