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Don't see this one coming to fruition...FYI same developer that is pitching the Commerce Twp 'food court mall'.
- A $50 million-$60 million, mixed-use "Asian Village" is taking shape in Novi
- Project will give Japanese, other Asian residents a place to gather and shop for specialty items
- Also expected to be a destination for others in the region
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ian-population
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/sites/d...ring-crop2.jpg
And who could forget ill-fated Asian Village 1 down by the Renaissance Center?
September 24, 2007
Asian Village holds grand opening
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...-grand-openingQuote:
A jubilant Andrew Park jumped up on stage Friday night, banged a Chinese gong, and welcomed hundreds to the grand opening of Asian Village of Detroit Inc., an 18,000-square-foot multirestaurant development in downtown Detroit.
Park, a self-described entrepreneur and Asian Village co-owner, said he has been humbled by the experience of bringing together the restaurant project, which experienced cost over-runs and construction delays.
Just like Chinatown, Greektown, etc. emerged in inner city neighborhoods, there is no reason to believe this can't be successful as long as the developers don't go overboard and have too much debt. There are several Asian "villages" in the Toronto suburbs, many of which are just fancy strip malls with an Asian Canopy entrance. They are very busy and unless you're going in you make a point of avoiding the area on weekends.
Comparing this to the Ren Cen Village which was a half-completed food court in a bad location is unfair.
Especially considering the large number of Asian residents in that general area. This could do well.Quote:
Originally Posted by 401don
what about the population centered around Troy/Madison Heights?
http://www.secondwavemedia.com/metro...ts-080615.aspx
The only credit I give to the developers is that they are thinking outside the box and see their developable land as something interesting, diverse, and not white-bread par for the course.
Still, this seems a bit far fetched because it is a top down greenfield development led by white folks. Ethnic neighborhoods are generally bottom-up endeavors that take a generation and require an extant urban space or suburban strip.
The obtuseness of the branding [[and of the reporting in today's press) is quite sad. "Asian village" is the best they could do? Let's just define people by a huge continent and not by their ethnicity/nationality, the way these neigbhorhoods generally are named. "We saw that there was a Greektown, and wondered, why not an ASIANtown?" Most of metro Detroit's shopping centers are so "European" or "African."
There's just a lack of authenticity about this starting with how they talk about it and name it.
This is already happening in Novi [[and in other areas around metro Detroit) via an organic process of immigration and business building by modern day Asians and Asian-Americans. The folks who are sponsoring this "Asian Village" idea are really just embarrassing themselves with their rendering full of orientalist cliches like the thatched roofs, etc.
will there be a movie theater? What about ethnic restaurants?
What Al said!Quote:
Originally Posted by EastsideAl
It has a chance given the Asian population in the area, a much more reputable developer, and the Kwame Crew doesn't have its hands in the cookie jar.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lowell
I remember the Asian Village by the Ren Cen. If I recall it was nothing more than an Asian themed food court.
Agreed. Clumping Asians together into one basket is extremely ignorant. As if someone from China, Japan, and Laos share identical cultures, beliefs, background, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mackinaw
Sounds like "Downtown Novi" and Commerce Twp. BS is coming back
Reminds me of the Mauna Loa tiki palace [[c.1967-71) near the Fisher Building ... re: DY threads:Quote:
Originally Posted by EastsideAl
https://www.detroityes.com/mb/showth...a-Loa-question
https://www.detroityes.com/mb/showth...ighlight=mauna
[[see EastsideAl's discussion [[Post #9), with image)
Quote:
Originally Posted by hybridy
The failed Asian Village next to Ren Cen at the riverfront was a terrible ideal. I only been there once. If only Mr. Pangborn put the ideal Asian centric community in Capitol Park or Washington Blvd. Then that are will booming and spread fast to other areas.
At least Chinatown/Asian Village in Madison Heights along John R. Rd. is doing great.