Stimulus Funding for Illuminating Detroit's Landmarks

[Lorax]

Here's a proposal-

How about lobbying for stimulus funding for illuminating Detroit's top 25 [[or more) landmark buildings?

Paris had implemented in the 1990's what is called the Great Works Projects or " Le Grand Travaux". Conceived under Francois Mitterand, and largely completed under Jacques Chirac.

What Paris did was to renovate the Louvre, build the new Biblioteque National, renovate the l'opera Garnier, and with the most impact, lit the city's monuments and public buildings in a golden light, consistent in color and hue, throughout the entire city. The Eiffel Tower, Opera House, Louvre, Sacre Coeur, Napoloeon's Tomb, The Arch, Place de la Concorde, etc., etc.

In Detroit we could propose lighting the DIA, DPL, Fisher Building, Cadillac Center, Penobscot, Guardian, One Woodward, CAY Center, Wayne County Courthouse, area churches, Fox, Masonic Temple, Hurlbut Gate and Waterworks Pumping Station, MCS, Ambassador Bridge, etc.

What is interesting about the Parisian lighting program, is that these buildings are lit completely in the round. From all sides, top to bottom.

Yet another economic engine could be created, using state of the art lighting design, and emerging energy technologies.

It would not only provide ongoing jobs, but would be a high-impact visual which Detroit could really use, and would highlight so much of the city's architectural heritage.

Detroit has few assest left, and to highlight them, and turn them into something to see at night would open new doors to tourism as well. The international press would indeed turn a spotlight [[pun intended) on the city, and in a positive way for a change.

Thoughts please!

[Pcm]

Lorax, you must be my close friend, the architectural lighting designer...

[SDRdesign]

I like it! I hadn't thought about the lighting until I read this...I guess I'm curious about how to fund such a thing. Some of the great bldgs. downtown could be showstoppers! Even if it was just lit on weekends.
I guess the first thing though would be to make sure regular old streetlights were working, too.

[kraig]

Here's a proposal-

How about lobbying for stimulus funding for illuminating Detroit's top 25 [[or more) landmark buildings?

Paris had implemented in the 1990's what is called the Great Works Projects or " Le Grand Travaux". Conceived under Francois Mitterand, and largely completed under Jacques Chirac.

What Paris did was to renovate the Louvre, build the new Biblioteque National, renovate the l'opera Garnier, and with the most impact, lit the city's monuments and public buildings in a golden light, consistent in color and hue, throughout the entire city. The Eiffel Tower, Opera House, Louvre, Sacre Coeur, Napoloeon's Tomb, The Arch, Place de la Concorde, etc., etc.

In Detroit we could propose lighting the DIA, DPL, Fisher Building, Cadillac Center, Penobscot, Guardian, One Woodward, CAY Center, Wayne County Courthouse, area churches, Fox, Masonic Temple, Hurlbut Gate and Waterworks Pumping Station, MCS, Ambassador Bridge, etc.

What is interesting about the Parisian lighting program, is that these buildings are lit completely in the round. From all sides, top to bottom.

Yet another economic engine could be created, using state of the art lighting design, and emerging energy technologies.

It would not only provide ongoing jobs, but would be a high-impact visual which Detroit could really use, and would highlight so much of the city's architectural heritage.

Detroit has few assest left, and to highlight them, and turn them into something to see at night would open new doors to tourism as well. The international press would indeed turn a spotlight [[pun intended) on the city, and in a positive way for a change.

Thoughts please!

Is there still time to make requests? I thought the stimulus funding was sent about three months ago?

[DetroitPlanner]

Kraig is correct, a lot of the funding has long been tapped. You're a little late to the table. While some pots of money still need to be tapped, they are very specific pots of money.

Most funding available to improve public buildings is going towards making them energy efficient. How would adding lighting do that? It seems contrary to the goals of most programs.

SEMCOG has a great page that lists a lot of information on the Stimulus package and what is available for givernment projects. http://www.semcog.org/FederalStimulu...teForSEMI.aspx

[Scottr]

While I would love to see these buildings lit up, not only would it go against the goal of energy efficiency, it would create an ongoing cost that would not be covered by stimulus funding. Who would pay the electric bill and replacement bulbs?

[wolverine]

It is possible to illuminate buildings at a very low cost using energy efficient lighting. LED architectural lighting with assistance from photovoltaic cells cost owners almost nothing in powering and maintenance, solving the problems of obsolete systems as scottr mentions. Photovoltaic powered lighting has become extremely affordable in recent years as the technology has improved as well as production techniques. As DetroitPlanner mentioned, conventional practices to lighting up structures for the sake of aesthetics isn't all that environmentally conscious. But today there's a solution, that provides a visual demonstration of new energy efficient technology.

[gravitymachine]

how about money for police instead?

[wolverine]

^ yeah basically that comes first. After all, I doubt a building lighting program would create jobs and alleviate crime.

[izzyindetroit]

First, shouldn't we replace some of the blight on our landmarks before we decide to show them off?

Second, isn't there a city wide movement every October 30th preventing people from lighting up buildings??

Burn baby burn.

[Lowell]

I would like to see MCD lit up like artist Jeff Sturges lit up HP Ford HQ.

[Lorax]

Lighting MCS would be great to draw attention to it's plight. Hell, even giant klieg lights at night would be better than nothing, since Matted Moron probably wouldn't allow anyone on his property to do something constructive.

[Lorax]

Another topic with a mis-leading title that just leads to you another fantasy that will never happen.

Yeah, lets get money to light buildings that all already have exterior lighting schemes [[all but one). Original thinking at its finest

Really? I wasn't aware there were any lighting schemes on any of these buildings, save perhaps the Fisher, which is only the roof.

I'm talking about ground up lighting on all sides, visible for miles in all directions, as in Paris, if you indeed read my original post. No half-measures or dinky lighting schemes, but modern, cutting edge LED technology lighting.

So happy you find my thinking original!

[MikeM]

Here's a proposal-

How about lobbying for stimulus funding for illuminating Detroit's top 25 [[or more) landmark buildings?

How about lobbying for stimulus funding for illuminating Detroit's streets?

[MIRepublic]

Yeah, no kidding. Giving the current situation, to even put out there a request for illuminating skyscrapers, right now, just seems kind of insensitive and offensive. If a group of downtown business owners want to do this, fine, great. I'd love to see that. But, this would be gross misuse of stimulus dollars. A noble goal, but entirely the wrong way of going about trying to get it done, if you ask me.

[Lorax]

Insensitive?

I hope you saved some of your umbrage for the City of Detroit and it's inability to light the streets.

Perhaps there should be a little more outrage directed where it will do the most good, at the people who are directly responsible for lighting the streets in the first place.

This thread isn't about street lighting anymore than it's about rat control.

I really love the whining about how any resources or windfalls coming the city's way should be used to fill gaps in local taxation to repair or fix what your tax dollars should be doing.

[Stosh]

I would like to see MCD lit up like artist Jeff Sturges lit up HP Ford HQ.

It's a nice look. Too bad for the rest of the city though.

I'm talking about ground up lighting on all sides, visible for miles in all directions, as in Paris, if you indeed read my original post. No half-measures or dinky lighting schemes, but modern, cutting edge LED technology lighting.

I really don't think that there's an affordable LED with that candle power to light a high rise. And lighting the MCD would be a great idea. It would keep the hipsters away at night. But lighting would probably would allow them to just tag the place further with paint and give them more hours to rip off what's left.

[wolverine]

It's a nice look. Too bad for the rest of the city though.

I really don't think that there's an affordable LED with that candle power to light a high rise. And lighting the MCD would be a great idea. It would keep the hipsters away at night. But lighting would probably would allow them to just tag the place further with paint and give them more hours to rip off what's left.

http://www.warrenkarlenzig.com/2008/...led-make-over/

[Stosh]

http://www.warrenkarlenzig.com/2008/...led-make-over/

Yes, I've seen this before. LED lights lack the candlepower beyond a few stories. The premise held out previously in this thread was to light the buildings from the ground up. This would require a lot of wiring, to do installation of any lighting in stages. And not insignicant is the initial costs of the bulbs themselves.

[kraig]

Here's a thought. Take some stimulus money and light up the city's streetlights. I don't know, maybe I'm thinking too much inside the box.

[Locke09]

Insensitive?

I hope you saved some of your umbrage for the City of Detroit and it's inability to light the streets.

Perhaps there should be a little more outrage directed where it will do the most good, at the people who are directly responsible for lighting the streets in the first place.

This thread isn't about street lighting anymore than it's about rat control.

I really love the whining about how any resources or windfalls coming the city's way should be used to fill gaps in local taxation to repair or fix what your tax dollars should be doing.

Using stimulus money to address budget deficits caused by reduced revenue caused by the economic downturn is already an acceptable use of stimulus money. The state is using it for that purpose.

Other than that, just imagine what criticism Michigan would receive for using stimulus money to light up buildings.

This thread is okay if you're just dreaming. But if you're really serious, then think about what the reaction of the citizens of Detroit and most everyone else will be. Do you hear the sound of praise and applause; oohs and aahs? I don't. They're too drowned out by the accusations of wasting taxpayer dollars, beautifying downtown while leaving the neighborhoods in the dark and elitism [[because we thought that was a worthy cause for funding while people are losing jobs and homes).

[Lorax]

That's because you've given up.

All I hear is whining from people who are so damn practical, and look what the city looks like using your metric.

You are either going to be content wallowing in your own self pity, or open your minds to something constructive that would draw attention to, and underscore what the city of Detroit really needs, which is a vision.

All the money in the world for fixing basics, which should be covered by your tax dollars, won't give you a vision to what the future of the city could be.

Lighting schemes aside, this begs the larger question-

When are the people of this region going to wake up and realize they are squandering their greatest resources, constantly carping about how great things used to be, tossing blame around rather than doing something about it.

What ever happened to mass rallies, protesting in the streets?

You could take a page from your parents and grandparents who marched in the 60's for social change, and you may actually get some press on it.

You're all acting like survivors of some great tragedy who would rather drown their memories in self pity and constant naysaying rather than doing something about it.

There have been many positive reactions to this thread, and now the tide has turned to pessimism.

If this blog serves nothing more than opening up one person's closed mind to the possibilities of what can be, rather than what is, then it's been a success in my view.

Geez, we put a president in the White House who exemplifies the power of what can be, whether or not you voted for him is immaterial, the story is extraordinary.

Time to grow up, Detroit, and start assessing blame where it's due, holding your elected officials' feet to the fire and demanding accountability as to where your tax dollars are spent.

Get the lighting commission to light your streets if it's such a big concern to you. You are already taxed for it.

Oh, and by the way, eventhough the state is plugging budget holes with stimulus money, doesn't make it right or acceptable.
That's up to those of you who vote.

[Locke09]

No one is being a pessimist on this thread, yet. People are asserting that there are much more important priorities than lighting buildings. That is not defeated thinking. That is mature and responsible thinking. And that is what has been lacking for so long in this whole country. Wasting money when it is plentiful [[or seemingly plentiful) and having nothing in reserve when times get tight.

How about coming up with a novel use for stimulus money that actually does stimulate the economy and benefit the people, preferably in a sustainable manner. That would be impressive.

Oh yeah....and the stimulus money is our tax money.

The idea of the outside lighting is good, just not the use of stimulus money for it.

[Stosh]

That's because you've given up.

Why, yes we have. Thanks for sharing that thought. We are so much better off for that.

All I hear is whining from people who are so damn practical, and look what the city looks like using your metric.

Practicality is what this city needs, not madness. I think a little practicality would actually help.

You are either going to be content wallowing in your own self pity, or open your minds to something constructive that would draw attention to, and underscore what the city of Detroit really needs, which is a vision.

And really, this lighting scheme will underscore what? What Detroit really needs? Better schools? Better government? A tax base that fits the government? Less opressive taxes on the citizens? Fixing the neighborhoods?

All the money in the world for fixing basics, which should be covered by your tax dollars, won't give you a vision to what the future of the city could be.

Well, it don't cover it. 300 million +deficit, on top of the State's clusterf*^k.

Lighting schemes aside, this begs the larger question-

When are the people of this region going to wake up and realize they are squandering their greatest resources, constantly carping about how great things used to be, tossing blame around rather than doing something about it.

Any suggestions that will actually fix the city are more than welcome. We'll nit-pick and rip them apart as they come in, thanks. Can you give some concrete examples of this alleged waste of resources? Your'e more than welcome to come up and run for office if there's anything that you feel that you can steer the region toward.

What ever happened to mass rallies, protesting in the streets?

You could take a page from your parents and grandparents who marched in the 60's for social change, and you may actually get some press on it.

Last time I looked, inciting a riot was against the law in this state. Besides, we still haven't fully recovered from the negative press from 1984's Tigerfest...

You're all acting like survivors of some great tragedy who would rather drown their memories in self pity and constant naysaying rather than doing something about it.

Well, that's because it IS a tragedy, Lorax. Scan the news reports.

[quote]There have been many positive reactions to this thread, and now the tide has turned to pessimism. [quote]

Gee. I wonder why...

If this blog serves nothing more than opening up one person's closed mind to the possibilities of what can be, rather than what is, then it's been a success in my view.

Geez, we put a president in the White House who exemplifies the power of what can be, whether or not you voted for him is immaterial, the story is extraordinary.

Time to grow up, Detroit, and start assessing blame where it's due, holding your elected officials' feet to the fire and demanding accountability as to where your tax dollars are spent.

Get the lighting commission to light your streets if it's such a big concern to you. You are already taxed for it.

Oh, and by the way, eventhough the state is plugging budget holes with stimulus money, doesn't make it right or acceptable.
That's up to those of you who vote.

Thank you, for restating that again!. I think the citizens of Detroit can figure it out on their own. Maybe you could consider a few letters on the Freep and News websites to stir them up a bit. How about the Michigan Chronicle?

[Lorax]

Well, I'm going to apologize for starting this thread.

Obviously the rest of you have done such a bang up job in the ideas department, that you have it all in hand.

You know what the issues are facing the region, and seem to have the answers on how to fix them.

Why is it then, that Detroit keeps sliding down a sinkhole?

The defeatism in this forum is breathtaking.

Someone offers a positive, forward thinking proposal, an idea, if you will, to bring some real visual change to the city, something to be proud of, and all that comes back is whining negativism.

Sure, it's easy to pounce on something new, and to try and find ways to make it impractical, that's the easy route.

However, the Detroit I grew up in wasn't occupied by a bunch of defeatists. They knew how to solve problems, not throw up roadblocks to any new or better ideas getting through.

With the attitudes I see here, it's no wonder Detroit is taking it's final plunge. Even cities like Pittsburgh and Cleveland have done a better job of arresting their problems, moving beyond their old industries, and emerging smaller, yet better places for it. Ask anyone who lives there, and there is renewed pride in being a native of the area.

With the billions wasted on misguided development plans over the years, you can't tell me there isn't funding available somewhere to carry out projects that would provide the kind of visual impact that something like an illumination project would.

People need to see changes happening before they believe it. It that means replacing lamp posts, so be it, if it means twice weekly garbage collection so be it. Snow removal, fine. All well and good, and things that should be done with the taxes collected. If they are not being done, call city hall.

This thread wasn't suppose to be about the dull and earnest day-to-day operations of the city, go to another thread for that, there's plenty of them.

If New York took this same attitude, then I guess revamping Central Park, restoring city monuments, paying for public art installations are all wastes of time, based on what I'm hearing here.

And New York has a collapsing infrastucture, exploding manhole covers, sewers collapsing, problems with trash pick up, the subway is filthy and unsafe. I guess everything else, including expousing new ideas, should grind to a halt in New York until these things get fixed.

And in a city with 11 million people, in a far smaller area than Detroit, New York's problems are only magnified, so Detroit has no excuses.

So I withdrawl my premise, and wish you the best of luck, and I promise to not start another thread.