David Whitney Building Renovation [Now Open for Business]

**Jason** · January-10-14, 08:12 PM

I hope that what is being rebuilt is being done accurately and of good quality. And not: "oh, there was a "cornice" here... Let's see..." *finds the cheapest foam cornice and glues it to the facade*

In other words I hope it is a proper restoration, rather than a vaguely historically themed renovation. The original articles made it seem like it was going to be a restoration. It's too early to tell based off that photo and small piece of cornice, but I'm worried that a restoration was too good to be true. [[and yes, regardless, I'm glad that more square feet are being reactivated downtown)

**Gistok** · January-11-14, 11:49 AM

Jason... I was thinking the same thing... Lee Press-on Cornices...

I don't know for sure... but I would imagine that some of the specifications for getting historic tax credits... although they don't demand a complete restoration... they may demand that quality materials be used. Not really sure of specifics...

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · January-11-14, 01:35 PM

There is a new rendering on Curbed

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...-rendering.php

**dtowncitylover** · January-11-14, 04:08 PM

I'm excited to see the inside and use that PM stop all the time just to go inside the building. I love the sleek black and white look.

**Detroitdave** · January-14-14, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

I'm excited to see the inside and use that PM stop all the time just to go inside the building. I love the sleek black and white look.

Can you see it from that stop ? if so I'm going to go check it out .

**dtowncitylover** · January-14-14, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitdave

Can you see it from that stop ? if so I'm going to go check it out .

Not sure, I meant when it finally is all open.

**gthomas** · January-15-14, 10:09 AM

I hope theirs plans to remodel the PM. It
needs a elevator.

**gumby** · January-15-14, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by gthomas

I hope theirs plans to remodel the PM. It
needs a elevator.

They won't need to. You will be able to use the Whitney Building elevators just like before they closed the building.

**Gistok** · January-15-14, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by gumby

They won't need to. You will be able to use the Whitney Building elevators just like before they closed the building.

Agreed! The last thing that they need is another distraction to the tower along GCP. A bulky elevator tower would add another eyesore to the GCP side of the building, like the external stairs added....

**nain rouge** · January-15-14, 04:16 PM

It makes me happy to see workers fixing up that building. Grand Circus Park is even cooler than Campus Martius in my opinion. It's such a cool mashup of the big city vibe with the quaintness of old Detroit. Just sit in the park and face the church and it's like you've gone in back in time. Turn the other direction and it's back to reality.

**Gistok** · January-15-14, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by nain rouge

It makes me happy to see workers fixing up that building. Grand Circus Park is even cooler than Campus Martius in my opinion. It's such a cool mashup of the big city vibe with the quaintness of old Detroit. Just sit in the park and face the church and it's like you've gone in back in time. Turn the other direction and it's back to reality.

West Grand Circus Park was always cooler looking than East Grand Circus park. This historic postcard shows what it once was... a wall of buildings. Sadly 3 of these are now gone... the Statler, the Tuller, and the dark brown [[3rd building from the right) Hurley Hospital.

**mikeg19** · January-16-14, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

West Grand Circus Park was always cooler looking than East Grand Circus park. This historic postcard shows what it once was... a wall of buildings. Sadly 3 of these are now gone... the Statler, the Tuller, and the dark brown [[3rd building from the right) Hurley Hospital.

It's kinda sickening that we couldn't hold onto the Statler for a few more years. It's hard to not see that building getting redeveloped now if it were still standing.

On a separate note, what's up with the Park Ave apartments?

**rbdetsport** · January-16-14, 01:28 PM

I agree, Mike. When I saw that postcard, that was instantly the first and only thing I could think about. The terrible memory of seeing them tear down the building floor by floor came to mind. The Statler is so much more recent than Hudsons. I could see Hudsons still standing vacant today [[I am sure there would have been multiple plans that failed before the economy collapsed, so while there would have been a ton of interest I dont think it would have ever panned out). But I would be willing to bet that the Statler would have been undergoing renovations today, just as the Davids have/are.

**Jason** · January-16-14, 02:44 PM

Yeah it's really sad that those buildings were lost. imo it would even be better to have abandoned buildings there.

Right now other than a small handful of abandoned buildings, the emptiness to the west runs directly into GCP. On street view in google maps you have a clear view of the MGM garage and MotorCity Casino which are .5-1 miles away and not particularly tall.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · January-16-14, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by rbdetsport

I agree, Mike. When I saw that postcard, that was instantly the first and only thing I could think about. The terrible memory of seeing them tear down the building floor by floor came to mind. The Statler is so much more recent than Hudsons. I could see Hudsons still standing vacant today [[I am sure there would have been multiple plans that failed before the economy collapsed, so while there would have been a ton of interest I dont think it would have ever panned out). But I would be willing to bet that the Statler would have been undergoing renovations today, just as the Davids have/are.

Given the current demand for housing, it does seem likely that the Statler would have been a candidate for apartments/condos. It really shows how short sighted so many civic "leaders" have been. It sure would have been a great boost to the area to have the Broderick, Whitney AND Statler all full of residents or visitors again.

But I suppose that "Demolition George" Jackson still feels that the vacant parcel is more attractive to development.

**Khorasaurus** · January-17-14, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by mikeg19

On a separate note, what's up with the Park Ave apartments?

I'm wondering this, too. Are they vacant now? You'd think with the market the way it is, someone would have snapped them up, re-decorated the apartments, and doubled the rent.

**DetroitPlanner** · January-17-14, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by gumby

They won't need to. You will be able to use the Whitney Building elevators just like before they closed the building.

Note that the current set up was put together prior to ADA. They should really do something additional to get disabled folks from the second floor to the platform at a minimum. There is about 5-7 additional steps that one needs to go up from the second floor.

**Bucket** · January-17-14, 03:58 PM

Of the buildings pictured in the postcard fronting Grand Circus Park:

2 are occupied: Kales and Grand Park Centre.
1 currently undergoing renovation: David Whitney
2 sit vacant/abandoned: Park Avenue Building and Park Apartments
4 have been demolished: Adams Theater, Tuller, Statler and the building between the Kales and the former Adams Theater.

**Gistok** · January-17-14, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Bucket

Of the buildings pictured in the postcard fronting Grand Circus Park:

2 are occupied: Kales and Grand Park Centre.
1 currently undergoing renovation: David Whitney
2 sit vacant/abandoned: Park Avenue Building and Park Apartments
4 have been demolished: Adams Theater, Tuller, Statler and the building between the Kales and the former Adams Theater.

Well the Adams Theatre... AKA Fine Arts Building was demolished because the wooden framework of the building was collapsing due to the inattention of the Ilitch's. Hopefully they will be prodded to finally rebuild behind the secured facade.

The Fine Arts Building predates the Adams Theatre by about 15 years, and developer John Kunsky built a small lobby into the Fine Arts Building to connect with the Adams behind the back alley of the building. The connections were via a basement hallway to the main floor seating, and a 2nd floor catwalk to the balcony seating.

**gthomas** · March-13-14, 11:44 PM

...Had a thought, why not relocate the GCP people mover station to over Woodward between the Broderick Tower and Aloft David Whitney? Both will have accessibility from street level and inside of building. Expand the station and modernize it, or should it just need to be left alone?

**animatedmartian** · March-14-14, 05:08 AM

Originally Posted by gthomas

...Had a thought, why not relocate the GCP people mover station to over Woodward between the Broderick Tower and Aloft David Whitney? Both will have accessibility from street level and inside of building. Expand the station and modernize it, or should it just need to be left alone?

That would probably cost a lot of money for something that really wouldn't make a difference to people using the station.

A better idea would be to simply move the entrance staircase from the Washington Boulevard corner and put it on the Woodward corner.

**DetroitPlanner** · March-14-14, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

That would probably cost a lot of money for something that really wouldn't make a difference to people using the station.

A better idea would be to simply move the entrance staircase from the Washington Boulevard corner and put it on the Woodward corner.

I am pretty sure that the station will be similar to what it was before the building closed. I hope they fix the ADA issue they have with the stairs by providing a new elevator to street level.

**Gistok** · March-14-14, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

I am pretty sure that the station will be similar to what it was before the building closed. I hope they fix the ADA issue they have with the stairs by providing a new elevator to street level.

OK, now you're confusing me... before the building closed there was only the building inside stairway and elevator to get to the 2nd level of the Whitney Arcade and over to the PM station from the inside. Why would there be a need for a new elevator to street level?

**gnome** · March-14-14, 09:27 AM

I seem to recall that you had to walk up two or three steps to get from the Whitney to th PM station. So, if you were inside on the second floor doing all your holiday dashiki purchases you had to step up to get to the turnstyles.

**DetroitPlanner** · March-14-14, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

OK, now you're confusing me... before the building closed there was only the building inside stairway and elevator to get to the 2nd level of the Whitney Arcade and over to the PM station from the inside. Why would there be a need for a new elevator to street level?

There are two most likely scenarios to retrofit for ADA. Everytime a building has a major rehab, it must comply with these federal rules to allow access for all. The DPM opened prior to ADA. If I remember correctly it is more like 5 or six steps [[approximate four feet in difference). A new elevator that would be located where ether the Drug Store or the Secretary of State was OR a ramp that would require about an additional 1,000 square feet on the second floor as well as eliminate a relatively long walk/roll over to the existing elevators. An new elevator would take up far less space and provide better access to the outside, though it would impact 2 floors instead of one.

I just looked this up it seems that there will be new elevator access.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_2970968.html
http://subwaynut.com/detroit/grand_circus_park/