8 New Retailers Coming to The Auburn

**French777** · October-03-12, 07:25 AM

"The retailers will include Top Soil, a vegetarian restaurant run by the same owner as the popular Russell St. Deli in Eastern Market; Go Cycle Studios, an exercise outlet; Hugh, a housewares and personal accessories store; Nora, a design-oriented lifestyle store, and Source Booksellers, moving from a nearby location."

Great News, that corridor is becoming quite a hot spot.

http://www.freep.com/article/2012100...CFRONTPAGE%7Cs

**downtownguy** · October-03-12, 09:58 AM

I generally like what Kraemer Design Group does, but I'm not thrilled with the look of the Auburn. The first floor brick is nice, but couldn't they have continued it up to other floors? The rest of it looks cheap.

**Detroitnerd** · October-03-12, 09:59 AM

How interesting. When you actually build a space with mixed-use, and don't devote gargantuan sections to one business, you attract a lot of small businesses. I wish more developers would pay attention to this.

On the other hand, this building's facade is uninspiring. For a flagship kind of development, this kind of architecture could exist anywhere from Albuquerque to Albany...

**Eric_c** · October-03-12, 10:48 AM

I wouldn't say it's any sort of 'flagship' - just a neighborhood retail strip with zero lot line and I'm glad to see it.

**Detroitnerd** · October-03-12, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Eric_c

I wouldn't say it's any sort of 'flagship'

Yeah, you're right. It's only the first high-profile mixed-use development on Detroit's main drag. Silly me thinking that signaled some kind of new direction ...

**bailey** · October-03-12, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Yeah, you're right. It's only the first high-profile mixed-use development on Detroit's main drag. Silly me thinking that signaled some kind of new direction ...

the fact it was built at all is a signal of a new direction. being butt hurt over the design not being "cool" enough is pretty ridiculous.

**casscorridor** · October-03-12, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by bailey

the fact it was built at all is a signal of a new direction. being butt hurt over the design not being "cool" enough is pretty ridiculous.

Yeah I think it is great. I don't care for the design but I am sure a lot of young students and yuppies will love the modern look. I would prefer brick and perhaps a design reminiscent of historic architecture but what is important aestheticly the size and scale of the building and how it is orienred toward the street and surrounding neighborhood. In this respect it does its job quite well, with the addition of new retail to the area and the possibility of window shopping making an entry into the cass corridor.

**Detroitnerd** · October-03-12, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by bailey

the fact it was built at all is a signal of a new direction. being butt hurt over the design not being "cool" enough is pretty ridiculous.

And I counter that your remarks are little more than "at least they built sumptin."

You may have not noted that I both praised the building and offered a criticism. But I forgot that according to the Detroit Booster Code, you're not allowed to say anything negative when dollars are invested.

As for being "hurt" [[do you ever miss an opportunity to try to turn a discussion into an emotional moment?), it's perfectly legitimate to discuss the aesthetics of what is built.

I see, it's not enough that I praise it for its intelligent mixed-use design. I have to praise it for its mediocre facade as well. I am supposed to say it's inspiring architecture when it isn't.

And it does go beyond aesthetics, which you call "being cool enough." When I see architecture like this, the subtext is that it is temporary. It is built to last 30 years, until the loans are paid off, and then is to be replaced with something else.

Furthermore, excellent design performs the function of making us proud and pleased. When he was asked why it was important to spend princely sums to build Detroit's main branch library, when a concrete and rebar building could have done just as well, librarian Adam Strohm famously said: "Mean surroundings make mean people; things of beauty cleanse our hearts. True architecture, as any other artistic expression of the human mind, has a social function to perform in the liberal education of mankind."

Then again, what does he know, right? This is Detroit 2012, and we're just glad that "at least they built sumptin."

**Eric_c** · October-03-12, 01:15 PM

Didn't know Cass Avenue was the main drag in Detroit. At Canfield. Got it now. I'm sorry.

And the Auburn is certainly leagues above anything built on Woodward recently. Compuware and the Ellington and those new buildings incorporated into Woodward Gardens are garbage, I agree.

Please forgive me for not recognizing and fully appreciating the scope and value of this truly groundbreaking project on Detroit's main drag.

**bailey** · October-03-12, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

And I counter that your remarks are little more than "at least they built sumptin."

And I counter that no matter what was built you'd have found something to nit pick and decry as a disservice to Detroit.

**DetroitPlanner** · October-03-12, 01:37 PM

I read the article and noticed they don't mention all of the retailers. Will one of the missing ones be a party store? Will Whole Foods sell beer or booze?

**Detroitnerd** · October-03-12, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Eric_c

Didn't know Cass Avenue was the main drag in Detroit. At Canfield. Got it now. I'm sorry.

No, you're right about that. Sorry for the error, Eric_c. Don't know how that happened as I've driven by it several times and should have known better.

Wasn't there a big stink over this being built with non-union contractors? Seems to me I recall picket lines in the early days.

**Detroitnerd** · October-03-12, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by bailey

And I counter that no matter what was built you'd have found something to nit pick and decry as a disservice to Detroit.

Maybe. Maybe not. I remember a few years ago before the Greektown Casino's hotel went up, this one guy was standing on the sidewalk and said, "When this hotel goes up, this place is going to be beautiful."

That gave me pause. I do think there is a pervasive idea that any investment, any new construction, any infusion of energy, is automatically going to be beautiful. Maybe you're like that guy on the street, dazzled by the newness, feeling that it represents something awe-inspiring and wonderful. It would seem to be a widespread attitude.

As for the Auburn: I think it's well-designed, and I said as much. Mixed-use is really hot, and it aids in creating a dense, walkable neighborhood, and that's going to be great for that area.

But I also feel the facade leaves much to be desired, and I wish it had used brick paneling instead to better fit in with the neighborhood's more historic buildings.

Take all that together and I think you have a pretty nuanced view of the building.

Unless you simply cannot tolerate any cons, and everything must be all pros, and anything new is automatically beautiful beyond compare.

**scottn55** · October-03-12, 02:27 PM

While I certainly wouldn't go so far as to say it's a "disservice to Detroit" I definitely think it's an ugly building. That's my opinion and aesthetics are highly subjective. Others would probably describe it as "clean" and "modern". Just my two cents [[worth every penny I might add!).

**Gistok** · October-03-12, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

But I also feel the facade leaves much to be desired, and I wish it had used brick paneling instead to better fit in with the neighborhood's more historic buildings.

I'm with you on this one DN... maybe when they built out the permanent Greektown Casino, they could have saved the "Lee Press-on Bricks" and used it on this building... it would have been an improvement.

There's just nothing pleasing to the eye about this building. But then again... they could always eventually do what they did to the ugly Blue Cross Building on Jefferson and Beaubien across from the RenCen.... slap on a veneer of mirrored glass...

**j to the jeremy** · October-03-12, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

How interesting. When you actually build a space with mixed-use, and don't devote gargantuan sections to one business, you attract a lot of small businesses. I wish more developers would pay attention to this.

On the other hand, this building's facade is uninspiring. For a flagship kind of development, this kind of architecture could exist anywhere from Albuquerque to Albany...

Actually, the small businesses beat out the chains only because this building received government grants requiring that they rent only to independent retailers.

**Detroitnerd** · October-03-12, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by j to the jeremy

Actually, the small businesses beat out the chains only because this building received government grants requiring that they rent only to independent retailers.

Oh, I didn't mean the size of the businesses, I meant the size of the spaces inside. But so much the better. Little businesses add up to something greater than their sum, and can be more easily replaced if they close. Big businesses demand concessions to be there and leave big holes when they fail.

**stasu1213** · October-03-12, 05:54 PM

I am glad that the building is at the sidewalk instead of pushed back behind a parking lot. The building is a nice looking building which serves it's purpose. I also love the fact that local retail instead of chain will open in the storefronts. I love the Source bookstore. Will Go Cycle Outlet sell sport apparel such as sweat pants jogging shirts and sneakers? It would be nice if it does. It would be nice if the Asian community that had left Cass return to the strip. Young Asian students and those who work could set up an Asian Village on Cass.

**softailrider** · October-03-12, 07:02 PM

Any decent retail that doesn't include wig shops, hair braiding places and crappy party store are welcome by me. I'll take any exterior design and not complain.

**Wheels** · October-03-12, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by softailrider

Any decent retail that doesn't include wig shops, hair braiding places and crappy party store are welcome by me. I'll take any exterior design and not complain.

You left out nail salon, check cashing and pawn shop.

**Gistok** · October-03-12, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by softailrider

Any decent retail that doesn't include wig shops, hair braiding places and crappy party store are welcome by me. I'll take any exterior design and not complain.

I live in the suburbs... and I like Midtown... I just don't want to look like "any" suburb.