Gilbert Announces Purchase of One Woodward

**gthomas** · December-04-12, 02:19 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

One Woodward Ave. doesn't have any ground floor space available... just the lobby and elevators.

Are you sure?

**gthomas** · December-04-12, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by gthomas

Did anyone see this, One Detroit Center ground floor redesign? Not bad looking

Can you say ummm.."PF Chang Bistro. What a PERFECT location for it...*dreaming*

**Dexlin** · December-04-12, 03:03 AM

I think the problem is that we're all talking about One Woodward, and then you slip in some random thing about One Detroit Center without including a link to anything.

**Gistok** · December-04-12, 03:29 AM

Dexlin is correct, gthomas... you're mixing apples and oranges One Detroit Center and One Woodward Ave.

One Woodward Ave. has a soaring glass enclosed lobby that has a much smaller footprint than the floors above it. And besides the elevators in the buildings core, there is not much more room than a hallway around the 2 halves of the central building core. Changing the entry lobby space that goes around the building core would damage Yamasaki's design....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joealisa/3040226110/

As this image of the lobby ceiling shows... there's not much room around the lobby around the middle core of the building... the black/white area is the entrance to the elevator hallway that bisects that building core...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joealisa/2636237423/

**Gistok** · December-04-12, 03:31 AM

Here's something interesting... someone has been proposing [[for 7 years) turning the skyway between One Woodward Ave. and the Guardian Building into a sky bar....

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...ridge.php#more

**gthomas** · December-04-12, 04:03 AM

Yes, I'm sorry for the confusion. I was looking up info of "One Woodward" and the "One Detroit Center" popped up and showed a nice rendering. I will admit, I took it off balance a little, I just wanted to bring it up because I was mentioning "Gilberts ground floor retail" standard he has planned for most of his building. I apologize for the confusion..

**Dexlin** · December-04-12, 07:22 AM

Well, do you think you could post the link of where you found the information on the One Detroit project? Is it an active proposal, just a concept...what is it; who's behind it?

**Bham1982** · December-04-12, 09:14 AM

This is one of my two favorite modernist office buildings in Metro Detroit. Really a world class design, and I hope they don't touch the exterior.

They can go crazy on the interior, excepting the lobby.

**Gistok** · December-04-12, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

This is one of my two favorite modernist office buildings in Metro Detroit. Really a world class design, and I hope they don't touch the exterior.

They can go crazy on the interior, excepting the lobby.

Absolutely agree! Maybe a newspaper/snack "cart" in the lobby, but it should otherwise be left in its' still surviving original state.

When I do Detroit tours for busloads of Germans [[here for metro Detroit German clubs as cultural folksdance/choral traveling groups)... one of the things I do with them when downtown is take them for a ride on the people mover... with a stop off at the Financial Station. From the edge of the platform we view One Woodward Ave., which is in a sense the prototype for the World Trade Center... and there is always a contemplative quiet among the groups, in an almost spiritual sense as they reflect back on the memory of 9/11. It's strange, but it's like this Yamasaki design is a part of the history of that event. They always take photographs and talk among themselves about it.

This building really needs to be preserved, undisturbed... at least the exterior and lobby areas.

**DetBill** · December-04-12, 10:00 AM

Glad to see Gilbert continuing to expand, He really has stepped up to the plate. My only worry is if something ever happens to his company and their solvency... Detroit would be devastated by having so much ownership in one basket. I guess this is better than having little interest in the buildings over time though. It doesnt seem like there is a ton of interest in any of those buildings from other purchasers.

**Gistok** · December-04-12, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by DetBill

Glad to see Gilbert continuing to expand, He really has stepped up to the plate. My only worry is if something ever happens to his company and their solvency... Detroit would be devastated by having so much ownership in one basket. I guess this is better than having little interest in the buildings over time though. It doesnt seem like there is a ton of interest in any of those buildings from other purchasers.

I wouldn't worry about Gilbert's solvency... he's got 2 of the 4 new Gambling licenses in Ohio [[Cleveland and Columbus) so those cash cows will likely keep him going...

The irony here is that the money that Ohio no longer sends to Michigan Casinos... now goes to Ohio Casinos... and then to Gilbert... who will then send it right back to Michigan for more downtown building purchases... win-win!

**downtownguy** · December-04-12, 01:50 PM

I heard a rumor recently, [[Note: RUMOR) that Gilbert has an agreement to buy the Kresge Building on Woodward at State from Dennis Kefallinos and Boydel Development. The Detroit Shoppe pop-up has been in the space since the World Series, so a Gilbert connection is already there. Has anybody else heard of this?

**Gistok** · December-04-12, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by downtownguy

I heard a rumor recently, [[Note: RUMOR) that Gilbert has an agreement to buy the Kresge Building on Woodward at State from Dennis Kefallinos and Boydel Development. The Detroit Shoppe pop-up has been in the space since the World Series, so a Gilbert connection is already there. Has anybody else heard of this?

I hope you're right... I'd rather have garish costly interiors... than cheap interiors with linoleum floors.

**DetroitPlanner** · December-04-12, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

I hope you're right... I'd rather have garish costly interiors... than cheap interiors with linoleum floors.

Both are hideous. At least garish don't remind me of Toronto [[home of cheap buildings with the exception of BCE place)

**southen** · December-04-12, 10:11 PM

perhaps i havent been as observant as of late but the exterior lighting was on at the top of the building this evening. i cant recall the last time it was lit up. it looked great.

**downtownguy** · December-04-12, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

I hope you're right... I'd rather have garish costly interiors... than cheap interiors with linoleum floors.

Lol. Are you referring to Kefallinos' recent "renovation" or the old Kresge decor?

**Gistok** · December-04-12, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by downtownguy

Lol. Are you referring to Kefallinos' recent "renovation" or the old Kresge decor?

The first one... which is probably indistinguishable from the 2nd one....

**raptor56** · December-05-12, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by downtownguy

I heard a rumor recently, [[Note: RUMOR) that Gilbert has an agreement to buy the Kresge Building on Woodward at State from Dennis Kefallinos and Boydel Development. The Detroit Shoppe pop-up has been in the space since the World Series, so a Gilbert connection is already there. Has anybody else heard of this?

Rumor has been validated by Crains last week.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ilding-to-fold#

Gilbert is bidding against 2 unnamed potential buyers

**gameguy56** · December-05-12, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by raptor56

Rumor has been validated by Crains last week.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ilding-to-fold#

Gilbert is bidding against 2 unnamed potential buyers

This guy is crazy, like, legitimately is either going to single-handedly revive Detroit or go belly up trying. I give him mad props.

**gthomas** · December-05-12, 01:36 AM

Originally Posted by gameguy56

This guy is crazy, like, legitimately is either going to single-handedly revive Detroit or go belly up trying. I give him mad props.

He seems to grabbing everything along Woodward. He need to get that ugly "Gold Building" on Woodward next to the Guardian Building. Weren't there plans for football field sized flat tv screens to be placed on the facade by the state awhile back?

That will puzzle things together once the Woodward and Monroe site is built upon. He is not playing around and is moving quickly, wish the best for him.

**Gannon** · December-05-12, 04:50 AM

I'm not so sure about Dan Gilbert, the more I learn.

This One Woodward thing may reveal more than he desires.

They impose rules of behavior on their tenants which are beyond reasonable, and border upon the tyrannical. Plus, it seems they are attempting to impose their design aesthetic [[and I'm being generous here) upon each tenant, to the point of declaring each floor a theme that must be followed.

Come on. We're adults here. At least beyond the revolving door in his HR room...and the head of his design group. Is she really 25?!

I think allowing adult beverages and independent design is a minimum...we'll see how this plays out.

I'll try to get a picture of the new 'building rules' later this morning...

**AGinthe313** · December-05-12, 09:00 AM

FROM MLive:

Will 1201 and 1207 Woodward be Gilbert's next downtown Detroit purchase?
DETROIT, MI - Exclusive Realty agent Chuck Mady confirmed Monday that the three-building package of structures at 1201, 1207 and 1505 Woodward Ave. are under contract, but could not disclose who the potential buyer or buyers could be.

http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/index.ssf/2012/12/will_1201_and_1207_woodward_be.html

**Spartan** · December-05-12, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by gthomas

He seems to grabbing everything along Woodward. He need to get that ugly "Gold Building" on Woodward next to the Guardian Building. Weren't there plans for football field sized flat tv screens to be placed on the facade by the state awhile back?

That will puzzle things together once the Woodward and Monroe site is built upon. He is not playing around and is moving quickly, wish the best for him.

Goal to rename Woodward past 75 to "Gilbert Ave"?

**raptor56** · December-05-12, 11:02 PM

I was slightly impressed when the crazy color schemes of the Chase Tower were significantly toned down for Dime Building and First National interiors. They have color, but are not outlandishly over the top.

**Gannon** · December-05-12, 11:06 PM

So here are the rules, if your building suddenly becomes owned by Dan Gilbert. He obviously went to a parochial school...back in the days of the Flintstones. Although the glaring errors in grammar, punctuation, and content would get him beaten by rulers. Maybe it's not too late...

The following rules are enforced within Bedrock properties by designated security services. Violation of these rules may result in expulsion from the property or arrest. The following are not permitted within Bedrock properties.

1.Disorderly or disruptive conduct of any kind, including using language, an utterance, or gesture, or engaging in a display or act that is obscene, physically threatening or manacing, or done in a manner that is likely to inflict or incite an immediate breach of the peace, fighting, running, wrestling, horseplay, skating, skate boarding, rollerblading, bicycling and/or riding a scooter, yelling, throwing objects, littering, playing radios, and loitering.

2. Acts which can result in physical harm to persons or damage to property.

3. Acts prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.

4. Presence on the premises by school children during school hours other than organized school events.

5. Possessing any open container of alcohol or consuming alcohol anywhere except within premises licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

6. Obstructing, blocking or restricting walkways, eating areas or other areas in a manner that may cause inconvenience to others, represent a safety hazard or interfere with the view by others of doorways, windows and/or other merchandise or facility displays.

7. Assisting unauthorized access to the building or propping open exterior doors in violation of building security policies.

8. Tampering, misuse, abuse, or destruction of emergency equipment on the property.

9. Any form of solicitation, sales of products or services, or distributing handbills, leaflets, commercial advertising or promotional material of any kind or offering samples of items which are sold or made available for sale or in exchange for a donation or contribution, without prior written permission of the Bedrock properties.

10. The presence on the premises of persons 17 or younger unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian 21 years of age or older or as part of an organized school or tour group.

11. No smoking in any area of the premises. Shoes and shirts must be worn in Bedrock Properties and no pets are allowed on the premises with the exception of service animals such as leader dogs.

The rules and regulations listed above are not all-inclusive and may be modified at any time by Bedrock Real Estate Sercies, Violators of any of these rules and regulations will be asked to leave and may also be subject to future banning and arrest and/or prosecution.

He missed no chewing gum...and no roaming the halls without a pass.

I'm sure these will all be followed to the letter by each of his tenants. Because I'm sure he's always followed every rule. Uh-huh.

Cheers!