Illitch secretly buying up properties, again.

[Wingnatic]

Whatever your opinion of Mike Illitch is , keep in mind that he's keeping the Red Wings in Detroit when it would have been very easy to move the team to the suburbs ,could have moved the Tigers to the suburbs as well . Either way the Red Wings need a new arena , not the current one thats stuffed into an area I compare to a sardine can . Ever take a shuttle bus from any local establishment and try and catch one back ? If you have you'll know what I mean . Be thankful Matty Maroun didn't buy up the property in question , he's going to lose a few parcels when they start building that new bridge in the same manner

[MSUguy]

Lots of comments here that might make someone think that this area is a garden spot. Have you seen most of these building? Affordable? Perhaps? Decent -- from what I know, NO.

Have you? These buildings are very nice looking from the street, they could probably use some TLC on inside.

http://goo.gl/maps/Z8P3d

[rex]

really is too bad. From the outside they do look Ok. Probably a lot more interesting that what ever residential ends up being built over there. How do you link a streetview?

[Gorath]

Renters have been given an additional month to move. And it appears that the two months they have to move will be rent free.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...more-time-move

[gthomas]

ARENAWATCH


Signs of Ilitch Arena Development Spotted Just off of Woodward

Thursday, May 2, 2013, by Paul Beshouri






Share on email

94

• 
• 
• 
• 

As more and more property gets snapped up in the area across Woodward Avenue from Brush Park, rumors of a new arena—courtesy of Little Caeser's tycoon Mike Ilitch—are about to go to the next level. We mean the "Look, mini signs of development action!" level. These photos from earlier today show equipment used for environmental testing. Our tipster, an expert in architecture and development, explained that the drilling machinery seen here looks like phase two of a typical redevelopment plan for a large site in Detroit.When someone wants to build on a lot in the city, the first step is figuring out what was there previously. After that, you'll want to take soil samples to check for signs of contamination. That is what we see evidence of with these trucks, which we're told are used exclusively for that purpose and are a good indicator of development to come.
Mr. Ilitch will not comment on the arena's future location, though everything from property binging to loose lips have suggested the area just north of Downtown across I-75 will be the spot.
But why are the trucks' origin concealed with blue tape/paint? To us, this suggests some of that Ilitch sneakiness at work. Seems like Ilitchville is not ready for you all to know that they're drilling DEEPDEEP™

[Gorath]

Oh, soil boring rigs. Certainly a sign that things are going to move from "schematic design" phase to "design development" phase. The structural engineer needs to know what is down there so a foundation can be designed. You got to know how much weight the soil can support so that you can size the footing. And at what depth. A very large building may even need to go down to bedrock.

The boring rig in the photos is at the SE corner of Woodward & Temple. They will typically bore at multiple locations.

Why do the trucks have their company name covered in blue tape?

[Gistok]

The tape on construction vehicles was also used on construction vehicles when the United Artists Building/Theatre complex was cleaned out and had a new roof put on. Likely leaving a name/phone number on the vehicles would be a way for inquiring folks to call the company and ask questions... questions that the Ilitch's don't want people giving out answers to...

[Dexlin]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned, but thconsidering the equipment is on Woodward, could is possibly be testing for the Woodward Streetcar that's to begin work next month? Stop 5 [[West) is to be located at the southeast corner of Woodward and Sproat, which is a block south of Temple. Numerous bids have already gone out - some already answered - for the project. Not sure if soil remediation work was one of them, but it could have been.

I was always under the impression that the arena wasn't going to be right on Woodward, but since we don't know the exact location, who knows? It'd make sense for them to have it right at the streetcar stop, so maybe this is all coordinated.

[Gorath]

What residents of apartment buildings in Detroit's Cass Corridor are saying about their abrupt notice to vacate

[Honky Tonk]

What residents of apartment buildings in Detroit's Cass Corridor are saying about their abrupt notice to vacate

"A phone call to Mercier’s house in Grosse Pointe Wednesday afternoon has not been returned. A woman who answered the phone confirmed that he lived there, but said he was out of the house and that he was recovering from a recent heart operation."

What a surprise! I didn't think he had one.....

[TKshreve]

Why do the trucks have their company name covered in blue tape?

Perhaps that's Blue Line's new logo?

[downtownguy]

"A phone call to Mercier’s house in Grosse Pointe Wednesday afternoon has not been returned. A woman who answered the phone confirmed that he lived there, but said he was out of the house and that he was recovering from a recent heart operation."

What a surprise! I didn't think he had one.....

Mercier is the previous owner. According to the article, other sellers in the area have had to sign confidentiality agreements. The buyer is the scoundrel, not Mercier. And that scoundrel is likely Ilitch.

[Honky Tonk]

Mercier is the previous owner. According to the article, other sellers in the area have had to sign confidentiality agreements. The buyer is the scoundrel, not Mercier. And that scoundrel is likely Ilitch.

My appologies then, and wishes for a speedy, healthy recovery.

[Spartan]

Or not...

http://www.tv20detroit.com/news/Evic...213357191.html

[emu steve]

Or not...

http://www.tv20detroit.com/news/Evic...213357191.html

This is certainly good news for the residences but it also mean that the area to be redeveloped continues to SHRINK.

There was another article that Dean K. has plans for his bar which is on Henry, what near Cass [[?).

This project is looking more and more to me like what these projects are: building an arena for a sports team[[s) and some supporting development at adjacent blocks plus a few redevelopments south of Fisher tossed in as a sweetener.

Anyone who expected say a dozen new buildings e.g., arena, a half dozen office buildings, maybe 3 or 4 apartment/condo building, etc. will be disappointed AND SHOULD have been disappointed by having such unrealistic expectations.

I never saw that this whole thing was designed to be say a 2 - 3 billion dollar project.

[fanniemae]

Remember all the promises about how the casinos were going to revitalize the city? I hope the so called new entertainment center revs up Detroit. Otherwise, what a mess. People down on their luck living in sub par housing is sad, but hard for them to find digs they can afford.

[Novine]

"I never saw that this whole thing was designed to be say a 2 - 3 billion dollar project"

What's the point of the $300+ million public subsidy?

[Honky Tonk]

This is certainly good news for the residences but it also mean that the area to be redeveloped continues to SHRINK.

Dear God, NO! Where will we find vacant land in Detroit?????

[Richard]

"I never saw that this whole thing was designed to be say a 2 - 3 billion dollar project"

What's the point of the $300+ million public subsidy?

600 million investment or less with 300 million in tax capture more like 60/40 with his being the 40% or building wealth at 40c on the dollar,nice investment.

Use the tax capture as collateral for 250 mill quick cash so expect a 250 mill investment.

Question is who comes up with the additional monies if the tax capture boundaries do not pay the note ?