More Woodbridge Estates Development

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · March-11-14, 12:30 PM

I saw this blurb about 46 new apartments on Model D. The article doesn't provide too much detail other than 46 units in 12 buildings [[seems like a lot of little buildings) and that it will be "affordable". I was hoping for some renderings or a map but didn't find any other info. Anyone familiar with this?

http://www.modeldmedia.com/devnews/M...leHousing.aspx

**DetroitPlanner** · March-11-14, 01:23 PM

Woodbridge Estates website is half-dead.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · March-11-14, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Woodbridge Estates website is half-dead.

Yes it is, which is one reason I was surprised to see something about additional development being proposed.

Curbed has a guess as to where it might be: the Wigle Playfield east of the Lodge

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

**DetroitPlanner** · March-11-14, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

Yes it is, which is one reason I was surprised to see something about additional development being proposed.

Curbed has a guess as to where it might be: the Wigle Playfield east of the Lodge

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

Thanks, Being that I deal with infrastructure, I don't keep up on this stuff.

I wonder if they can keep the old school / rec center and turn it into lofts?

**Danny** · March-11-14, 04:47 PM

At last no more DEAD [[C) KRAK HEADS hanging around in that area! Bring in the McMansions and yuppies to the corridor.

**motz** · March-12-14, 10:50 AM

Ugghh, I am really hoping these new developments don't look absolutely and completely out of place like everything else that has been built around Woodbridge. Neighborhood is so damn gorgeous, deserves much better than condos. But such is life!

**DetroitPlanner** · March-12-14, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by motz

Ugghh, I am really hoping these new developments don't look absolutely and completely out of place like everything else that has been built around Woodbridge. Neighborhood is so damn gorgeous, deserves much better than condos. But such is life!

If you hate that just wait for this if it ever comes to Woodbridge.
http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...ime-condos.php

**motz** · March-12-14, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

If you hate that just wait for this if it ever comes to Woodbridge.
http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...ime-condos.php

To me, personally, that is at least unique. The condos over in Woodbridge Estates are just... terrible. Put that crap out in Troy or Southfield. At least the shipping containers look unique. Cookie cutter condos and $200-300k homes that look like a suburb shipped Detroit some unsold units is so so much worse. [[Again, all opinion. I know I shouldn't be upset when someone is actually investing but geez people, put some effort into the design)

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · March-12-14, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by motz

Ugghh, I am really hoping these new developments don't look absolutely and completely out of place like everything else that has been built around Woodbridge. Neighborhood is so damn gorgeous, deserves much better than condos. But such is life!

In the Model D article is this little blurb:

"Woodbridge Farm, another Slavik development, runs directly adjacent to the west of Woodbridge Estates. Eight single-family house lots remain in that development. Gold says that these homes are being designed with the surrounding historic architecture in mind."

I don't know what Woodbridge Farm is, but it would be nice if in fact the remaining homes would be designed "with the surrounding historic architecture in mind"

**animatedmartian** · March-12-14, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

I don't know what Woodbridge Farm is, but it would be nice if in fact the remaining homes would be designed "with the surrounding historic architecture in mind"

Depends on which historic architecture you mean.

http://goo.gl/maps/xEYCg

http://goo.gl/maps/dljfZ

**nain rouge** · March-12-14, 01:41 PM

Honestly, if those newer "Woodbridge" homes were given more imaginative paint jobs and had a few trimmings and such installed it wouldn't look too out of place. There's only so much you can do about all the cheap siding [[probably vinyl, though I don't know for sure), but it's not a deal killer.

And on a related note, beige paint should be outlawed.

**Bham1982** · March-12-14, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

Depends on which historic architecture you mean.

http://goo.gl/maps/xEYCg

http://goo.gl/maps/dljfZ

The first looks like early 2000's-era construction in Macomb Township.

The marketing could be "all the soul-crushing blandness of the exurbs paired with all the dystopian aspects of city living".

**nain rouge** · March-12-14, 02:07 PM

Bham1982, I think Detroit has been plagued with carbon copy houses since the beginning of the automobile age. Woodbridge Estates is hardly unique to the city. The difference is that, in the early days, the average person spent more time customizing their home. For example, in Levittown, NY - once the epitome of cookie cutter, and one of the first truly modern suburbs - you see quite a bit of illusion of diversity, as homeowners repainted their homes in new colors, invested in different styles of siding, and even built additions.

Today, though, few would bother with such efforts. They're happy enough to replace the old vinyl siding with new vinyl siding, slapping on some more beige paint for good measure. It's all about expediency, because most people look at their homes as something they'll sell in the future, not live in for life. One eye is always on maximizing returns.

**softailrider** · March-12-14, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

Depends on which historic architecture you mean.

http://goo.gl/maps/xEYCg

http://goo.gl/maps/dljfZ

Number two has great bones, falling apart from decades of not being maintained. Too bad houses can't grow arms and take care of themselves. Should be looking beautiful and totally serviceable for the next 50 years.

**nain rouge** · March-12-14, 02:20 PM

Check out the image at the top of the article: http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2011/...st-u-s-suburb/ . That's typical for Levittown.

Few today in Metro Detroit would bother with such changes. Part of the problem is that we don't care. Another is the lack of a truly robust economy.

Any neighborhood in Detroit that was built uniquely from the ground up was intended for the upper class, and you can only have so many neighborhoods like that.

**Jason** · March-12-14, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

The first looks like early 2000's-era construction in Macomb Township.

The marketing could be "all the soul-crushing blandness of the exurbs paired with all the dystopian aspects of city living".

100%

Unfortunately the organizations involved in doing these things are not built to produce a very good result. It's not even so much a Detroit problem as it is a American problem. It's very bureaucratic and regulation driven, and no one in the process really has the freedom or control to get real value out of the limited amount of money.