Quicken Data Center in Corktown

**dmike76** · May-20-14, 02:01 PM

Well THIS should be a nice addition to the Corktown area.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...oit-s-Corktown

**Scottathew** · May-20-14, 02:20 PM

For folks not familiar with data centers, this is a rather significantly sized one. That's quite an aggressive timeline.

Nice to see investments outside of the CBD, this is a HUGE one!

**dmike76** · May-20-14, 02:23 PM

Curbed says that they are starting construction today. Some of the space will be for their hardware, some for the IT staff and some will be available for lease. Mudgie's and Batch Brewery will be very happy about this one. I wonder where their data center is now.

**Scottathew** · May-20-14, 02:44 PM

I found some more information: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...=og.recommends

The building, to be located at 1401 Rosa Parks Blvd., will feature two 10,000-square-foot server rooms in addition to training, office and support space...

The center will be completed in January 2015 and will feature 1.4 megawatts of available power.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · May-20-14, 02:54 PM

I like the fact that its more space than Quicken needs, with the stated goal of attracting other IT firms.

**Detroitnerd** · May-20-14, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by 48307

Love that park-in-front design. In walkable Corktown even? To hell with putting the parking in back!

WE LOVE OUR CARS!

**Hypestyles** · May-20-14, 02:57 PM

So when are they going to be hiring for thisparticular facility?

**emu steve** · May-20-14, 03:07 PM

This is really good news for Detroit not because it will employ tons of people [[data center probably employ much fewer employees than the public would guess), but because it is being built in Detroit. Let me explain.

Data centers are the type of enterprise which can be built in a one stop light town. Maybe 50 or a hundred miles from the core enterprise which they support. They typically aren't located in high real estate cost areas. [[one can say that Detroit real estate is pretty inexpensive).

Again this shows faith in Detroit and a willingness to do what they can do... and also that Detroit's inexpensive real estate can be a plus.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · May-20-14, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Love that park-in-front design. In walkable Corktown even? To hell with putting the parking in back!

WE LOVE OUR CARS!

It appears that the left side of the building is built up to the street. Besides, its in an industrial area, not the "walkable" part of Corktown.

**emu steve** · May-20-14, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by 48307

For folks not familiar with data centers, this is a rather significantly sized one. That's quite an aggressive timeline.

Nice to see investments outside of the CBD, this is a HUGE one!

What I like is that they will provide server capacity for other enterprises needing access to a data center.

There is an economy of scale here for whomever will get their services from Quicken.

**eliboyer** · May-20-14, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Love that park-in-front design. In walkable Corktown even? To hell with putting the parking in back!

WE LOVE OUR CARS!

We're talking about a renovation and addition to an existing structure with an existing parking lot [[or at least land for a parking lot), so the options are pretty limited. How would you do it differently?

**Eber Brock Ward** · May-20-14, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by eliboyer

We're talking about a renovation and addition to an existing structure with an existing parking lot [[or at least land for a parking lot), so the options are pretty limited. How would you do it differently?

It's on a big ass empty lot. They tore down that trucking school a few motnhs ago.

**DetroitPlanner** · May-20-14, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Love that park-in-front design. In walkable Corktown even? To hell with putting the parking in back!

WE LOVE OUR CARS!

Real nice Mike,

Looks like they are going into this eyesore?

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3265...7TRBiC5xmQ!2e0

At least they are saving the old character of the set-back building!

**Detroitnerd** · May-20-14, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

It appears that the left side of the building is built up to the street. Besides, its in an industrial area, not the "walkable" part of Corktown.

You know how you get parts of town to become walkable? By not building curb cuts and parking lots in front of the freakin' building.

This one complaint is just one tiny part of a longer and ongoing battle to get builders to incorporate urban elements into their design, and its something they stubbornly resist. Giving them a pass on it just means you're OK with that part of town not being walkable for another 30 years.

If people want to walk by parking lots, Hall Road beckons already.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · May-20-14, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

You know how you get parts of town to become walkable? By not building curb cuts and parking lots in front of the freakin' building.

This one complaint is just one tiny part of a longer and ongoing battle to get builders to incorporate urban elements into their design, and its something they stubbornly resist. Giving them a pass on it just means you're OK with that part of town not being walkable for another 30 years.

If people want to walk by parking lots, Hall Road beckons already.

Yes, because industrial areas become walkable havens if the industries would only line the sidewalks. It must have been a delight to walk past the old truck school that was there, since it hugged the sidewalk. This is not Michigan Ave or Woodward or the CBD. As much as "walkability" is a laudable goal in general, not every area really needs to be "walkable." Certain enterprises just do not lend themselves to it.

If everything on Hall Road was built to the street with the parking in rear, would you really be strolling along the avenue? Or would you be walking past Meijers at Gateway if it was built to the street?

**Detroitnerd** · May-20-14, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

Yes, because industrial areas become walkable havens if the industries would only line the sidewalks. It must have been a delight to walk past the old truck school that was there, since it hugged the sidewalk. This is not Michigan Ave or Woodward or the CBD. As much as "walkability" is a laudable goal in general, not every area really needs to be "walkable." Certain enterprises just do not lend themselves to it.

If everything on Hall Road was built to the street with the parking in rear, would you really be strolling along the avenue? Or would you be walking past Meijers at Gateway if it was built to the street?

Well, fine. Go ahead and make excuses for another park-in-front building that the residents will be forced to deal with for another generation. No skin off your sun-baked nose, yes?

**animatedmartian** · May-20-14, 04:59 PM

Actually, this area in Corktown is mostly industrial because of urban renewal. It used to be a walkable neighborhood with small homes but they figured parking lots would make it more attractive to businesses that otherwise would have moved to the suburbs. A lot of the early 20th century industrial buildings were a lot more compact and don't/didn't have large parking lots.

Either way, this area will likely see more residential lofts in the future so walkablity is going to be pretty important at some point.

**Detroitnerd** · May-20-14, 05:03 PM

Good point, am ...

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · May-20-14, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

Well, fine. Go ahead and make excuses for another park-in-front building that the residents will be forced to deal with for another generation. No skin off your sun-baked nose, yes?

Few noses get sun-baked in San Francisco.

**Detroitnerd** · May-20-14, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by DetroiterOnTheWestCoast

Few noses get sun-baked in San Francisco.

Fair enough.

Just "baked" then ...

**detmsp** · May-20-14, 07:03 PM

This is a data center... expecting it to fit into a plan for a walkable environment just isn't going to happen. My company's data centers are built far back from the road behind massive berms to protect them from vehicles. Just be happy the place has a damn window on it because most data centers don't. These places are built like fortresses... you don't put them up against the street with retail, etc like you might an office building.

**MikeM** · May-20-14, 08:21 PM

Doesn't this area sit astride a major fibre optic cable? I think there are data centers at Rosa Parks & Porter, Bagley & Vermont, and Bagley & 17th.

**Hardhat** · May-20-14, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Real nice Mike,

Looks like they are going into this eyesore?

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3265...7TRBiC5xmQ!2e0

At least they are saving the old character of the set-back building!

The building shown by Planner's Google Maps link is actually an "old" Mexican Industries building, built in about 1998. It is east across Rosa Parks from what will be the new data center, now an empty lot with a lot of construction activity. The Mexican Industries building's interior was scrapped of course, when Mexican Industries went under, but it is currently being renovated for use, I think, by the city of Detroit. The old truck driving school didn't have much to recommend it. If I understood how to post a Google Maps link of the now demolished truck driving school I would do so.

**rb336** · May-20-14, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Real nice Mike,

Looks like they are going into this eyesore?

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3265...7TRBiC5xmQ!2e0

At least they are saving the old character of the set-back building!

no, they are moving into a brand-new building that is utterly devoid of character