East Riverfront Development

[GREENTROIT]

Construction work is underway in the former Franklin Furniture building. The Kahn designed structure is just that, a structure. Completely dilapidated, it has been pegged for redevelopment and will become a 94,000 square foot high school tied to the University Science and Math Middle School. Supposed to be ready for the 2010-11 school year.

Starting last week, I started seeing crews there daily. They've removed the gound level plywood, and it looks like they're hooking up electic. The action today was much more busy and intense than even last week. If I ever get my digital camera working again I will take and post some pictures. It's good to see something happen in this area. In my opinion this area has so much potential and yet is almost completely abandonded.

I would also like to let the DEGC know that if a building like this one [[pictured below) can be rehabbed, then one like the Lafayette is certaintly worth saving. Just my 2 cents.

** Pictures and some info stolen from Faded Detroit
** Completed rendering stolen from Model D

Building as of June 8:

Attachment 2496

Attachment 2497

Attachment 2498

Artist Rendering of Completed Building:

Attachment 2499

[Detroit Stylin]

Sweet.....

[leland_palmer]

** Pictures and some info stolen from Faded Detroit
** Completed rendering stolen from Model D

http://fadeddetroit.blogspot.com/200...-building.html

[GREENTROIT]

Thanks leland... I shoulda posted the link.

[French777]

I really hope this building spurs other development

[GREENTROIT]

I really hope this building spurs other development

Me too. In my opinion this area has so much untapped potential, and although I am not surprised about anything in this City, I'm mildly curious that there has never been rehab efforts for this neighborhood. I know the Watermark was supposed to happen here, and another high-end condo building, but these fell apart as similar projects in Detroit do.

I hope this school is the beginning of something. It almost has to be, as the way the neighborhood stands now it's not really attractive to parents looking for a school. To the near East, Joseph Campau is nice, with Garden Lofts, Say Hey, the Atwater Bar, Andrews, and the Stroh Riverplace complex, but thats just one street and to the West and South the area is largely abandoned. With the recent finishing of the Dequindre Cut, the planned extension of the DQ, the remodeled Tri-Centennial State Park, and the Riverwalk all right there, I think the area has great potential.

I think planned developments have been awful, however. First it was the planned casinos that basically killed the area, then the high-end condo developments. Who is going to spend a million dollars on a condo in Detroit? I think the best development for the area would be a handful of small parks, and small housing developments... Something like row houses, duplexes, single family homes. No need to build ten story buildings. Maybe with the start of somethings a few of the vacant industrial buildings could be rehabbed into lofts. I realize this is all an impossibility right now, but at some point I could see this area thriving.

I just think its interesting that while the "downtown" area of the city has moved north, where Midtown is nice and New Center is coming into its own, the southern portions of the city have been largely forgotten. I think the East Riverfront extending from the Renaissance Center down to Joseph Campau would be prime for a planned development, based on its attractive locations, near resources, and largely abandonded buildings and lots. Anyway I hope this is the start of something...

[French777]

Yeah I am no city planner [[not yet at least) but I too agree that the East Riverfront district will flourish in the next 5-10 years.

[PQZ]

.

I would also like to let the DEGC know that if a building like this one [[pictured below) can be rehabbed, then one like the Lafayette is certaintly worth saving. Just my 2 cents.

***Snicker***

Hey Einstein, the DBRA though DEGC has already approved tax credits for the project. Oh NOES! DEGC is doing its job again!

Beside the fact that they are two completely different types of buildings, with two completely different types of re-uses...the fact that the school is a non-profit and STILL needs massive grants from at least three different organizations ought to tip you off that this is not an apples to apples comparison.

[GREENTROIT]

Isn't there another 25 threads where you can tell me how great the DEGC is and how dumb I am? My point was this never would have happened if this vacant and completely useless structure was demolished as so many buildings are.

But like I said there are a million threads devoted to that argument and I'd rather talk about the riverfront area or this specific building, thanks.

[PQZ]

Isn't there another 25 threads where you can tell me how great the DEGC is and how dumb I am? My point was this never would have happened if this vacant and completely useless structure was demolished as so many buildings are.

But like I said there are a million threads devoted to that argument and I'd rather talk about the riverfront area or this specific building, thanks.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt feelings...

But you bring it on yourself when you cite an example of a building rehab supported by the DEGC to use that as a platform to scold the DEGC for not understanding that buildings can be rehabbed.

Sorry that made you look a little silly.

If you really wanted to talk about the building, why not talk about the building and HOW it got rehabbed?

[French777]

Yeah I really hate how every thread about any development or even positive news for that matter someone is always slamming the DDA/DEGC. I could be wrong but even-though they have done some things that seem unnecessary, I bet Downtown and Detroit as a whole is better off because of them.

[McIPor]

Me too. In my opinion this area has so much untapped potential, and although I am not surprised about anything in this City, I'm mildly curious that there has never been rehab efforts for this neighborhood. I know the Watermark was supposed to happen here, and another high-end condo building, but these fell apart as similar projects in Detroit do.

I hope this school is the beginning of something. It almost has to be, as the way the neighborhood stands now it's not really attractive to parents looking for a school. To the near East, Joseph Campau is nice, with Garden Lofts, Say Hey, the Atwater Bar, Andrews, and the Stroh Riverplace complex, but thats just one street and to the West and South the area is largely abandoned. With the recent finishing of the Dequindre Cut, the planned extension of the DQ, the remodeled Tri-Centennial State Park, and the Riverwalk all right there, I think the area has great potential.

I think planned developments have been awful, however. First it was the planned casinos that basically killed the area, then the high-end condo developments. Who is going to spend a million dollars on a condo in Detroit? I think the best development for the area would be a handful of small parks, and small housing developments... Something like row houses, duplexes, single family homes. No need to build ten story buildings. Maybe with the start of somethings a few of the vacant industrial buildings could be rehabbed into lofts. I realize this is all an impossibility right now, but at some point I could see this area thriving.

I just think its interesting that while the "downtown" area of the city has moved north, where Midtown is nice and New Center is coming into its own, the southern portions of the city have been largely forgotten. I think the East Riverfront extending from the Renaissance Center down to Joseph Campau would be prime for a planned development, based on its attractive locations, near resources, and largely abandonded buildings and lots. Anyway I hope this is the start of something...

Unfortunately, the planned development of rowhouses, and adaptive reuse is exactly what was planned for the area before someone decided to put the casinos there in 1997. You know the rest.

[DetroitDad]

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt feelings...

But you bring it on yourself when you cite an example of a building rehab supported by the DEGC to use that as a platform to scold the DEGC for not understanding that buildings can be rehabbed.

Sorry that made you look a little silly.

If you really wanted to talk about the building, why not talk about the building and HOW it got rehabbed?

Looking like an asshole is worse than looking silly, lay off, every one's entitled to their own opinion.

[Novine]

"I could be wrong but even-though they have done some things that seem unnecessary, I bet Downtown and Detroit as a whole is better off because of them."

The problem is that no one knows whether that's true or not. What most people don't realize is that the DDA captures the tax dollars of all the new development and increases in property values [[when they were increasing) and funnels that back downtown. Sometimes that's used for good things, like upgrading streets and sometimes that's used for the benefit of private interests like Ilitch getting properties cleared and buildings demoed. Because those tax dollars don't flow back to the city general fund, every other property outside the DDA district has to shoulder a greater burden of the cost of government. That equals higher property taxes and fewer services. DDA proponents argue that funneling those hundreds of millions of dollars over the year has helped the entire city. But maybe it hasn't. Maybe the city would have been better off if the city's share of tax dollars had come back to be spent on police and fire services and keeping the tax rates down. While this strategy has benefited parts of downtown, I don't see any evidence that it has benefited the city as a whole and a lot of evidence that it has not. For all of the rah-rah you get from the DDA/DEGC cheerleaders and the back slapping for Demolition Jackson, where's the evidence that funneling all of those dollars downtown have paid off for the city as a whole?

[Bearinabox]

Looking like an asshole is worse than looking silly.

I emphatically disagree.

[royce]

Unfortunately, the planned development of rowhouses, and adaptive reuse is exactly what was planned for the area before someone decided to put the casinos there in 1997. You know the rest.

I'm very suspicious about the belief by you, McIpor, and others that the deal to put casinos on the riverfront was the death of riverfront businesses. I remember before the process was completed [[the buying of properties) that the owner of the Soup Kitchen had decided to close before everything was finalized, claiming he was losing business because people just assumed that he was closed because the announcement was made about the casinos coming to the riverfront. Then when the deal to put casinos there fell through, his business and the building [[due to fire) was long gone. Also, other businesses were already closed or going out of business well before the casino announcement was announced.

I've often wondered, had he advertised on radio and TV that he was still open and people frequented his business and the casino deal fell through as it did, would the Soup Kitchen still be open today? I want to believe that it was possible to still be open. Also, many of the owners of the land the city sought wanted ridiculously high prices for their land. I believe they shot themselves in the foot, but cried foul to the public, saying that the big bad city had done them wrong. I believe that the belief that putting casinos on the river killed Rivertown is one of those urban legends like the one about foreigners who opened up businesses in Detroit not having to pay taxes for so many years. It's time for this legend to fall by the wayside as well.

[royce]

Greentroit, I am in agreement with you when it comes to having a more modest plan for redevelopment of the east riverfront than what has been attempted and failed. Detroit isn't NYC or Chicago. To expect that there would be enough buyers to buy one million dollar condos in Detroit is crazy. I believe the strategy should be to start with modest residential developments and work your way up once a established community has been put in place. Townhomes/rowhouses/brownstones $200,000 or less would definitely attract buyers to the area despite the current economy. Charge more later once a given number of developments have taken off. The planned charter school could be the catalyst to get residential development really going, not forgetting the Riverwalk and Dequindre Cut as added incentives.

One other problem that I see with development along the east riverfront is with Chene Park. The park/amphitheatre is a beautiful oasis in the city, something I would miss, if moved for residential. However, the noise, traffic and land used for parking poses a problem for residential development. How many people want to live right next to the amphitheatre when the music can be heard all the way to Jefferson? The area used for parking could hold many townhomes or two or three high rises, and if the amphitheatre was gone, more residential units could go in its place.

At one point I saw signs along Atwater that said "Home to Future Development." That would indicate to me that there is some kind of master plan. I just don't know if what's planned by the planners is the way to go regarding the east riverfront. Given the history of this city, planning smartly tends to be something seldom seen. Hopefully, when it comes to the east riverfront we will get it right.

BTW, the bar is called "They Say.... " not "Say Hey." That's Willie Mays nickname.

[GREENTROIT]

BTW, the bar is called "They Say.... " not "Say Hey." That's Willie Mays nickname.

Haha! I walk by that place everyday and have been inside a few times... I don't know why I called it Say Hey I must have been thinking about baseball.

Anyway, I agree that there might be some sort of master plan for this area. Everyone knows Bing was attached to the Watermark, and pulled out to avoid a conflict when he was running for Mayor. If he remains commited to redeveloping this area he will have the means to make lasting changes by power of his office.

[Pcm]

It looks like the Elevator Building is finally getting some interior work done. Rode by it yesterday. Two dumpsters full of junk that was pulled from the interior. It's finally being gutted [[legally).

http://www.modeldmedia.com/developme...rbldg8907.aspx

http://elevatorbuilding.com/

[royce]

Another area of the East riverfront that could stand some redevelopment is the area just west of the Talon Building along Jos Campau and Atwater. Currently there is a huge parking lot that is used for the RiverPlace. At the same time there is a hardly used surface lot behind the St. Andrews Bar. There are signs that say that it is for customer parking only. Also, there is a hugh rectangular building next to this lot that has no signage to indicated what it is. I would love to see some townhomes built on the RiverPlace parking lot south of Atwater, with a one way street going parallel to the RiverWalk, and these townhomes, and extending along the northern walkway of the RiverWalk leading back to Atwater. To make up for lost parking, parking would be shifted of to the lot currently used by St. Andrews Bar and the rectangular building behind this lot would be torn down to make room for additional parking. A possible parking deck could also go there instead.

[stasu1213]

If this building is completed before the much small Port Authority building is completed I will know that monies are being misused

[Rocko]

I check on the progress of that Franklin Furnature warehouse every day on my way to and from work [[I work right next to the Stroh River Place). I must say, they are working with great zeal in there, making progress that is noticeable every day. If I'm running early one day, maybe I'll get some progress photos.

I hope that before this school opens, the city steps up with some infrastructure improvements for the surrounding streets in that area. The streets are all brick under the crumbling asphalt, and many of the streetlights don't light.

Royce - that parking lot behind Andrew's is full on Chene concert nights and is also full on weekend nights when people are filling up Andrew's and other nearby restaurants. The surface lot is primarily for Stroh River Place occupants, including Everest Institiute, and also parking for Diamond Jack's crews. A parking lodge would be a better use of the land, however, with a reduced footprint, thus opening up the riverfront property for things such as you mentioned. Actually, Chene Park should get a parking structure, too, [[maybe just to the north of Atwater?), then surrounding land which is currently used for surface parking [[and gets trashed after every concert... jeeze people!) could be developed.

[stasu1213]

Where is the franklin furniture building located?

[Rocko]

In the block surrounded by Franklin, Wight, Chene, and Joseph Compau. Right near Chene Park and the Stroh River Place. Search 2650 Franklin on Google Maps, it's the one with the white siding and gray foundation. The siding has since been removed, showing the original brick exterior.

[Rocko]

I drove by Franklin Furniture quick on my way into work today, and I must say, the vigor with which the construction crews were working on this excellent project is really great to see, especially in the city. Adaptive Reuse at its finest!