What is going on at Red Wings arena site?

**Zads07** · October-02-19, 04:23 PM

Very impressive look on Columbia Street. Now the next step is to fill those storefronts

**NSortzi** · October-02-19, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by masterblaster

Detroit had little retail for decades, now a FEW, just a FEW, storefronts are being built, and you are predicting doom already. This one-block strip hasn't even opened yet. There are 3 restaurants lined up for that block plus a Starbucks, as well as a two-pronged M-Den store.

Big city downtowns have retail storefronts on every block and will always be retail destinations unto themselves, even if brick-and-mortar retail is declining. Plus the few storefronts being built aren't all retail - bars and restaurants are being opened in these storefronts at a greater rate than retail.

FWIW, the Starbucks isn't going to be on Columbia. It's going to be a block north on Woodward and Montcalm. They've been actively working on the storefront.

**mikeg19** · October-03-19, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by MrChrome

Are we seeing movement in the district. It isn't close to what they promised, or when they promised it, but still.

Little Caesars headquarters - Work has started up again
Office building next to LCA - Steel going up
Edddystone - Work progressing
Women's Club - Looks like work is progressing?
Detroit Life Building - Work progressing?

Women's club and Life Building have been having exterior work ongoing for awhile now. With the Pizza Empire track record though I'd suspect these are not any closer to habitation then they were previously. Just because your slapping some new mortar on the building doesn't mean they are actively marketing it. I guess it's just a win that they aren't prepping them for demolition......

**Bradley** · October-03-19, 12:25 PM

Just walked through the area and not much has changed

**DetroitSoldier** · October-06-19, 09:33 AM

Starbucks is now open.

**401don** · October-11-19, 07:30 AM

Another article in The News about the blight. The number of properties, amount of parking and abandonment is pretty astonishing. I would say good, keep the pressure on, but the Ilitches don't seem to care at all what anyone thinks.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...es/3932609002/

**Zads07** · October-11-19, 08:59 AM

“ Overall, The News has identified 391 properties owned by Ilitch-linked companies inside and outside District Detroit. Of those, 147 are vacant and 163 are being used for parking.”

Solid facts here. No one can argue that.

**mikeg19** · October-11-19, 10:23 AM

The discussion should no longer be who was the bigger catalyst to Detroit Development [[Illitch vs Gilbert) but rather whom is the bigger slumlord landowner [[Matty vs Illitch). Now THAT is an interesting debate.

**iheartthed** · October-11-19, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by 401don

Another article in The News about the blight. The number of properties, amount of parking and abandonment is pretty astonishing. I would say good, keep the pressure on, but the Ilitches don't seem to care at all what anyone thinks.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...es/3932609002/

Can we make this into a new thread? I think this deserves its own thread.

The Fox Theatre, the Hockeytown Cafe and the MotorCity Casino Hotel are the only historic buildings the organization has restored and filled. Other planned projects -- such as the restoration of the historic Eddystone building, northwest of the arena -- remain to be completed.

There is now much speculation why the Ilitch group hasn't executed its plans for District Detroit.

The Ilitch vision is based on a "suburban dreamland," said Conrad Kickert, a University of Cincinnati professor of urban design who has studied the history of downtown Detroit.

Ironically, Downtown Detroit might actually be better off if the Ilitches hadn't restored the Fox.

**JK313** · October-11-19, 05:06 PM

Noticed that a Facebook page and website were recently created for the UA Theater. Not sure how trustworthy/accurate it is, but it says they’re aiming to have it ready by 2021.

https://150bagleydetroit.com/

**Jason** · October-11-19, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by JK313

Noticed that a Facebook page and website were recently created for the UA Theater. Not sure how trustworthy/accurate it is, but it says they’re aiming to have it ready by 2021.

https://150bagleydetroit.com/

You can tell how long they've been dragging their feet on this, they must have come up with the branding 15+ years ago. "residences @ 150 BAGLEY Parc du Grand Cirque" geeze.

**Gistok** · October-12-19, 12:39 AM

As you can see... the United Artists Theatre portion of the building on the right side is bricked up. Since the theatre is secured [[new roof and enclosed)... I hope they are mothballing it. But with the Ilitches track record, they might end up just demolishing the theatre portion of the building...

**NSortzi** · October-12-19, 03:31 AM

The website has been active over a year. I emailed back and forth with someone involved in the project back when the website came online in June 2018. They told me they weren’t sure what was going to happen to the theater portion and they were still searching for funding. Months later I emailed back asking for an update and got pretty much the same reply. I emailed them a third time this past summer and didn’t get a reply at all.

I’m almost positive the theater portion will get demolished. I really don’t see them renovating it, and I don’t see them [[or any other developer for that matter) restoring it to what it was. The easiest thing to do is get rid of it, and I think we’re all aware the UA will need more parking space, right?

**Gistok** · October-12-19, 04:20 AM

There are no known color photographs of the Detroit United Artists Theatre in its' heyday, which used to be known as the "Jewel Box" of downtown theatres.

It would be a sad loss to see the Detroit UA destroyed. Detroit Architect C. Howard Crane went into his exotic movie palace designs in 1927 with his 3 United Artist Theatres... just before he designed his 3 Fox masterpieces in 1928.

One has to remember that 90% of the Detroit Opera House plasterwork was replaced for its' restoration, so there is enough of the surviving UA plasterwork for making molds for replacement [[unlike the National Theatre). But there has to be a will to save it, as well as $$$ and a use for it.

Here is what the newly restored 'near twin' of the Detroit United Artists Theatre... the Los Angeles United Artists Theatre... looks like, after a recent restoration... magnificent.... [[Note: inside the dome of the LA UA there was a ring of windows, inside the dome of the Detroit UA there are a circle of ornate plaster winged angels, which still survive.)

**Seven&wyo** · October-12-19, 05:34 AM

I may be a tad delusionally optimistic, but I don't think it'll be demolished. Maybe 5-10 years ago, but people seem to really want to keep Detroits history in tact today. And the Illitches have been getting their feet held to the fire a lot lately and I don't think the Historic Commission would allow a someone to happen. Christ I hate this family

**Jason** · October-12-19, 03:50 PM

imo the only thing that would give the theater a sliver of a chance is the fact that Olympia is an entertainment company and that they might want another venue like that.

**JK313** · October-24-19, 02:34 PM

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...r-down-theater

Well it’s official now that they’re planning on demolishing the theater portion of the UA building. Supposedly they couldn’t get financing unless they demolish the theater portion.

**Zads07** · October-24-19, 02:47 PM

I don’t buy it. Seems like a cop out.

**MrMichigan** · October-24-19, 04:18 PM

Yeah they're full of shit. Shame.

**Zads07** · October-28-19, 06:24 AM

I felt this was the best place for this tweet. I’m not surprised, but my god this company is so shortsighted.

https://twitter.com/anthonyfenech/st...370951174?s=21

Text from the tweet, Anthony Fenechof the Detroit Free Press

“ Oh, last week Ilitch Holdings brought in a PR research firm to meet with their companies’ communications departments and share ideas on how to get Detroiters and the media off their backs.

**401don** · November-03-19, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Zads07

I felt this was the best place for this tweet. I’m not surprised, but my god this company is so shortsighted.

https://twitter.com/anthonyfenech/st...370951174?s=21

Text from the tweet, Anthony Fenechof the Detroit Free Press

“ Oh, last week Ilitch Holdings brought in a PR research firm to meet with their companies’ communications departments and share ideas on how to get Detroiters and the media off their backs.

When do they start?
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/op...ng/4098317002/

**angry_fred** · November-03-19, 10:11 PM

Unless that PR firm can convince them to stop acting like the arseholes that they are, nothing will change.

Does anyone know how these types of agreements work? I'm genuinely curious if this is a "we do what we do and you write PR statements" type of arrangement, or if it's a "you tell us how to act" arrangement. If it's the latter, this could be really helpful

**401don** · November-04-19, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by angry_fred

Unless that PR firm can convince them to stop acting like the arseholes that they are, nothing will change.

Does anyone know how these types of agreements work? I'm genuinely curious if this is a "we do what we do and you write PR statements" type of arrangement, or if it's a "you tell us how to act" arrangement. If it's the latter, this could be really helpful

It's the former. PR firms craft your message to make the medicine easier to swallow for your hopefully gullible audience. Might want to hire Trump. He doesn't mind making money while in office.

**MrChrome** · November-10-19, 05:59 PM

"The M Den" is open. Nice looking, large store.

**bartocktoo** · November-11-19, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Zads07

I felt this was the best place for this tweet. I’m not surprised, but my god this company is so shortsighted.

https://twitter.com/anthonyfenech/st...370951174?s=21

Text from the tweet, Anthony Fenechof the Detroit Free Press

“ Oh, last week Ilitch Holdings brought in a PR research firm to meet with their companies’ communications departments and share ideas on how to get Detroiters and the media off their backs.

They sent out a PR that they are hiring a PR firm.