David Stott being neglected. Flooding and frozen pipes. this is infuriating

**Tramhamck** · February-24-15, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by hortonz

Over the weekend, a water main broke at the condominium at 540 Ouellette in Windsor. Over two feet of water flooded the lobby and the residents were forced to find new accommodations for an extended period of time. The flood also caused major damage to the Manchester pub next door, which was forced to close for several weeks while the damage was repaired. Why are landlords in DT Detroit and Windsor so damn negligent?

I was so bummed to see the state of the Manchester, I used to go there all the time. Hope that they can get back on their feet quickly.

**bailey** · February-24-15, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by hortonz

Over the weekend, a water main broke at the condominium at 540 Ouellette in Windsor. Over two feet of water flooded the lobby and the residents were forced to find new accommodations for an extended period of time. The flood also caused major damage to the Manchester pub next door, which was forced to close for several weeks while the damage was repaired. Why are landlords in DT Detroit and Windsor so damn negligent?

Just for clarification, but do condominiums work differently in Canada? Condos are owned by the residents.

**Danny** · February-24-15, 11:16 PM

The Commie Chinese [[ DDI Investors) will have to give up the Stott and Old Freep Buildings. There are bunch of slumlords which they have no plans to rehab those buildings. David Stott and old Freep Building are a total lost. Demolition will be on the works for the Stott Building. This I would say to the commie Chinese investors. If you all don't have a vision to bring regional and world trade investments into Gilberttown Detroit, get the HELL out!

Detroiters let's protest DDI and have them walk away from the Old freep and Stott Buildings. Make sure they don't come back.

**Danny** · February-24-15, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by Mind field

Fine the hell out of this company. This is not acceptable. DDI needs to do something with the Stott renovate it or sell it!

Those Commies don't care. They even poison their own land of the ancestors. They have no honor for anyone.

**Danny** · February-24-15, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by swingline

Hmmm. DDI is at least spending on PR/communications. http://www.freep.com/article/2014031...tt-Clark-Lofts That is a start. Hope the group follows through. Free Press and Stott renovations would be as big as the Kales/Broderick/Whitney rehabs.

Those Commies have no plans to rehab the Old Freep Building. It's going to sit there and rot until the pipes burst, bricks fall from the top and floors collapse.

**Danny** · February-24-15, 11:31 PM

Dan Gilbert, Please buy and save the David Stott Building.

**ABetterDetroit** · February-25-15, 01:43 AM

Why is my buildings elevators inspected to be in good working order and we get fined if their not? More fines if they aren't fixed in a set time period.

Why do these new owners not have to comply? They should be hanging every red tag violation they can think of on these buildings.

**buckster1986** · February-25-15, 08:39 AM

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...tott/23984393/

**southen** · February-25-15, 08:44 AM

"Crew members on the scene who asked not to be identified said that two floors are still underwater. They said it's too early to assess whether the building on Griswold Street is salvageable."

uhhh...

**Dexlin** · February-25-15, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by southen

"Crew members on the scene who asked not to be identified said that two floors are still underwater. They said it's too early to assess whether the building on Griswold Street is salvageable."

uhhh...

I'm not even sure what that quote is supposed to mean. There have been entire high-rises in downtown Detroit with water in their basements for years. Surely, this wouldn't make the building unsalvageable. But, that's what you get for asking two random crew members something that isn't exactly their expertise, I guess.

**jackie5275** · February-25-15, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Dexlin

I'm not even sure what that quote is supposed to mean. There have been entire high-rises in downtown Detroit with water in their basements for years. Surely, this wouldn't make the building unsalvageable. But, that's what you get for asking two random crew members something that isn't exactly their expertise, I guess.

"In 2014, operators of the SkyBar Lounge accused the owners of failing to fix elevators that had dropped two or three floors several times with petrified patrons inside."

This quote is also from the Freep article. There is probably more going on with that building than just the water, more than what's being told.

**Dexlin** · February-25-15, 09:53 AM

Of course there is. That issue was covered here when it happened. Again, buildings so far gone that they didn't even have elevators, anymore, have been renovated. I'm not sure what you're point is. Do you remember what the Book Cadillac look liked? That renovation kind of put to rest the illegitimate refrain "It's too far gone to restore." Short of structural issues, it will be likely nothing to restore the David Stott. The Book Tower has been unoccupied for far longer, and no one is calling it unsalvageable.

Come on, people. Are our memories that short?

**Khorasaurus** · February-25-15, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Dexlin

Of course there is. That issue was covered here when it happened. Again, buildings so far gone that they didn't even have elevators, anymore, have been renovated. I'm not sure what you're point is. Do you remember what the Book Cadillac look liked? That renovation kind of put to rest the illegitimate refrain "It's too far gone to restore." Short of structural issues, it will be likely nothing to restore the David Stott. The Book Tower has been unoccupied for far longer, and no one is calling it unsalvageable.

Come on, people. Are our memories that short?

Agree. This will make a renovation more expensive, but not impossible. Frankly, I think tearing it down is more logistically difficult/expensive than renovating it. It's 38 stories tall and surrounded on all sides by narrow streets and other buildings.

I just can't believe the neglect by DDI here. At least in the past slumlords could [[correctly) say "there's no market to support the cost of renovation." But here you have a building that has always been at least partially occupied and is surrounded by buildings that were in worse shape and are being successfully rehabbed into residential. There is a clear market. Had they started renovations when they bought the building, they could be sitting in China collecting a monthly profit from a building full of apartments! Ridiculous and infuriating.

**animatedmartian** · February-25-15, 10:28 AM

The term 'unsalvageable' in this case basically means that it's worth more for DDI to sell the building than to do anything else with it. The question is whether they're going to make a profit by selling it at this point.

**Khorasaurus** · February-25-15, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

The term 'unsalvageable' in this case basically means that it's worth more for DDI to sell the building than to do anything else with it. The question is whether they're going to make a profit by selling it at this point.

I certainly hope they decide to sell it. The only problem is that Gilbert or Karp may see it as enough of a threat to the value of their properties that one or both overpay just to take it off DDI's hands. And then DDI turns a profit for trashing a building.

**southen** · February-25-15, 10:42 AM

the article has since been updated to say that they arent sure if the "interior" is salvageable.

it would be nice if this event lead to something positive like new ownership.

**ABetterDetroit** · February-25-15, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by southen

the article has since been updated to say that they arent sure if the "interior" is salvageable.

it would be nice if this event lead to something positive like new ownership.

I have my doubts. They seem to be following the well established patten:

1. Buy building, Do nothing

2. Make large insurance claims on "incidents"

3. Do more nothing.

**One Shot** · February-25-15, 11:42 AM

That just sucks!!! Beautiful old building!!!

**swingline** · February-25-15, 11:42 AM

The water flowed for days. Estimate 1.7 million gallons. http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...tott-flood.php Unconscionable. The building's handsome original intact lobby has no doubt been destroyed. Previous owners with far less means than DDI maintained the building well enough to avoid a loss like this.

There is zero chance that a company like DDI will ever execute a quality restoration of this building. Hopefully the improving market will produce a new developer that can persuade DDI to sell at a price that will still allow for a feasible redevelopment.

**Lowell** · February-25-15, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Danny

The DDI Chinese Investors [[who own the Free Press and David Stott Buildings) are worst group of so-called commie business men. What do they know about investing American properties? They are way over their socialist commitment. They are just exploiting Gilberttown Detroit buildings waiting for someone to buy it and clean up their mess. The DDI are must worse than Dennis Kelifinos and his properties that he will not fix!

FYI Kefallinos is pouring a ton of money into his recently acquired Michigan Building where DetroitYES offices are.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · February-25-15, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

FYI Kefallinos is pouring a ton of money into his recently acquired Michigan Building where DetroitYES offices are.

What sort of improvements is he making?

**Khorasaurus** · February-25-15, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

FYI Kefallinos is pouring a ton of money into his recently acquired Michigan Building where DetroitYES offices are.

Also the former Wayne State building by 375 and the Roosevelt Hotel. He does seem to finally be investing in his properties.

Now, the question is whether he's actually doing the work to code and pulling building permits. Hasn't that been a problem with him in the past?

**gazhekwe** · February-25-15, 12:29 PM

"It’s unclear if the building, which was built in 1929, will be salvageable after the water is removed."

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/02/...lons-of-water/

**southen** · February-25-15, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Khorasaurus

Also the former Wayne State building by 375 and the Roosevelt Hotel. He does seem to finally be investing in his properties.

Now, the question is whether he's actually doing the work to code and pulling building permits. Hasn't that been a problem with him in the past?

as someone with a front row seat to that development, it is being half assed and construction has halted. why? because they didnt remove asbestos before moving forward with development and now it has to be taken care of before they can continue. i cant speak to what lowell has seen but from my perspective his reputation is well deserved.

**Khorasaurus** · February-25-15, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by gazhekwe

"It’s unclear if the building, which was built in 1929, will be salvageable after the water is removed."

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/02/...lons-of-water/

This has already been clarified above, but to repeat - the Freep has that quote as the INTERIOR may not be salvageable, not the entire building.

Still a major loss, but it doesn't seem like we're going to have to tear down a 38 story building because of this.