Belle Isle vision: Restaurants, camping ... a hotel?

**esteban** · May-17-15, 12:48 PM

Hotel? Everyone good with that?

Freep article: Belle Isle vision: Restaurants, camping ... a hotel?

**Bham1982** · May-17-15, 12:51 PM

And these are the proposals from the "Belle Isle Conservancy". Looks like the claimed protectors of the island want to essentially destroy it. Is this head of the conservancy married to or otherwise related to a developer?

When I think of grand urban parks, KOA campgrounds, Holiday Inns and Applebees obviously come to mind...

**Danny** · May-17-15, 02:47 PM

No, bad ideal! Belle Isle should remain a public park, not a pre-Disneyland resort.

**Dan Wesson** · May-17-15, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by esteban

Hotel? Everyone good with that?

Freep article: Belle Isle vision: Restaurants, camping ... a hotel?

Oligarch Park

I like the sound of that!

**Dumpling** · May-17-15, 03:10 PM

If a hotel was the #2 requested item on the surveys Belle Isle users filled in,
then okay!

**Honky Tonk** · May-17-15, 03:40 PM

Normally I would say no, but in this case, HELL NO!

**Pam** · May-17-15, 05:24 PM

Agree, terrible idea. They should focus on maintaining what is there and bringing back stuff from the past like canoe rentals.

**Bobl** · May-17-15, 06:02 PM

Couple of restaurants [[not fast food), a few food trucks, canoe and bike rentals are OK with me. Not comfortable with a hotel resort. I must admit that I have no more fund raising suggestions, though. It all seems to be about raising funds, doesn't it?

**Honky Tonk** · May-17-15, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Bobl

Couple of restaurants [[not fast food), a few food trucks, canoe and bike rentals are OK with me. Not comfortable with a hotel resort. I must admit that I have no more fund raising suggestions, though. It all seems to be about raising funds, doesn't it?

It all seems to be about kick-backs and Penske getting more of a money making foothold for his Grand Pricks.

**401don** · May-17-15, 07:32 PM

So they need 330 million BEFORE they start thinking seriously about this new stuff? Don't think I'd worry too much for now.

**Scottathew** · May-17-15, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Bobl

Couple of restaurants [[not fast food), a few food trucks, canoe and bike rentals are OK with me. Not comfortable with a hotel resort. I must admit that I have no more fund raising suggestions, though. It all seems to be about raising funds, doesn't it?

I went there a month ago and they had a food truck, but it was powered by a generator that was so close that I didn't even bother to try to buy food from it. It was too damn loud.

As to a hotel, I'm on the fence. On one hand, I love the natural beauty, but on the other hand, I can see how it might be a great idea to promote tourism, especially if the RiverWalk continued all the way to the Belle Isle bridge.

**casscorridor** · May-17-15, 09:21 PM

The hotel idea should be blocked, as hotel structures would erode the character of a great urban park. A couple restaurants and maybe a convenience store thrown might be more compatible. I don't see why a hotel can't locate right across the river next to the bridge on the old Uniroyal site. The riverfront conservancy wants to create a bus route that runs along the River and Belle Isle, this would connect the two easily so tourists could stay in the hotel quickly get to any point on the Island, the Riverfront or Downtown.

**archfan** · May-18-15, 01:31 AM

Sometimes, it seems like professional fundraisers - like the one interviewed in the Freep story - lose sight of why they're raising money in the first place.

**mikeg19** · May-18-15, 06:15 AM

There are some positives and negatives.

I'd love to see the food trucks or food kiosks on the island. Having 5 or 10 of them up near the Scott fountain would be nice.

A restaurant or two, sure, why not. But it would need to be a local eatery. No Applebees or fast food joints.

The hotel, again, I could see happening. Renovating the old boat club building into a boutique hotel or setting up a little 50 space camping area, I've got no problem with.

What I do have a problem with is residences on the island. This is a state park. There shouldn't be condos or apartment buildings here. That one I can't get on board with at all.

**southen** · May-18-15, 07:42 AM

i think the food trucks should stay away from the scott fountain, perhaps if they want to hang out by the conservatory or aquarium i would mind less.

i think any restaurants or hotel need to use the boat club or the land right next to it. that is the only way i would be okay with it as i dont think it would alter the character of the island to repurpose that structure/space.

**Lowell** · May-18-15, 08:35 AM

I am a 'no but...' on this issue. At a minimum I think the island could benefit from allowing a not-for-profit supply store for basic snacks, beverages, ice, charcoal and other items picnickers might forget to pack.

When the friends of Belle Isle formed, opposition to commercial exploitation of the island was a founding pillar. At the time I believe only the big slide was commercial as it had an existing long-term concession. There were facilities, hot dog stands essentially, run by the city -- but poorly run -- that provided summer jobs for kids. I would still prefer public management, but perhaps via an outsourced professional management contract.

**Cliffy** · May-18-15, 09:42 AM

I can see a food truck or food stand but hotel and restaurant is ridiculous. No way. Its a park.

**martyandjudy** · May-18-15, 09:46 AM

I agree with you. I wouldn't want to see any large restaurants, but a few of the old style booths they used to have back in the 50's and 60's

**bailey** · May-18-15, 10:04 AM

I'm not sure I understand the outrage here regarding the hotel component. Why not? Wouldn't it be interesting if it were a bit like the Grand Hotel? An attraction unto itself. Camp grounds...stupid. it would be overrun with homeless. Applebees/fast food/ihop...of course not. But a large well sited, significant hotel with a restaurant ..etc... again not a holiday inn express. I think that'd enhance the park and draw even more special events to the Casino, the Conservatory/aquarium complex and even the DYC.

If a hotel ensures the island's self sufficency...and so long as the operation of it and revenue stay out of CoD or Wayne county kleptocratic hands... I'm down.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · May-18-15, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by bailey

I'm not sure I understand the outrage here regarding the hotel component. Why not? Wouldn't it be interesting if it were a bit like the Grand Hotel? An attraction unto itself. Camp grounds...stupid. it would be overrun with homeless. Applebees/fast food/ihop...of course not. But a large well sited, significant hotel with a restaurant ..etc... again not a holiday inn express. I think that'd enhance the park and draw even more special events to the Casino, the Conservatory/aquarium complex and even the DYC.

If a hotel ensures the island's self sufficency...and so long as the operation of it and revenue stay out of CoD or Wayne county kleptocratic hands... I'm down.

I was kind of wondering about that outrage too, considering that there is not an actual proposal. I'd prefer to wait to see what, if anything, is actually proposed and decide if its appropriate or not.

**esteban** · May-18-15, 11:07 AM

Parallel discussion happening on the "Belle Isle Aquarium, Friends of" Facebook page...

**RickBeall** · May-18-15, 12:21 PM

I could go for some rustic, camping. But if you want to stay in a luxury hotel ... go to Detroit!

They just gave a planner 6 months to come up with a plan. And planners and developers will over plan and over develop because that is what they do. More concrete! Make it look like Hart Plaza!

**stromberg2** · May-18-15, 01:02 PM

Check out NYC's Central Park page.

Stromberg2

**Bigb23** · May-18-15, 01:21 PM

I agree with Lowell, a non profit camp store would be ideal. 1/2 of the yacht club as a boutique hotel would be great. Now about that concrete slab -----

**ferndalien** · May-18-15, 02:08 PM

Take a deep breath, folks:

"The president of the Belle Isle Conservancy says it has NO plans for a hotel on the island. The group is clarifying a report in Sunday’s Detroit Free Press, which suggested that a hotel is one of several ideas being considered to draw more people to Belle Isle. Conservancy President Michelle Hodges tells WDET’s Pat Batcheller the group doesn’t advocate any development that might ruin the island for visitors."

from:http://wdet.org/posts/2015/05/18/80502-belle-isle-conservancy-says-it-has-no-plans-for-a-hotel/