Ilitches Buying More Land Near MC Casino

**emu steve** · August-26-15, 03:45 PM

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/bus...land/32375355/

I was a little surprised to read they bought land beyond Grand River. Thought they would have concentrated more inside Grand River [[EDIT: East of the Lodge), within the sports and entertainment zone.

I have no idea what is planned adjacent to the MC Casino out by Nobles, etc.

Inside Grand River [[EDIT: East of the Lodge) I believe the Ilitches have enough contiguous land on 5th from where it intersects with Grand River to Pine Street to build a soccer stadium if someone wants the land for that purpose.

I don't see housing there. The land probably is too costly for that purpose. Someone should have bought it 10 years ago for it to be 'right priced' for housing.

All in all, the Ilitches have bought a lot of land west of Woodward!!

I'm wondering if the plan is ultimately to hope that all land from Fisher/Trumbell/MLKjr/Woodward gets developed. That will take decades. Or as the writer said: "long game."

**401don** · August-26-15, 05:35 PM

It appears to me Ilitch thinks if he wants suburbanites, including African-American Detroiters who moved to Southfield, to move to his development zone he needs to clear land around the zone so that it appears safe and the inner-city neighborhoods won't encroach on this new oasis.

**Ray1936** · August-26-15, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

It appears to me Ilitch thinks if he wants suburbanites, including African-American Detroiters who moved to Southfield, to move to his development zone he needs to clear land around the zone so that it appears safe and the inner-city neighborhoods won't encroach on this new oasis.

I suspect you're absolutely correct. In another vein, I still cry at the closing and demo of Carl's Chop House. Ah, the memories.................

**hybridy** · August-26-15, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

It appears to me Ilitch thinks if he wants suburbanites, including African-American Detroiters who moved to Southfield, to move to his development zone he needs to clear land around the zone so that it appears safe and the inner-city neighborhoods won't encroach on this new oasis.

hmm..me thinks not. african americans will continue to follow the path of the white man..southfield to farmington hills to west bloomfield and beyond. harper woods to st clair shores to clinton twp and beyond. sorry to say it, but frank talk here...there isn't a huge influx of black young professionals downtown. and the middle to high-class crowd of african americans are flocking to good suburban school districts which whites then move out of. that 100,000-strong cbd workforce is majority Caucasian.

the downtown crowd is propped up by university hipsters, white dinky's [[double-income no-kids yet) and a few neuvo-lgbt folk throughout the condos and 'stable' neighborhoods. families still cling to good schools and good services...

ive said it and ill say it again. the millennials with or planning to have children that work downtown and who intend to stay in michigan will and are not buying in detroit proper. they are either on/just off the woodward corridor or if they can afford it, in the birmingham school district...or way the fcuk out in brighton

sorry if this sounds too much like a Danny post.

**Wesley Mouch** · August-26-15, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

It appears to me Ilitch thinks if he wants suburbanites, including African-American Detroiters who moved to Southfield, to move to his development zone he needs to clear land around the zone so that it appears safe and the inner-city neighborhoods won't encroach on this new oasis.

Certainly has been true -- but didn't he recently say he regretted some of the demolition for the new ballpark?

**ABetterDetroit** · August-26-15, 09:15 PM

Can't ever have enough surface parking with that family. They are planning ahead for the next generation.

**emu steve** · August-26-15, 09:16 PM

Originally Posted by hybridy

hmm..me thinks not. african americans will continue to follow the path of the white man..southfield to farmington hills to west bloomfield and beyond. harper woods to st clair shores to clinton twp and beyond. sorry to say it, but frank talk here...there isn't a huge influx of black young professionals downtown. and the middle to high-class crowd of african americans are flocking to good suburban school districts which whites then move out of. that 100,000-strong cbd workforce is majority Caucasian.

the downtown crowd is propped up by university hipsters, white dinky's [[double-income no-kids yet) and a few neuvo-lgbt folk throughout the condos and 'stable' neighborhoods. families still cling to good schools and good services...

ive said it and ill say it again. the millennials with or planning to have children that work downtown and who intend to stay in michigan will and are not buying in detroit proper. they are either on/just off the woodward corridor or if they can afford it, in the birmingham school district...or way the fcuk out in brighton

sorry if this sounds too much like a Danny post.

I have heard a joke along these lines. I'm hesitant to post it unless I feel it is okay to do so.

**emu steve** · August-26-15, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

It appears to me Ilitch thinks if he wants suburbanites, including African-American Detroiters who moved to Southfield, to move to his development zone he needs to clear land around the zone so that it appears safe and the inner-city neighborhoods won't encroach on this new oasis.

Interesting.

If they put up a big grassy landscaped area [[by the casino) surrounding by black wrought iron fencing then it looks a lot like a buffer zone.

OTOH, the area bounded by 5th, Grand River, Pine, etc. seems to be a big area for something significant.

That area is near new housing [[six blocks worth between Temple and MLK, 4th and the Lodge) not too far from the Masonic Temple, Cass Tech, etc. I think it has real potential as part of the sports and entertainment zone.

When Duggan's brother talks of a soccer stadium in Midtown [[or along the river front), I think of this site. I'm sure the Ilitches would rather have a stadium there than what is there now. Apparently they would like to 'improve the neighborhood' on both sides of the Lodge.

Also, it is what TWO blocks west of Cass Tech's field so that is a big + for soccer fans.

At 'worst' it could become housing if the Ilitches feel paying premium dollar to demo the stuff there and have [[build) housing 'improves the [[MC Casino) neighborhood"

**hybridy** · August-26-15, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by emu steve

I have heard a joke along these lines. I'm hesitant to post it unless I feel it is okay to do so.

illitch: paved "ghetto paradise" to put up a parking lot

**Danny** · August-26-15, 10:42 PM

If Mike Illitch wants to be like Dan Gilbert, that's fine with me.

**emu steve** · August-27-15, 04:02 AM

BTW, this has got to be good news for land owners in the area. Anyone who has owned land from Woodward/Fisher and to say Grand River/MLKjr has seen the value of their properties really increase.

And, of course, one can sell and move some to a nearby location [[and pocket some $). Win-win for the Ilitches and for Advance Plumbing & Heating:

"With money from the sale of the West Grand River property, the family bought a building in Midtown at Cass and Parsons that will allow Advance Plumbing & Heating to have a showroom and stay in the city."