New Potential Riverfront Developments

[Gistok]

Southen.... I hope they don't bring up the folly of tearing down the Chene Park Amphitheater AGAIN.... it's fine where it is... and fits perfectly in its' setting for a mid sized performance location. If anything, Hart Plaza is suited very well for very large gatherings, and should be retrofitted with the demise of Ford Auditorium to keep that in mind.

https://cheneparkdetroit.com/chene-p...musical-jewel/
http://detroit1701.org/Chene%20Park.html

[southen]

I didn't see the presentations this morning, but not one of the five yesterday suggested changing anything with Chene. One of the groups talked quite a bit about monetizing the current assets for future growth and I imagine that Chene would fit into that nicely.

I agree about Hart Plaza. I would like to see some sort of stage worked into that space but Hart Plaza overall needs to be completely rethought. I was in Millenium Park again a few weeks ago and the layout and design of that is so welcoming to people where Hart Plaza is pretty brutal with pavement everywhere. Id love to see them keep the fountain and other landmarks, while adding some more, all the while making it more pedestrian friendly and not just thinking of it as a space utilized for festivals.

[bust]

I worked at the Rhinoceros Club, briefly. If we ever meet in person maybe I'll tell you about that.

If Detroit had to have casinos of course I can see why the casino operators would want them here. But I wonder what impact that would have had on Lafayette Park and what the residents there would have thought.

With its diverse architecture, quiet streets, location, human scale, and available big spaces, this area has all kinds of potential to become a vibrant neighborhood. It's perfect for live-work situations, entrepreneurs and other creative people, and mixed use. Plus it's got loads of history and charm.

Casinos would have killed all that.

Personally I'm happy with what I know so far about the Orleans Landing project that's coming instead.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/07/...t-development/
http://www.freep.com/story/money/bus...ding/73982880/

Does anyone have an update about that?

[royce]

[QUOTE=Gistok;498133]Southen.... I hope they don't bring up the folly of tearing down the Chene Park Amphitheater AGAIN.... it's fine where it is... and fits perfectly in its' setting for a mid sized performance location. If anything, Hart Plaza is suited very well for very large gatherings, and should be retrofitted with the demise of Ford Auditorium to keep that in mind.

Gistok, I disagree with you on this one. Chene Park is a nice facility for concerts but it's aging and needs a lot of work. Also, the amount of land needed for parking is huge and could be better used as a mixed-use development. In addition, new residential is going to have to deal with the concert noise from Chene Park. The concerts end at eleven but if you're at home watching TV or in bed before then, then the concert noise becomes a problem. Carve out a similar amphitheater at Hart Plaza and people can park anywhere downtown and walk or take the People Mover. Concert noise won't be a problem since there's no apartments, homes, or condos near Hart Plaza. A new amphitheater in Hart Plaza means more residential and commercial developments in the east riverfront area. Also, Chene Park could be turned into a true park. Sounds like a win-win to me.

[Gistok]

[QUOTE=royce;498138]

Southen.... I hope they don't bring up the folly of tearing down the Chene Park Amphitheater AGAIN.... it's fine where it is... and fits perfectly in its' setting for a mid sized performance location. If anything, Hart Plaza is suited very well for very large gatherings, and should be retrofitted with the demise of Ford Auditorium to keep that in mind.

Gistok, I disagree with you on this one. Chene Park is a nice facility for concerts but it's aging and needs a lot of work. Also, the amount of land needed for parking is huge and could be better used as a mixed-use development. In addition, new residential is going to have to deal with the concert noise from Chene Park. The concerts end at eleven but if you're at home watching TV or in bed before then, then the concert noise becomes a problem. Carve out a similar amphitheater at Hart Plaza and people can park anywhere downtown and walk or take the People Mover. Concert noise won't be a problem since there's no apartments, homes, or condos near Hart Plaza. A new amphitheater in Hart Plaza means more residential and commercial developments in the east riverfront area. Also, Chene Park could be turned into a true park. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Royce, we've agreed to disagree about this several times.... I personally think that anyone buying a condo or renting an apartment near Chene Park would know what they are getting into... and the folks at River Place nearby don't seem to mind...especially since concerts generally end by 10PM... mostly on the weekend.

As for parking issues... as stated above... it'll be a long time until parking in Rivertown becomes a parking problem.... and there's the huge Riverplace parking structure nearby that could handle the crowds.

What I don't like is the thought of having a huge tented building blocking a big chunk of the river at Jefferson. The RenCen and Cobo Hall/Arena do enough of that already. Do we really need more of the civic center riverviews blocked?

As for Chene Park needing a lot of work... I've seen no evidence of that in any of the reviews nor the images. It appears [[sans the restroom upkeep) to be well maintained... and even the fabric tent over the structure appears without issue.

[Hypestyles]

I checked out one of the presentations, from 12:45 - 2 pm. A lot of the development-speak lingo is above my head, but the visual aids were interesting. I hope that something fair and equitable is chosen, and that the proper investors are lined up to actually execute whatever plan [[if any?) that is chosen. This can't be something that is "announced" with a press conference, and then 5 years later there's nothing to show for it. Detroit's had enough fakers.

[downtownguy]

Archfan... the Rhinoceros was another one...

And, at various times, either at the end or before: Franklin Street Brewing Company, Taboo's, The Warehouse, and that dive bar on Jefferson... what was it called? A block from it was Emmanuel Stewards 1940 Chophouse.

As with any restaurant district, it's dynamic, not static. So, if it still existed today, certainly more places would have opened and closed.

Then, there were the areas east and west of the proposed casino site. While they were spared, they did provide a contiguous neighborhood of eateries and entertainment from the Ren Cen to Stroh River Place. To the west was what is now Steve's Soul Food [[forgot the former name), Schweizers, and that place near the Ren Cen on Franklin that seemed to change names and ownership ever other year. To the east was and/or still is Dunleavy's, Atwater Brewery, Andrews on the Corner, and the Rattlesnake.

In the middle of it all, Chene Park, drawing thousands down every summer and providing a steady stream of customers to the restaurants.

At one time, I heard talk of extending the Trolley beyond the Ren Cen to Stroh River Place. Had this occurred, it would have done a lot to patch these scattered places together and possibly even given the Trolley a better case for existence.

Finally, there were dozens of other non-entertainment businesses that also had to move. Most were somewhat industrial, and many of them probably welcomed a buyout so they could move to the suburbs. That may have happened eventually anyway had the entertainment scene continue to grow, but having them side by side with the restaurants added a contrast that contributed to the funkiness of the entire area.