Lafayette Building Demolition

**Russix** · August-13-09, 01:57 PM

Crews are blocking the street on the westside of the building. Will this be a crushed rock or paved parking lot?

**dcmorrison12** · August-13-09, 01:58 PM

DEGC or DDA has plans for a park there

**wolverine** · August-13-09, 02:16 PM

Hmm, missed my chance to get some good photos from the roof.

**ghettopalmetto** · August-13-09, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by dcmorrison12

DEGC or DDA has plans for a park there

In other words, dirt, rocks, and ghetto palms? Maybe a broken streetlight or two?

**Detroitnerd** · August-13-09, 02:23 PM

Green space. These downtown developers are just gaga over green space.

**bailey** · August-13-09, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by ghettopalmetto

In other words, dirt, rocks, and ghetto palms?

yes... but instead of being on the roof, they are street level for all to enjoy.

**wolverine** · August-13-09, 02:35 PM

^ What? You mean not just for the enjoyment of BC tenants?

**drjeff** · August-13-09, 02:43 PM

I'll be sad to see the Lafayette go, but in fact there isn't much green space in that part of downtown. So if it has to go, a park is a good idea.

**Detroitnerd** · August-13-09, 02:48 PM

It's because they know their "demolish it and they will come" strategy is a total failure. They're not even using the old pretense that a developer will step in for sure. That's a small victory for our side, I guess.

**EastsideAl** · August-13-09, 02:56 PM

Hooray, more emptiness! Just what this city needs. What a victory this will be for the forces of progress.

Moving Detroit forward baby!

**rjlj** · August-13-09, 03:05 PM

Welcome to Detroit, the world's largest parking lot.

What is Latin for "We Hope For Better Things; It Shall be pummelled into Ashes?"

Bearinabox · August-13-09, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by drjeff

I'll be sad to see the Lafayette go, but in fact there isn't much green space in that part of downtown. So if it has to go, a park is a good idea.

It's, what, a whole block from Campus Martius? A whole block from Capitol Park? Not much green space compared to what? How much green space do you think a big-city downtown needs?

**artds** · August-13-09, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by dcmorrison12

DEGC or DDA has plans for a park there

I have to say that this is probably the best, most realistic option for the site at this time.

**drjeff** · August-13-09, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Bearinabox

It's, what, a whole block from Campus Martius? A whole block from Capitol Park? Not much green space compared to what? How much green space do you think a big-city downtown needs?

Those are both parks but they aren't very green. They are mostly concrete.

**Khartoum** · August-13-09, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by Russix

Crews are blocking the street on the westside of the building. Will this be a crushed rock or paved parking lot?

Paved parking lot? Are you crazy???

They don't have the money for that type of thing...

**ghettopalmetto** · August-13-09, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by Khartoum

Paved parking lot? Are you crazy???

They don't have the money for that type of thing...

I guess this means we can throw landscaping and lighting out the window too, huh?

**detourdetroit** · August-13-09, 03:25 PM

Haha, that's a good one rjlj... Speramus meliora. Batteremus cineribus...

**bailey** · August-13-09, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by ghettopalmetto

I guess this means we can throw landscaping and lighting out the window too, huh?

Yup. The same window the urban spelunkers and scrappers used to get in and out of the building.

**Doma** · August-13-09, 04:04 PM

Some must die so that others may live!

Ferchill said it was impossible, so it must die.

**jtf1972** · August-13-09, 04:23 PM

One question about this "park." There will be a "park" on the back end of the site and then the two dilapidated coney island greasepits on the most visible part of the triangle?

Thar be some plannin'!

**Detroitnerd** · August-13-09, 04:29 PM

The park is a fig leaf for another demolition. Who cares what it looks like when it's done? Our demolition contractors need their money, dude. Get with the program.

Bearinabox · August-13-09, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by jtf1972

One question about this "park." There will be a "park" on the back end of the site and then the two dilapidated coney island greasepits on the most visible part of the triangle?

Thar be some plannin'!

LOL, exactly.

**McIPor** · August-13-09, 05:28 PM

What are they going to do, blow it up in the middle of the night? I would hope they do environmental remediation before hand.

**stasu1213** · August-13-09, 08:00 PM

It could be a park where entertainment could be held corresponding with the entertainment a Campus Martius and Hart Plaza. That will increase the pedestrial traffic in that small spot. Then stores might be constructed at the bottom level of the parking structure that sit next to BC.

**ghettopalmetto** · August-13-09, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by stasu1213

It could be a park where entertainment could be held corresponding with the entertainment a Campus Martius and Hart Plaza. That will increase the pedestrial traffic in that small spot. Then stores might be constructed at the bottom level of the parking structure that sit next to BC.

Sure! Why not have three public plazas all competing for the same programming? It's paramount that the City of Detroit spend $2 million [[give or take) to increase pedestrian traffic on one particular block. Wholesale change is just too difficult and complicated, and would require foresight and thinking, so this is the best option.

You might as well demolish the coney islands as well, so people have somewhere to stow their cars when they use the new "park".