Calling Out Dan Gilbert: Monroe Block Should Be Mainly Residential

[southen]

I started this thread because of what happened to the cancelled Meridian project. That development was poorly conceived in my opinion. That to me was Gilbert's first bad call. Also, his focus seems to be on the Hudson's site, but to me that huge parking lot that fronts Monroe and Cadillac Square Park is calling for residential. A hotel as a part of a development there wouldn't be a bad idea either, and definitely retail/restaurants on the ground floor.

The Meridian project had nothing to do with Gilbert. He gave up the rights to the site for that project and allowed Meridian to develop it with Schostak. Once that fell through the rights reverted back to Dan. I am hoping to see something truly mixed use there. A mix of office, residential and hotel in a prominent building there would be great to cap off development surround CMP. I know a lot of people view Hudson's as the more important site, but for my money it is the Monroe Block that needs the higher profile and higher quality development. I would be happy with something that fills the block at the height of Compuware or First National but would be thrilled if we had something similar to One Detroit Center or the Penobscot there in terms of height.

[1953]

I say we keep Campus Martius commercial, thank you.

1953