Olympia Clueless About What to Do With Fine Arts Facade?

[leland_palmer]

It seems that everyone greatest fear is true.
Fine Art Building's facade being preserved for future reuse.

Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Model D
http://www.modeldmedia.com/developme...arts20409.aspx

The future use for the Fine Arts -- designed by Louis Kamper, also known as the architect of the Book Cadillac Hotel -- has not yet been determined, according to Karen Cullen, spokesperson for Ilitch Holdings, the parent company of Olympia. In a statement she released, Atanas Ilitch, Olympia's president, says, "We are confident that the façade of the historic Fine Arts Building can be preserved and ultimately integrated into a new development that will occupy the site at some point in the future."

I would like to believe that they know exactly what they are going to do with the facade but are being they usual secretive selves, not wanting to possible drive up real estate prices, etc. However, it is just as likely that the decided to knock down the building with no plan in place. I wonder how long the facade will be sitting there before the building and safety department decides that it is unsafe and demand that it be pulled down?

[Novine]

The first good wind storm should take care of that.

[crawford]

You guys are too much.

They obviously kept the facade to appease the armchair presevationists who like to complain whenever a worthless, collapsing building is demolished, and now people are complaining about the preserved facade already.

Would you have preferred they just demolished the facade too?

There is NO market for any new construction right now in downtown Detroit. None. Let them sit on the property for a few years, and see what happens.

[1KielsonDrive]

Olympia is just plain 'clueless' about everything. This is reminiscent of the Cadillac block facade on Monroe [[next to the theatre) that was left standing for decades. It was scheduled to be incorporated in some project or other until they could ignore it no longer - one good blow and it was going over.

[Novine]

"They obviously kept the facade to appease the armchair presevationists who like to complain whenever a worthless, collapsing building is demolished, and now people are complaining about the preserved facade already. "

Wrong. People were complaining about the stupidity of tearing down the building with no plan to replace it. The building was in a "worthless, collapsing" condition because the slumload/owner Ilitch failed to maintain it properly.

[crawford]

Wrong. People were complaining about the stupidity of tearing down the building with no plan to replace it. The building was in a "worthless, collapsing" condition because the slumload/owner Ilitch failed to maintain it properly.

A worthless property will generally not be maintained "properly".

It may be the right thing to do, but most people will not play Mother Theresa and sink dollars into a bottomless pit. There has to be some sort of incentive.

The Illitches run a business, not a charity. The site is worth more as parking for their venues. They did not have to keep the facade, but they were nice enough to do so.

Now let's sit tight and see if the market improves.

[royce]

The question to ask is , "What is the world's record for the longest time a facade has stood without a building?" Looks like we're going to find out. At least the developer that did the Mid-Med Lofts Building wasted no time attaching the facade to the new structure. Also, Grand Circus Park is going to look real attractive for years to come with scaffolding hovering over the sidewalk and a facade and empty space to look at. Why not build a small residential development to go with the facade, extended to the alley? Use the empty space on Elizabeth for parking. This way the parking lot helps to defray the costs of building the residential unit. I mean really, doesn't Ilitch and his organization have any imagination or creativity? All they seem to do is tear down buildings for surface parking lots. At least build a parking deck from time to time. One on Elizabeth where the storage garage used to be would be a nice location. It can be integrated with the new Red Wings Arena that will be built diagonally, starting at the NE corner of Cass and Adams.

[detroitind]

There are many a facade that have stood with proper bracing for quite a long period. There are at least two in Montreals old port area that have been standing for at least 10 years. The one houses a patio/park space and the other outdoor seating for a restaurant. It is actually a cool unique feeling to have buildings on all sides of you and a open facade to the front.

I would love to see a restaurant or beer garden open in that area behind the facade if not a new building.

As long as it is braced properly there will be no issues.

[dcmorrison12]

You guys are too much.

They obviously kept the facade to appease the armchair presevationists who like to complain whenever a worthless, collapsing building is demolished, and now people are complaining about the preserved facade already.

Would you have preferred they just demolished the facade too?

There is NO market for any new construction right now in downtown Detroit. None. Let them sit on the property for a few years, and see what happens.

Hm.. that's funny, then how come there's multiple construction sites throughout the area? Crawford, again and as usual, you are clueless about the TRUE happenings of Detroit.

[crawford]

Hm.. that's funny, then how come there's multiple construction sites throughout the area? Crawford, again and as usual, you are clueless about the TRUE happenings of Detroit.

Well then why don't you educate me?

Please inform me of these numerous construction sites around Grand Circus Park.

The most recent new construction highrise would be the government-subsidized Trolley Plaza way back 30 years ago. I cannot think of another major new construction tower in this part of downtown.

But I'm sure you can educate me, right?

[3420]

The other day I went too my lunch spot at subway and I asked one of the demo guys what is Illitch going to do with the Fine Arts facade. He straight up told me that its going to sit for at least 4 years. I thought he was just joking but he was serious when he said it.

[Gistok]

Well then why don't you educate me?

Please inform me of these numerous construction sites around Grand Circus Park.

The most recent new construction highrise would be the government-subsidized Trolley Plaza way back 30 years ago. I cannot think of another major new construction tower in this part of downtown.

But I'm sure you can educate me, right?

No, I think you're beyond being educated... your mind has been made up long ago... so there's no reason to confuse you with the facts....

You would have been a good candidate for "enlightenment" at last weeks downtown Movie Palace Tours... but you don't seem to count "adaptive reuse" as redevelopment, since it doesn't involve starting with a demo-ed empty lot and only building anew.

Your "blinders" will only allow you to see new construction as Grand Circus Park improvement, and not the improvements of rehabbed buildings such as the Kales, Fyfe, Colony Club, Palms, Fox, former Hughes & Hatcher, Gem/Century, Barden, DAC, Capitol, Milner, Madison, and District Court buildings....

In your narrow viewpoint... all you see is a new baseball and football stadiums, and little else...

[EastSider]

No, I think you're beyond being educated... your mind has been made up long ago... so there's no reason to confuse you with the facts....

You would have been a good candidate for "enlightenment" at last weeks downtown Movie Palace Tours... but you don't seem to count "adaptive reuse" as redevelopment, since it doesn't involve starting with a demo-ed empty lot and only building anew.

Your "blinders" will only allow you to see new construction as Grand Circus Park improvement, and not the improvements of rehabbed buildings such as the Kales, Fyfe, Colony Club, Palms, Fox, former Hughes & Hatcher, Gem/Century, Barden, DAC, Capitol, Milner, Madison, and District Court buildings....

In your narrow viewpoint... all you see is a new baseball and football stadiums, and little else...

All of those projects are yesterday's news. Crawford's talking about CURRENT construction.

I'd like to know where those are, too.

[detmich]

All of those projects are yesterday's news. Crawford's talking about CURRENT construction.

I'd like to know where those are, too.

Eastsider and Crawford, you two are completely out of touch with reality. There have been several new buildings constructed downtown this year alone, albeit they were made out of Lego, but that is besides the point.

[ghettopalmetto]

Ilitch was going to ask the DEGC to come running with a bucket of demolition money, but then he heard they were strapped for cash too.

So he waits....

[Danny]

Illitchville is going the Fine Arts Building into one of his "PREMIER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES" I can't wait to see what happen to the fine old buiding.

WORD FROM THE STREET PROPHET

Hello parking lot my old friend. How are you doing? Are you filling up those compact spaces with those cars. At least your attracting some people.

I'm about to go eat PIZZA PIZZA.

[dnvn522]

The Illitches run a business, not a charity.

What about the Ilitch Charities they run?






Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Gistok]

Eastsider and Crawford, you two are completely out of touch with reality. There have been several new buildings constructed downtown this year alone, albeit they were made out of Lego, but that is besides the point.

Pity the poor fool that doesn't know the difference between reality and a collectible toy!

[EastSider]

Pity the poor fool that doesn't know the difference between reality and a collectible toy!

And he's a fool for spelling it wrong. It takes more than one lego to build something. One lego; two legos. Or should it be legoes? Like potatoes?

[2blocksaway]

maybe it will be an entrance to the new hockey arena

[EastSider]

maybe it will be an entrance to the new hockey arena

Who'd play on a rink that small? Midgets?

[2blocksaway]

it will be a big building. i am sure it could be incorporated somewhere.

[48202]

And he's a fool for spelling it wrong. It takes more than one lego to build something. One lego; two legos. Or should it be legoes? Like potatoes?

LEGO - the company name, all caps, always singular.
LEGO bricks - the little plastic pieces.

Anyone have pics of the Fine Arts facade in its current condition?

[wolverine]

The demo team told me the site would be currently used for parking.

[dcmorrison12]

From Crawford

"There is NO market for any new construction right now in downtown Detroit. None. Let them sit on the property for a few years, and see what happens"

-Funny how once I called you out on your bullsh*t remarks, you quickly change your accusation to JUST grand circus park

As for construction in Downtown Detroit - which most people generalize as riverfront to new center - I'll name only a few, but will add on tomorrow when it's a more reasonable time.

-Studio one apartments
-Sugar hill condos
-Rosa Parks Transit Center
- Alexandrine block
-Wayne County/Detroit Port Authority Terminal
- Greektown Casino Hotel
- Large [[residential?) complex going up on Piquette, just a block or two down from Z's Villa
-Dequindre Cut
-Tri-Centennial State Park - Wetlands
-Dequindre Cut / River Walk connection pathway
-Extensive streetscape improvements along woodward
-New engineering building on WSU Campus
-New school of medicine building on WSU Medical Campus


That's just off the top of my head, will add more tomorrow afternoon.

Now, your accusation... however false it is, is still VERY misleading and shortsighted. It's very necessary to bring to light the MUCH larger gentrification trend which is sweeping the area, for this is having a larger, more positive and noticeable effect on the city. Since you didn't bring this up, i shall not list those projects... I'll need a much LONGER post