Monroe Block Development

[Gistok]

I don't want to seem negative, but, in my opinion something is not right with this project. Possibly, it is being scaled back now due to an over abundance of office space and limited demand for a new building.

If we scroll back in this thread, it seems as though you are sounding somewhat negative. We already went through the issues of shortage of labor, and various other reasons.... patience dear sir... patience...

[scarecrow]

If we scroll back in this thread, it seems as though you are sounding somewhat negative. We already went through the issues of shortage of labor, and various other reasons.... patience dear sir... patience...

Exactly. It takes time. I wouldn't expect the lot to broken up until spring. I work in FNB and I have a view across to see into the lot. I'll post photo updates as they happen.

But it's coming. I know they want to finish OCM first.

My only gripe is shutting down the sidewalks so early. I would have waited until construction actually started.

[southen]

When did we all of a sudden get an over abundance of office space?

[bigboat]

It is now almost August and 8 months after groundbreaking, anyone see any activity or construction on the now famous, Monroe development.

[DetroitRises]

It is now almost August and 8 months after groundbreaking, anyone see any activity or construction on the now famous, Monroe development.

It was announced in May that construction is on hold 3-6 months for Monroe blocks, while bedrock sorts out the logistics of building both the Hudson’s and Monroe blocks at the same time.

[Danny]

It was announced in May that construction is on hold 3-6 months for Monroe blocks, while bedrock sorts out the logistics of building both the Hudson’s and Monroe blocks at the same time.

Which means they read to start construction by 2022.

[scarecrow]

It is now almost August and 8 months after groundbreaking, anyone see any activity or construction on the now famous, Monroe development.

They are using it to store ductwork for the OCM expansion currently.

[DetroitRises]

Which means they read to start construction by 2022.

Just a guess, but it’s reasonable for them to wait for the foundations of Hudson’s to be completed and steel begin to rise then from the pit before they start Monroe blocks, so they’re not competing for the exact same limited skilled workforce. The general contractor is different for each project but there can only be so many subcontractors they can hire within the Detroit area.

[Luke09]

Just a guess, but it’s reasonable for them to wait for the foundations of Hudson’s to be completed and steel begin to rise then from the pit before they start Monroe blocks, so they’re not competing for the exact same limited skilled workforce. The general contractor is different for each project but there can only be so many subcontractors they can hire within the Detroit area.

This is exactly what is going on. It's no coincidence that the Hudson foundation is taking longer than expected and therefore Monroe gets delayed. The Detroit market, as well as most markets, are having a tough time locating skilled labor for all of these construction projects. It's ironic that I read an article a few months ago that here in Los Angeles we are lacking about 50k skilled labor and we have about that same # of people living on the streets

[casscorridor]

This is exactly what is going on. It's no coincidence that the Hudson foundation is taking longer than expected and therefore Monroe gets delayed. The Detroit market, as well as most markets, are having a tough time locating skilled labor for all of these construction projects. It's ironic that I read an article a few months ago that here in Los Angeles we are lacking about 50k skilled labor and we have about that same # of people living on the streets

Not to mention the anti-migrant hysteria bring drummed up by the likes of Trump.

[David L]

Undocumented Immigrants have made up a large part of construction labor for years. They are basically in hiding and everything has slowed down.

[Gistok]

Undocumented Immigrants have made up a large part of construction labor for years. They are basically in hiding and everything has slowed down.

Agree 100%... many will do hard labor that American's won't. Here in St. Clair Shores they are not doing sidewalk repair for the first year in decades... partly due to the cement price increase of 30% in the last 18 months, and also because they can't get a subcontractor to do it. My sidewalk was replaced in 2006 by Mexican subcontracted workers.

[Dmberko11]

Not to mention the anti-migrant hysteria bring drummed up by the likes of Trump.

I live in Texas and am fed up with the immigration policies of this country. The Hispanics that move here want to have what we have, live the American dream and prosper, yet they want to make the areas they live in little Mexico. They don’t assimilate, don’t wanna learn English, and are very rude to Americans and have a nasty attitude towards us. Just my observation from living less than a couple hours from the border. I got so sick and tired of it I moved further north.

[archfan]

I live in Texas and am fed up with the immigration policies of this country. The Hispanics that move here want to have what we have, live the American dream and prosper, yet they want to make the areas they live in little Mexico. They don’t assimilate, don’t wanna learn English, and are very rude to Americans and have a nasty attitude towards us. Just my observation from living less than a couple hours from the border. I got so sick and tired of it I moved further north.

Variations of your statement were said about every immigrant wave from the 1830s onward, including the Germans, Italians, eastern Europeans, and especially the Irish. They assimilated. Why wouldn't this wave have a similar outcome?

[Seven&wyo]

We'll take em. As long as you're not violent I could care less about assimilation.

[Gistok]

Agree with the sentiment about immigrants always having their "enclaves" in America... Greektown used to be Germantown, Harmonie Park was another German enclave. Each ethnic group had their own "social clubs" where they hung out at rather than "assimilate". Same thing going on today [[with the same amount of prejudice) as it was 150 years ago. Nothing has changed... except it takes the 2nd generation of immigrants to do the actual assimilation.

[Dmberko11]

Agree with the sentiment about immigrants always having their "enclaves" in America... Greektown used to be Germantown, Harmonie Park was another German enclave. Each ethnic group had their own "social clubs" where they hung out at rather than "assimilate". Same thing going on today [[with the same amount of prejudice) as it was 150 years ago. Nothing has changed... except it takes the 2nd generation of immigrants to do the actual assimilation.

My point was we used to have better 1st gen immigrants who were better for this country than the new waves in the new millennium. Of course by your logic the 2nd gen and so on should assimilate. SHOULD. But in a country that is broke and 22 trillion in the hole and becoming more and more like a European socialist country where more of your paycheck will go to support the welfare programs that these new immigrants get to immediately benefit from, I ask you, do you really want to settle for the “trailer trash” who want to illegally come into this country and not pay their dues like the immigrants of the past had to?? That’s broken and not right. There has to be law and order and borders and customs like any sovereign country with its head screwed on right. Aka Switzerland or Norway. Their immigration policies we could learn from.

[EGrant]

Sure, keep ranting about the good immigrants and the bad immigrants, without providing a single source for your laughably baseless claims.

Feels like something that belongs in the comments section of a Breitbart article, and not a thread about the Monroe Block, but I digress.

[Dmberko11]

Thanks for the laugh friend. I’ll let you get back to your safe space and CNN
Don’t forget to vote creeper joe 2020! He’s your best shot....
Maybe he’ll even increase what they take out for social security and Medicare and put you into a higher income tax bracket since we don’t do enough for illegals. They need a hand out.
And for shits and giggles I think it’d be great if where you live becomes a sanctuary city. After all you should experience what living close to the border is really like. Don’t take my word for it. Embrace it! High crime and a flood of welfare bums making less than minimum wage as undocumented illegals. Say hi to Pedro for me

Oh we digress. Oh sorry. I’m the main culprit here for taking us so off-topic.
Gistok, I apologize for my snide remark about reading comprehension and lack of education. That was low and unnecessary. Hope we can have more amicable discussion down the road.

[Gistok]

Gistok, I apologize for my snide remark about reading comprehension and lack of education. That was low and unnecessary. Hope we can have more amicable discussion down the road.

We all have our bad days. Unfortunately if we let politics creep into our discussions, it's a no win for everyone.

[Dmberko11]

We all have our bad days. Unfortunately if we let politics creep into our discussions, it's a no win for everyone.

Appreciate your understanding. Indeed it wasn’t my finest hour. A little too much hubris perhaps and politics. We’re better off without that on an architecture forum for goodness sakes. I’d hit the undo button on the initial post that sparked all of it in a heartbeat. Oy ve.

[shawring]

I see some activity on the site

[mikeg19]

It won't amount to much though....

https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/john-gallagher/2019/08/07/hudsons-detroit-tallest-building/1943037001/

• The office, retail, and residential mixed-use project on the Monroe Block is undergoing design revisions. Actual construction, which was to have been underway by now, is scheduled to start in early 2020.

[EGrant]

I think they are moving the barriers back a little so you can walk on the sidewalk around the site. It was kind of annoying.

[M. Brown]

There was activity at this site today. When I drove by some of the barriers were gone. Maybe they are moving the barriers again?