Monroe Block Development

**Satiricalivory** · October-04-21, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dmberko11

Druelworthy. Wish they built skyscrapers like this. Now THAT is architecture

That's architecture? It looks like bland late 90's pomo.

Anyway there's no way anything near that size was considered. Quicken was nowhere near as large as it is today.

**Gistok** · October-04-21, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Satiricalivory

That's architecture? It looks like bland late 90's pomo.

Anyway there's no way anything near that size was considered. Quicken was nowhere near as large as it is today.

Yeah... but it would have been better than the 'stick built' 5 story apartments actually built, that would have been more suited to Midtown.

Something half the height of the photoshop image would not have been out of place. The style of it was more Post Modern... which had less glass and more stone veneer... such as 150 West Jefferson, and the Ally Tower.

**Dmberko11** · October-04-21, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Satiricalivory

That's architecture? It looks like bland late 90's pomo.

Anyway there's no way anything near that size was considered. Quicken was nowhere near as large as it is today.

Why are you so edgy? Jesus. I post like once a year. I'm glad you don't like my architectural taste?
I'm not a fan of all-glass towers and appreciate tapering and setbacks with masonry. I think you like tall pointy things...like what's sticking up your A half the time you reply

**313WX** · October-05-21, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by Dmberko11

Why are you so edgy? Jesus. I post like once a year. I'm glad you don't like my architectural taste?
I'm not a fan of all-glass towers and appreciate tapering and setbacks with masonry. I think you like tall pointy things...like what's sticking up your A half the time you reply

"Edgy" is a *VERY* kind characterization...

**Satiricalivory** · October-05-21, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Dmberko11

Why are you so edgy? Jesus. I post like once a year. I'm glad you don't like my architectural taste?
I'm not a fan of all-glass towers and appreciate tapering and setbacks with masonry. I think you like tall pointy things...like what's sticking up your A half the time you reply

Why are you overreacting here??? Take a chill pill dude. Don't take random shit so personally. Didn't you do this same thing before and apologized? People disagreeing on architecture is not a personal attack on you.

I think you like tall pointy things...like what's sticking up your A half the time you reply

lol yeah, I'm the edgy one.

**stromberg2** · October-06-21, 11:35 PM

I just love this!!

Stromberg2

**stromberg2** · October-06-21, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

There was a DYES member who used to post here named Quinn. He used Photoshop to put a project [which could have been an architectural design for a NYC project] on the Statler block back when Gilbert was first thinking about building a new HQ, with the main contender being the Hudson's and Statler blocks.

Here was his pipe dream...

Sorry...meant to post this way.

**Gistok** · October-04-21, 11:12 PM

^One never knows... he thinks a 1 story store is preferable without multi-floor living above it...

**Dmberko11** · October-05-21, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

^One never knows... he thinks a 1 story store is preferable without multi-floor living above it...

Ah yes, the new Meijer store. Well, I guess it's better than nothing. Detroit needed more grocers downtown so that's still a win albeit I'm disappointed they nixed the housing on top

**Satiricalivory** · October-05-21, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

^One never knows... he thinks a 1 story store is preferable without multi-floor living above it...

Uhh what? When have I ever said I preferred the sad iteration of the meijer development we got without apartments? Keep making things up.

**southen** · October-06-21, 03:50 PM

Unless this is really terrible performance art feel free to slide into each other's DMs. Nobody cares about this.

In actual Monroe Block news there was a work crew in a cherry picker doing something at the top of the towers of the National Theater Building. We all know that nothing will happen on the site this year but it might make some sense to start disassembling the theater if you want to hit the ground running next year. Wishful thinking im sure.

**Satiricalivory** · October-06-21, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by southen

Unless this is really terrible performance art feel free to slide into each other's DMs. Nobody cares about this.

I'm sorry, really. Believe me I know this is stupid but I'm forced to defend myself here, he chose this. Not gonna just take being attacked by trolls because I dared to use an online forum the way it's supposed to be used.

**Dmberko11** · October-06-21, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Satiricalivory

I'm sorry, really. Believe me I know this is stupid but I'm forced to defend myself here, he chose this. Not gonna just take being attacked by trolls because I dared to use an online forum the way it's supposed to be used.

Quit your mansplaining. I'm actually a hermaphrodite and yes, I'm more sensitive than most but when someone is rude I don't just take it. You're a rude dude and I'm not apologizing to someone like you. Have a great day!

**ShadowSoarer** · October-25-22, 09:07 PM

The good news is that the Monroe Street Midway won't be going away for the winter. The bad news is that means the Monroe Blocks won't be re-breaking ground this winter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EjpNXXHwow

**Danny** · October-25-22, 10:05 PM

So much for Gilbert's third pyramid.

**royce** · October-26-22, 01:23 AM

Looking at the residential development along Woodward and other areas of Midtown, it should be clear to Dan Gilbert that the development of land in and around downtown should focus on residential. Gilbert keeps hoping for businesses to want to build downtown. The problem is it's not happening. All of Monroe and Cadillac Square streets should be residential. If more office space is needed, I'm sure that he can find some room in the 10 story portion of the Hudson's site, the Book Building, and the Free Press Building. That's my two cents.

**stasu1213** · October-26-22, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by royce

Looking at the residential development along Woodward and other areas of Midtown, it should be clear to Dan Gilbert that the development of land in and around downtown should focus on residential. Gilbert keeps hoping for businesses to want to build downtown. The problem is it's not happening. All of Monroe and Cadillac Square streets should be residential. If more office space is needed, I'm sure that he can find some room in the 10 story portion of the Hudson's site, the Book Building, and the Free Press Building. That's my two cents.

I think that longtime homeowners whom either lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years
or inherited their homes should have perks or grandfathered in the neighborhoods and not have their property taxes raised due to new developments in their neighborhood

**313WX** · October-28-22, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by royce

Looking at the residential development along Woodward and other areas of Midtown, it should be clear to Dan Gilbert that the development of land in and around downtown should focus on residential. Gilbert keeps hoping for businesses to want to build downtown. The problem is it's not happening. All of Monroe and Cadillac Square streets should be residential. If more office space is needed, I'm sure that he can find some room in the 10 story portion of the Hudson's site, the Book Building, and the Free Press Building. That's my two cents.

Residential is tough to develop in most cities/metro areas right now despite the pent-up demand.

The long & short of it is that the rents and/or purchase prices developers & financiers would like to set in order to make these projects viable are not affordable for most people.

**Scottathew** · October-26-22, 07:56 AM

I see the Monroe blocks as a good news bad news story for the Gilbert empire.

Bad News: Monroe blocks are probably on ice for a while.
Good News: The Gilbert projects that were active when the pandemic hit are still moving forward and up.

**401don** · October-26-22, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Scottathew

I see the Monroe blocks as a good news bad news story for the Gilbert empire.

Bad News: Monroe blocks are probably on ice for a while.
Good News: The Gilbert projects that were active when the pandemic hit are still moving forward and up.

It will be a long time before another new office building goes up. I'm still surprised at the building at the Joe Louis site and now the Compuware building is emptying out. First Meridian announced they were exiting a large portion and now, according to Crains, Compuware themselves are heading to the burbs.

**Gistok** · October-26-22, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

It will be a long time before another new office building goes up. I'm still surprised at the building at the Joe Louis site and now the Compuware building is emptying out. First Meridian announced they were exiting a large portion and now, according to Crains, Compuware themselves are heading to the burbs.

Compuware is only a small sliver of its' former self, and now is no longer an independent company. They once had about 15,000 employees... now down to 500-1000. Of course any loss of workers downtown is bad.

The company made Peter Karmanos Jr. a billionaire long before he disinvested himself from it and before it started shriveling down to its' current size.

**K-slice** · October-28-22, 04:44 PM

Cadillac Tower, not owned by Bedrock when they announced this project but acquired since, would be the logical place to start if/when this finally happens.

**Gistok** · October-28-22, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by K-slice

Cadillac Tower, not owned by Bedrock when they announced this project but acquired since, would be the logical place to start if/when this finally happens.

Yes, the Cadillac Tower has lower ceiling heights as well... well suited for residential use.

**stasu1213** · October-29-22, 07:23 AM

I think that a residential/office concept should be the trend when building a new residential complex on the Monroe Block. GM, Meridian or Compuware, and other offices downtown have low occupation rates due to employees preferring to work remotely. Maybe a complex could be developed where the unit spaces could be a hybrid of apartments and workspaces.

**THE FURY 617** · February-22-23, 11:20 AM

Huge thanks to user "greatlakes" from skyscraperpage.com for posting this. Downtown Development Authority is going to give us an update on the Monroe Blocks project TODAY!! About time!!!!

https://degc.wpenginepowered.com/wp-...ing-Agenda.pdf