Hudson's Site Building Thread

**SpartanDawg** · August-17-18, 03:01 PM

looks like they've pretty much wrapped up taking out the old garage. i would imagine they're probably going to dig a little deeper for the foundation of an 800 foot skyscraper... at least on the sound end of the site.

**EGrant** · August-18-18, 05:47 AM

They are digging out the rubble at this point. You can see what they've cleared so far in the bottom right-hand corner.

**Scottathew** · August-20-18, 07:34 AM

In the lower right-hand corner of the last picture you can see a scaffolding platform. They have a machine on it that is very loud and seem to be abrasively cleaning or removing things off of the wall.

**Van Dyke Brown** · August-24-18, 12:15 PM

August 24, 2018

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**southen** · August-24-18, 01:22 PM

Any other shots looking out from the Stott?!?

**Van Dyke Brown** · August-24-18, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by southen

Any other shots looking out from the Stott?!?

Yes, but this site says I'm at my photo posting limit. If that changes, I'll be sure to share them.

**Scottathew** · August-25-18, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Van Dyke Brown

Yes, but this site says I'm at my photo posting limit. If that changes, I'll be sure to share them.

Send a PM to Lowell, he has magical powers. Thanks for posting the great pictures!

**O3H** · August-30-18, 09:51 AM

Does it have wings, will it fly ?

https://www.businessinsider.in/Detro...w/65325771.cms

**Honky Tonk** · August-30-18, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by O3H

Does it have wings, will it fly ?

https://www.businessinsider.in/Detro...w/65325771.cms

I love it! Move all the Millenials in there. They'll have everything they need in one spot, all they have to do is open the door and yell. Just like living @ home!

**EGrant** · August-30-18, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

I love it! Move all the Millenials in there. They'll have everything they need in one spot, all they have to do is open the door and yell. Just like living @ home!

Old man yells at cloud

**Scottathew** · August-30-18, 10:31 AM

I really hope it doesn't become self-contained. Downtown needs foot traffic, not self-contained campuses like the RenCen.

**dtowncitylover** · August-30-18, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by 48307

I really hope it doesn't become self-contained. Downtown needs foot traffic, not self-contained campuses like the RenCen.

Seriously, they called the RenCen city within a city.

But I actually don't think it will be self-contained. It will most likely have its cafeterias for workers and such, but just by its geographic placement means that will be help fill the hole between the blocks and ensure activity.

**southen** · August-30-18, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by 48307

I really hope it doesn't become self-contained. Downtown needs foot traffic, not self-contained campuses like the RenCen.

It shouldn't. I am not sure why they insist on using the term "a city within a city" because it does conger up visions of the Renaissance Center, but the design has broken up the block and all of the retail appears to be outward facing towards the street. The transparency of the indoor public spaces also helps make it more inviting to people, unlike the Ren Cen.

**401don** · August-30-18, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by 48307

I really hope it doesn't become self-contained. Downtown needs foot traffic, not self-contained campuses like the RenCen.

I agree it shouldn't because that goes against everything in terms of lively streets Gilbert favors and has demonstrated around Woodward. On the other hand, I seem to remember him promising to open the Greektown Casino to Monroe, which hasn't happened.

**Scottathew** · August-30-18, 12:47 PM

Here's the latest progress. They've got quite a few people working in the pit and it looks different everyday. It's exciting to think that soon we may see signs of building the foundation for the new structure!

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**Mind field** · August-30-18, 05:04 PM

The business insider article makes me sad. I had all but forgotten about the initial renderings for this building, which were much more dramatic and befitting of an exciting city that is at the forefront of design. The article also includes renderings for what I understand to be what will be built on the Hudson's site currently. A generic, value-engineered looking, forgettable building, NOT befitting of this site.

**Dexlin** · August-31-18, 02:00 AM

LOL @ "generic" and "forgettable." Was the original version better? Sure. But ain't nothing SHoP designs even whittled down to "generic" and "forgettable." Like, grow-up. This thing is going to be bathed in terra cotta on the mullions.

You better find some better words for this one, fella. Because "generic" and "forgettable" ain't it.

**EGrant** · August-31-18, 07:46 AM

People were complaining that the original swooping design was "too modern" or "too edgy" and didn't fit with Detroit, whatever that means.

Can't please everyone. Or anyone.

**Scottathew** · August-31-18, 08:49 AM

I dig the design for the Hudson's site. It's got streetwall, it's modern looking, it seems to have shops facing outward on the ground level, and it's got an 800 foot tower. I don't object to historic building and I think that some of them are very much worth preserving, but when putting something up in 2020, it's probably going to look modern, and that's fine with me.

**O3H** · August-31-18, 02:38 PM

Hopefully - they thoroughly analyzed and investigated the RenCen -
and why it never really went into the stratosphere, financially speaking.

https://www.mackinac.org/V2007-08

The dazzle of major projects — both privately and publicly funded —
OFTEN blinded officials to hard economic facts !!!!!!!

https://www.mackinac.org/22883

IF we continue to plod forward, in a zombie like stupor of idiocy,
then the region deserves all the rewards of that approach.............

**NSortzi** · August-31-18, 03:26 PM

O3H did you have a negative experience with Detroit’s city government today or something? What’s with all these posts highlighting Detroit’s problems? I think we all know there’s still some big problems going on. That stuff doesn’t change overnight. Things are changing slowly but surely.

Only in Detroit do residents take positives and somehow make them negatives, I swear.

**401don** · August-31-18, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by O3H

Hopefully - they thoroughly analyzed and investigated the RenCen -
and why it never really went into the stratosphere, financially speaking.

https://www.mackinac.org/V2007-08

The dazzle of major projects — both privately and publicly funded —
OFTEN blinded officials to hard economic facts !!!!!!!

https://www.mackinac.org/22883

IF we continue to plod forward, in a zombie like stupor of idiocy,
then the region deserves all the rewards of that approach.............

Nobody who is over 40 years old needs to read a ten yr. old study on all the reasons why the Ren Cen failed. Why anyone would think Dan Gilbert would do anything similar with the Hudson site based on all his recent business development downtown is beyond me.

**Danny** · August-31-18, 07:56 PM

Gilbert Tower,

It's a Trump Tower with a kick.

**Dexlin** · August-31-18, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by O3H

Hopefully - they thoroughly analyzed and investigated the RenCen -
and why it never really went into the stratosphere, financially speaking.

https://www.mackinac.org/V2007-08

The dazzle of major projects — both privately and publicly funded —
OFTEN blinded officials to hard economic facts !!!!!!!

https://www.mackinac.org/22883

IF we continue to plod forward, in a zombie like stupor of idiocy,
then the region deserves all the rewards of that approach.............

At this point, you're just trolling this site, and you need to stop or leave this place, point blank. You are adding nothing constructive and nothing of any worth to this site.

**Mind field** · August-31-18, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by Dexlin

At this point, you're just trolling this site, and you need to stop or leave this place, point blank. You are adding nothing constructive and nothing of any worth to this site.

It's not your place to tell someone to leave a forum that you do not run or manage. People can have opinions that differ from your own and they are just as valid as your own opinion. Attitudes like yours are a huge part of what is wrong with modern society. Complete intolerance for different ideologies than the one you subscribe to. And for the record, I do not agree with O3H's assertion that the Hudson's project will be a money-losing boondoggle or has any similarities to the Renaissance Center besides both being located in downtown Detroit.

Originally Posted by Dexlin

You better find some better words for this one, fella. Because "generic" and "forgettable" ain't it.

Look at projects proposed or built in cities as diverse as Mississauga, Toronto, Dubai, even St. Louis. Ground-breaking architecture that is iconic and instantly a landmark for the city in which it exists. I was hoping for the same kind of iconic ground-breaking architecture for the Hudson's site. Something that would make jaws drop, and be featured in architecture magazines the world over, putting Detroit at the forefront of bold, daring design. Otherworldly architecture. Instead we have an assemblage of boxes, one of the most common forms in architecture. These boxes do nothing to stir the soul. An assemblage of box-like shapes doesn't create an international icon. Now sometimes renderings do a poor job of conveying the final look of a building, and I hope to be pleasantly surprised by the final outcome. I really want to like this building. But I stand by my assertion that it could have been designed to be the talk of the nation, even the world. This building feels "safe" so to speak. That's my opinion and I'm not going to change it.