Historic Apartments at Cass and Henry to be Demolished by Olympia/Ilitch

**Eastside...** · June-04-18, 04:47 PM

This story is written like crap...sorry people. Kept getting interupted and losing what I wrote

**SammyS** · June-04-18, 05:02 PM

Obvious question, what were you told to leave?

**Eastside...** · June-04-18, 06:20 PM

Thanks for asking.
I went down to speak w/ the owner...and he told me that a second gentleman [[who gave me the room) was not supposed to do that. He did not give me a reason...and my doe-eyed self didn't ask. After seeing the room, I started to get the idea that things were not as they initially seemed.
Returning that afternoon...i realized I had landed in the belly of the beast...and that my presence was a major disruption to the operation.

In today's parlance, my Uber driver would have gotten a resounding one star

**SammyS** · June-04-18, 06:31 PM

Funny you say that. I once tried checking into a “rent by the hour” hotel in Chicago. Honestly took me a while to figure out what it was all about.

**K-slice** · June-09-18, 10:39 AM

Great story!

**Zads07** · July-07-18, 06:45 PM

I've been off the grid for the past week or two and I'm surprised no one has updated this thread on the news.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...tch/754227002/

This seems incredibly fishy to me and this does not look good for those buildings. I can't say I'm surprised.

**ABetterDetroit** · July-07-18, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Zads07

I've been off the grid for the past week or two and I'm surprised no one has updated this thread on the news.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...tch/754227002/

This seems incredibly fishy to me and this does not look good for those buildings. I can't say I'm surprised.

I am not surprised either.

I was aware of the delay when it happened but have to admit that I was enjoying the summer of not reading about Ilitch daily on this forum, but you are correct it appears that more demolitions and/or outright neglect in the “district” will be happening before new tenants or any other ‘renderings.’

**IrishSpartan** · July-08-18, 02:00 AM

The Free Press certainly did their homework about 447 Henry on the map they generated...Well, not really. Anyway, 447 was the Pla-Mor bowling alley until probably the late 1960's.

**Zads07** · July-08-18, 09:04 AM

There are people that live in some of those buildings on the block. If Ilitch gets his way, those people are evicted.

Such a shame.

**Zads07** · July-09-18, 06:17 PM

They're boarding up the buildings.

Good or bad?

https://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...ons/767881002/

Also, meeting tomorrow, 10 a.m., Coleman A. Young Building, to save these buildings if anyone is interested.

**CrashDummy** · July-09-18, 07:24 PM

Detroit News: Residents in low-rent area near arena fear upscale trend

https://detne.ws/2u7gfBk

Last week, the Detroit City Council was told the buildings were owned by the real estate arm of the Ilitch family, which aims to overhaul the block into a large commercial building.

**Danny** · July-10-18, 06:29 AM

Keep those buildings up. That's enough parking lots.

**dtowncitylover** · July-10-18, 12:09 PM

Hearing word that the designation passed. All council members voted Yes. Does not mean use of buildings will always be housing, but this at least makes it more difficult for them to be torn down.

**Zads07** · July-10-18, 01:41 PM

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...lca/771812002/

We have success. Historic district. Yes, it doesn't mean they will be housing, although in my opinion they should be and it's much more difficult to tear them down. A huge win for the city.

**Bradley** · July-10-18, 05:34 PM

Until it is publicized that the demolition of the Madison Lenox [[Gateway to Gold) was folly, I'll believe everything heard in this town when I see it.

**Zads07** · August-10-18, 04:09 PM

And a building that Ilitch promised to rehab is being threatened with demolition.

This is absurd.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ing-in-detroit

They say it is structurally unsafe. Looks pretty good from the outside to me.

**bust** · August-10-18, 05:21 PM

Hell No!

The Ilitches are a family of scoundrels.

If they truly intended to create the sort of lively mixed use neighborhood their PR BS promised this is exactly the kind of building that is needed. It does not need a wider street to save lazy bones a minute driving from the arena to their casino.

How long have they owned that building? The city had better not reward them for their neglect by permitting its demolition. How much do you want to bet besides letting it rot they've given it a few kicks in the shins.

**NSortzi** · August-10-18, 06:18 PM

Does this actually surprise anyone? Their track record proves they don't care about anything but getting money in their pockets. Everything they have built to this date has been only to benefit themselves, like the Little Caesars HQ expansion, Little Caesars Arena and the surface lots spread out through the north part of downtown. Everything else, the mid rises around the arena whose parking garages were finished but the residential-turned-office space sections were never completed or begun, the Alhambra, UA Building, former Detroit Creamery Building, American Hotel, and the Eddystone still sit abandoned despite promised renovations, the high rises and mid rises around Comerica Park still have had no real announcement...the list goes on. They don't care about anything but themselves.

**casscorridor** · August-10-18, 06:27 PM

Ditto to above. The Illitch's promises never come through, unless it's something that benefits their core bottom line: pizza, stadiums and parking for their pizza and stadiums.

**SpartanDawg** · August-10-18, 07:53 PM

they're parasites. using this city. really hope the city council continues to be tough on them. do not let them demolish this building. they haven't even touched the eddystone towering above their stadium empty. pathetic. putrid. terrible slumlords

**SammyS** · August-10-18, 09:19 PM

I’m frustrated myself but trying to look beyond emotions for answers. One thought comes to mind. Since Mikes death [[patriarch), could it be that the remaining family members just can’t seem to agree. Maybe they just lack leadership?

**archfan** · August-11-18, 01:54 AM

Originally Posted by SammyS

I’m frustrated myself but trying to look beyond emotions for answers. One thought comes to mind. Since Mikes death [[patriarch), could it be that the remaining family members just can’t seem to agree. Maybe they just lack leadership?

Before and after Mike, they've consistently applied the same policies: pizza, stadiums and parking are important, everything else has to go.

**Zads07** · August-15-18, 02:44 PM

Update on the Alden Apartments, which was found not to be in danger of collapse on the outside. No surprise here. Apologies, also posted this in another thread, thinking it was the correct one.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...den-apartments