Why is the Film Exchange building being painted white??

[JStone]

The structures atop are already painted in what looks to be a white primer and a crew with a hydralic platform has begun painting the south facade.

[mcsdetroitfriend]

I remember reading somewhere the building's owner wanted to use it to put billboards on top of, so maybe they're just making the building look nice so the billboards look better? Who knows, we'll just have to find out. But it's nice that he's keeping it up even though it's empty! Mike Illitch could learn a lot from the Film Exchange building

[Lonyo exit]

Ilitch can learn what, exactly? That painting over historic brick is preferable to letting the color of the brick speak for itself, as the builders intended?

Why not, under that logic, paint the entire train station white?

[mcsdetroitfriend]

Ilitch can learn what, exactly? That painting over historic brick is preferable to letting the color of the brick speak for itself, as the builders intended?

Why not, under that logic, paint the entire train station white?

That's not what I meant and you know it!

What I meant is that the upkeep of an empty building can help secure its longevity. This building has had new windows added, a new roof, and has been sealed from the elements for the most part. So say a developer comes along and says "I see a future in that building" then the cost would be a lot lower due to its upkeep.

[Gistok]

I remember reading somewhere the building's owner wanted to use it to put billboards on top of, so maybe they're just making the building look nice so the billboards look better? Who knows, we'll just have to find out. But it's nice that he's keeping it up even though it's empty! Mike Illitch could learn a lot from the Film Exchange building

mcsdetroitfriend.... let me give you a little history lesson about that building...

Mid 1990s.... Mike Ilitch was looking for a location for a new baseball park. It was decided upon to be in the west Foxtown area. There was a Wayne County authority developed to purchase properties via Eminent Domain [[no longer allowable today for commercial enterprises). The owner of the Film Exchange Building immediately decided to put new windows in the entire building... knowing full well that it was going to be taken from him by Eminent Domain.... but he would be compensated for a building that was being fixed up [[more $$$).

Apparently he remembered the big bucks that a few shrewd speculators got for land in the [[then) new Jefferson Ave. Chrysler plant. In that venture one building owner stuffed his building with "supposedly" $42 million in equipment, sold his property/equipment for $42 million, and then later bought the equipment back for pennies on the dollar. This was during the CAY years.

Getting back to the Film Exchange Building.... the owner finished putting new windows in the building, and then suddenly the Lions decided that they too wanted to have a new stadium downtown next to the Tigers one. So the west Foxtown site was not big enough, but the east Foxtown site was... and that is where they built the stadia.

Once the Film Exchange Building owner saw that he was not going to get bought out... he did no further work on it... and it has sat empty ever since... with an occasional window being replaced by plywood. And nothing has been done with it until now...

Hmmmm.... maybe he thinks he knows where Mike Ilitch wants to build his new hockey arena??

[croweblack]

There was a Wayne County authority developed to purchase properties via Eminent Domain [[no longer allowable today for commercial enterprises).

uhh you may want to ask a couple of people in conneticut befroe you make that statement!

[EastSider]

uhh you may want to ask a couple of people in conneticut befroe you make that statement!

The US Supreme Court decision in Connecticut allows for states to have stricter standards than in it that case. Michigan, with the Hathcock v Wayne County case, returned to those stricter standards.

An easy summary is that in Michigan, eminent domain can be utilized for "public use" projects. The lighter, Poletown standard, was "public benefit."

[croweblack]

The US Supreme Court decision in Connecticut allows for states to have stricter standards than in it that case. Michigan, with the Hathcock v Wayne County case, returned to those stricter standards.

An easy summary is that in Michigan, eminent domain can be utilized for "public use" projects. The lighter, Poletown standard, was "public benefit."

Sorry to get technical but he said "commercial purposes" so if, shall we say, the city wanted to build a new stadium--perfectly allowable and an easy way around the rule would be for a public entity to build it and later sell it to a private party

but I get your point and thanks for the reference of Hathcock--interesting read

[BVos]

CroweBlack,

You're wrong & EastSider is right. In Michigan, unlike much of the rest of the US, eminent domain cannot be used for stadiums, housing, economic development, etc. per Hathcock v Wayne Co. Only roads, sewers, etc. can be built and a stadium, factory, warehouse, etc. would never meet the Hathcock standard.

Outside of Michigan the Kelo legal standard applies, except in cases where legislative and/or ballot initiated laws create a standard that negates all or part of Kelo.

[Bearinabox]

CroweBlack,

You're wrong & EastSider is right. In Michigan, unlike much of the rest of the US, eminent domain cannot be used for stadiums, housing, economic development, etc. per Hathcock v Wayne Co. Only roads, sewers, etc. can be built and a stadium, factory, warehouse, etc. would never meet the Hathcock standard.

Outside of Michigan the Kelo legal standard applies, except in cases where legislative and/or ballot initiated laws create a standard that negates all or part of Kelo.

Wasn't there a ballot initiative passed in 2006 or thereabouts that restricted the use of eminent domain?

[Hamtragedy]

At least they're not painting it party store blue.

Only assholes paint brick.
Fuckheads paint brick without using primer.
Dumbasses.

[Gsgeorge]

F*ck this crap. The building is ugly painted. Why not leave the original brick? This crap looks like the old ghetto way of covering up a dirty building -- just paint it. Same old same old. Watch them slap some ads on this thing. Next thing we know we have another oversized billboard downtown. Please stop.

[wolverine]

That's not what I meant and you know it!

What I meant is that the upkeep of an empty building can help secure its longevity. This building has had new windows added, a new roof, and has been sealed from the elements for the most part. So say a developer comes along and says "I see a future in that building" then the cost would be a lot lower due to its upkeep.

What new windows? Last time I was in Detroit two weeks ago the windows were broken at the back, and the back wall was beginning to bow out. It looked the same several months previous. Don't try to give credit to anyone on this. Responsible owners would have a building they actually care about checked on and resealed when damage is done.

And painting this building just sounds ridiculous. What's the point, and how about fixing damaged brick first before it falls. I doubt paint will do much to stop it.

[Gistok]

CroweBlack,

You're wrong & EastSider is right. In Michigan, unlike much of the rest of the US, eminent domain cannot be used for stadiums, housing, economic development, etc. per Hathcock v Wayne Co. Only roads, sewers, etc. can be built and a stadium, factory, warehouse, etc. would never meet the Hathcock standard.

Outside of Michigan the Kelo legal standard applies, except in cases where legislative and/or ballot initiated laws create a standard that negates all or part of Kelo.

Thanks for the legal specifics BVos...

In the past [[on a different thread) several lawyers on this forum have mentioned that a new arena for hockey would NOT have the same options available that the Tigers/Lions had in the past... namely a public authority with Eminent Domain powers.

If Ilitch wants to build a new hockey arena [[regardless of what route he takes)... it would have to be without the use of Eminent Domain.

In a similar vein... [[Hathcock vs. Wayne Co.) Wayne County ran into a problem in trying to assemble land for the Aerotropolis [[or whatever it is called)... as a corporate office/commercial park near Metro Airport.

[mcsdetroitfriend]

Anyone taken a picture yet for those of us who live an hour away?

[DetroitDad]

They are working on it again this morning/afternoon.

Attachment 2958

[cman710]

Detroitdad, thanks for posting the photo. The building looks much worse painted white. Not only does it make the building stand out unnecessarily from the cityscape, but it also will look awful in a few years when the paint begins to peel.

[Huggybear]

You gotta love the painting over the orange metal panels. Classic.

[3WC]

Bearinabox is correct. Eminent domain for other than historic public uses is prohibited by the MI Constitution. Now, a Liberal MI Supreme Court may no longer overturn Hathcock as the Hathcock court overturned Poletown.

Gistok's recollection of the Chrysler fiasco is almost right-on, but the mafia guys who owned the warehouse of which he speaks packed it with old tooling they picked up for ten cents a pound and had it appraised at $45+ million. CAY was under tremendous pressure from Chrysler to acquire the land immediately or it would drop the project, so the $45+ million price was paid.

Alan Ackerman represented both the warehouse guys [[and was paid a $15 million fee by the City) and the Hathcock landowner. If you want a great condemnation lawyer, call Alan.

[mcsdetroitfriend]

here's hoping that's just primer =\

[leland_palmer]

As it looks now...

Attachment 4966

and before... http://fadeddetroit.blogspot.com/201...hite-wash.html

[bibs]

Classic example of a white elephant. LOL! Perhaps, additional colors will be added. I agree that it should never have been done.

[Lowell]

Hideous! While not a sensational building it had its qualities and graces.

I loved this carving with its ancient Greek-like figures holding film and projector -- two increasingly obsolete items, as 20th century as the building. The mask of tragedy grimaces from beneath the figure on the left, comedy on the right.

[leady106]

Does anyone know the future plan for the Film Exchange Building, and why is was painted white? The limestone facade seemed to be in decent shape, it looks worse [[cheap) now with the new coat of paint. Was this done to gain more value to the building if it is sold to be a part of the new hockey areana?

[esp1986]

Does anyone know the future plan for the Film Exchange Building, and why is was painted white? The limestone facade seemed to be in decent shape, it looks worse [[cheap) now with the new coat of paint. Was this done to gain more value to the building if it is sold to be a part of the new hockey areana?

I think we are all in the same boat you are... it seems that the building may escape the footprint of a new arena, although a parking garage would be another factor... apparently the owner is trying to redevelop it, but with no takers. In recent years, I believe it has received a new roof and windows, and it isn't in terrible condition inside...I think this is an attempt to make it actively look like there are plans for the building...

If the owner is "trying" to redevelop it, and fixing it up, he could have an arbitration case or demand a higher payment if/when emminent domain may be used to secure land for a new arena. So if he makes it look like something is going on, he can probably get more money out of the deal, regardless of whether or not he actually desires to do anything with it.