Ilitch Buys and Sits On Another Apt. Building

**401don** · February-14-19, 11:06 AM

I should have left the "h" in Sits. At the very least I think their PR people owe the public, not to mention the tenants, more than vague one line responses to genuine inquiries.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/bu...ze/2780476002/

**dtowncitylover** · February-14-19, 11:17 AM

"We are very excited about our development plans for The District Detroit and look forward to sharing future project plans at the appropriate time."

Aka please stop asking us questions so we can tear this down quietly even though our gig seems to up even though the city is doing nothing about it.

**Zads07** · February-14-19, 06:22 PM

It's time for a big expose on the Ilitch companies. The Facebook page Terrible Ilitches is doing yeoman's work, but the Free Press or Crain's needs to pick that up and dig deeper.

**EGrant** · February-15-19, 07:11 AM

Terrible Illitches is a hacky, amateur attempt to stir the pot, not something that will create actual change. Olympia can look at that page and just claim they are a small but vocal group of Facebook trolls, and nothing to worry about.

**Honky Tonk** · February-15-19, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by Zads07

It's time for a big expose on the Ilitch companies. The Facebook page Terrible Ilitches is doing yeoman's work, but the Free Press or Crain's needs to pick that up and dig deeper.

What, and lose potential revenue? One hand washes the other.

**sirrealone** · February-15-19, 08:07 AM

A few weeks ago, the Free Press put out a front page article about how Bedrock was 'flexing their muscle' by going to the governor's office to get out of safety violations.

It was jaw dropping.

Here they are doing all this work all throughout the city and the Freep had the nerve to make them out as evil. I'm not suggesting that safety is not a concern, but my point to her was AT LEAST THEY ARE DOING WORK.

I pointed out that all the promised work that the Illitches put out there is still a pipe dream. I invited her to go research articles in her own paper and then go drive around the arena and write about how much has actually been done. I sarcasitcally pointed out that the Illitches probably have a pretty spot free safety record, because you'd have to do actual work in order to even qualify for potential violations.

Her response was basically to shrug her shoulders and say "Well, maybe we'll look into it, but I don't even know where to start."

Unbelievable. The Illitches definitely have the local media in their back pocket. It's sad.

**Danny** · February-15-19, 08:13 AM

Oh well another park lot. Thank you Illitch for destroying Cass Park!!!

**Lowell** · February-15-19, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Zads07

It's time for a big expose on the Ilitch companies. The Facebook page Terrible Ilitches is doing yeoman's work, but the Free Press or Crain's needs to pick that up and dig deeper.

Time to change the name of Iltichville to I-sore-ville?

Let's start with a roll call.

Eyesores:
Eddystone Hotel
United Artists
Fine Arts Theater [with the forever metal bracket facade]
The Blenheim
The Detroit Insurance Building [forget the exact name]
Ansonia Hotel
Atlantic Apartments
The American / Fort Wayne Hotel

Destructions:
Madison-Lennox RIP parking lot
Palms Hotel RIP parking lot
Downtown YMCA RIP Tiger Ballpark
Downtown YWCA RIP Tiger Ballpark
Detroit College of Law RIP Tiger Ballpark
Wolverine Hotel RIP Tiger Ballpark

Restorations:
Fox Theater and Fox Theater building late 80's

Please add / correct. I want to be fair.

**casscorridor** · February-15-19, 09:31 AM

For the Illitch's, anything that is not their mediocre pizza or overpriced stadiums must literally be demolished. They care nothing about creating a "district" unless it involves a sea of parking lots for their businesses. Sure, the late Mike Illitch wanted his name on a building so he donated some money to Wayne State University, but every billionaire wants his name on stuff, it's entirely unexceptional. It's a shame this city subsidizes them with never ending corporate welfare.

**Scottathew** · February-15-19, 10:51 AM

Ilitches continue to be a cancer on our downtown. Their promises are empty unless the taxpayers are building it.

**Zads07** · February-15-19, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by sirrealone

I pointed out that all the promised work that the Illitches put out there is still a pipe dream. I invited her to go research articles in her own paper and then go drive around the arena and write about how much has actually been done. I sarcasitcally pointed out that the Illitches probably have a pretty spot free safety record, because you'd have to do actual work in order to even qualify for potential violations.

Her response was basically to shrug her shoulders and say "Well, maybe we'll look into it, but I don't even know where to start."

Unbelievable. The Illitches definitely have the local media in their back pocket. It's sad.

That's incredibly sad and scary. Who did you chat with at the Freep? As a journalist, that's disgusting to hear.

**Zads07** · February-15-19, 01:30 PM

Add to Demo list
Carl's Chop House [[RIP Parking)
Advance Plumbing Building [[2959 W. Grand River, next door to Carl's Chop House) [[RIP Parking)
3164 3rd St. [[RIP Vacant Land)
166 E. Montcalm [[RIP Parking Garage)
Chin Tiki [[RIP Parking Lot)
2501 Cass [[RIP Parking Lot)
128 Henry, Comet Bar [[RIP LCA)
2560 Second, Heritage Senior Apts. [[RIP Vacant Land)
2030 Grand River [[RIP Parking Lot)
131 Temple [[RIP Parking Garage)
72 Temple [[RIP Construction Parking)
52 Temple [[RIP Construction Parking)
2211 Cass [[RIP Parking Lot)

Eyesore
479 Ledyard, Michigan Chronicle Building [[Empty)
64 Edmund [[Empty)
1043 Spruce [[Empty)
2952 Second [[Empty)
2942 Second [[Empty)
2968 Second [[Empty)

Renovated-ish
Wagner Baking Company [[Motor City Casino)

**ABetterDetroit** · February-15-19, 02:19 PM

It is time to consider why the Ilitch empire in Detroit hasn’t been examined in depth for creating widespread blight in The City of Detroit by the Freep or Detnews. Anyone else doing what they do would have already come under much more scrutiny.

The first thing that pops into my mind is that anyone who creates ‘bad press’ about them would be targeted to not have press access to Tiger or Redwing players or games. A popular weapon against the first amendment these days unfortunately.

**Atticus** · February-15-19, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by ABetterDetroit

It is time to consider why the Ilitch empire in Detroit hasn’t been examined in depth for creating widespread blight in The City of Detroit by the Freep or Detnews. Anyone else doing what they do would have already come under much more scrutiny.

The first thing that pops into my mind is that anyone who creates ‘bad press’ about them would be targeted to not have press access to Tiger or Redwing players or games. A popular weapon against the first amendment these days unfortunately.

I agree, but how much is press access really worth these days? Most of the sports journalist employed by those papers hardly go to a game anymore unless it is a playoff or “big game”, and then it is just to be there like a rich fair weather fan with a free ticket. Otherwise watch on tv, and send the story in remotely. The few journalists that do go to the random regular season Tigers vs Mariners game on a Wednesday night in August... are likely photographers, or someone just there to get free food from the buffet line. Otherwise they don’t bother.

But maybe their managers don’t realize that, as I doubt the Journalists would want to lose their press credentials and the free food and “big game” ticket that goes with it.

**Zads07** · February-15-19, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Atticus

I agree, but how much is press access really worth these days? Most of the sports journalist employed by those papers hardly go to a game anymore unless it is a playoff or “big game”, and then it is just to be there like a rich fair weather fan with a free ticket. Otherwise watch on tv, and send the story in remotely. The few journalists that do go to the random regular season Tigers vs Mariners game on a Wednesday night in August... are likely photographers, or someone just there to get free food from the buffet line. Otherwise they don’t bother.

But maybe their managers don’t realize that, as I doubt the Journalists would want to lose their press credentials and the free food and “big game” ticket that goes with it.

This is really a bad take. I'm a sports journalist, not for those papers, but nonetheless still one. We don't go for "free food" or the "big games." We are committed to our jobs, writing great content and making sure we find that right story.

And if the consequence was less press access, let them fight with it. We can battle back just as hard. It's called Freedom of the Press.

In addition, the news reporters would be going after Ilitch, not the sports reporters. Restricting sports access based on a news investigation shows really how bad they are. The fact that the Freep or News wouldn't do this not great management.

**Danny** · February-16-19, 03:35 PM

Illitch Jr. is not a venture capitalist. Just a businessman who make Hot n' Ready pizza pizza out of the Red Wings and Tigers.

**EGrant** · February-17-19, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Atticus

Most of the sports journalist employed by those papers hardly go to a game anymore unless it is a playoff or “big game”, and then it is just to be there like a rich fair weather fan with a free ticket.

It is fairly easy to spot the Wings and Pistons beat writers at every single home game in the media sections at LCA. Your post is completely made up nonsense.