What would Detroit look like if the RenCen hadn't been built?

**artds** · April-07-09, 10:36 AM

Do you think we have eventually had 5 towers of comparable size to the 5 RenCen towers built in different places north of Jefferson?

Would Comerica Tower's planned twin have gotten built?

Would our Riverfront currently be more of a park-like riverfront like Windsor has?

LodgeDodger · April-07-09, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by artds

Do you think we have eventually had 5 towers of comparable size to the 5 RenCen towers built in different places north of Jefferson?

Would Comerica Tower's planned twin have gotten built?

Would our Riverfront currently be more of a park-like riverfront like Windsor has?

I'm willing to be there would have been at least one waterfront casino...

**dtowncitylover** · April-07-09, 12:08 PM

Well if the RenCen was built like it was intended, an easy access skyscraper, than Detroit might have been different. Instead, the RenCen was built like a fortress without easy-access.

LodgeDodger · April-07-09, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

Well if the RenCen was built like it was intended, an easy access skyscraper, than Detroit might have been different. Instead, the RenCen was built like a fortress without easy-access.

Seems as if anything "planned" in this city [[post-seventies) has been a cluster-fuck. Such a shame.

**Jason** · April-07-09, 12:29 PM

Downtown would have a healthier office market, and the eastern half of downtown would be better off.

From my understanding, there was some kind of program that was going to do stuff like streetscape and facade improvements to some of the east side of downtown, but the money got redirected to the Ren Cen. I forget the details or where I read it.