Developer to save Park Theatre, create Lincoln Park Lofts

**Novine** · April-12-09, 10:18 PM

A small victory in a small city:

"City officials pushed for its redevelopment, and, eventually, its demolition. The Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance, a group of local preservation-minded activists, pushed for saving it to preserve the historic character of the city. The compromise is the Lincoln Park Lofts development."

http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnew...lofts0111.aspx

**wolverine** · April-13-09, 01:05 AM

Great news!

**reddog289** · April-13-09, 01:13 AM

Thats pretty cool that a theatre like that can be saved. I am not the loft kinda guy yet when I see reuse of something like that I am glad.

**East Detroit** · April-13-09, 06:52 AM

Sounds like only the marquee will remain intact and the theatre itself will become lofts?

**Danny** · April-13-09, 07:06 AM

Finally, Downtown Lincoln Park look like a Detroit ghetto. It needs to be fashionable compared to Downtown Ferndale. It tired of looking at vacant buildings and a empty parking lots on Fort St. and Southfield Rd. It needs to catch up with Downtown Allen Park and Wynadotte.

**Gistok** · April-13-09, 11:17 AM

This will be like the Berkeley Theatre in Berkeley.... they saved the facade and gutted the interior for another use [[in that case a drug store).

This kind of remodeling is not unusual for former theatres. In Los Angeles the Pantages Theatre houses a jewelry store [[although much of the theatre survives). in Brooklyn NY, the former Brooklyn Paramount is now used by Long Island University... the auditorium [[with most of the ornate plasterwork surviving) is used as a basketball court, and the lobby is used as a cafeteria.

Even in Grosse Pointe Farms, the former Punch and Judy Theatre Building survives as office space, without the theatre and marquee.

**d.mcc** · April-13-09, 11:36 AM

When will these pesky people learn???

Adaptive reuse isn't the way, we need to knock all our buildings down. Empty lots are much more attractive to potential developers

**ndavies** · April-13-09, 12:31 PM

I don't see how these things are going to survive. I can't think of a worse location for a loft development. There is virtually nothing there in the way of other amenities. The appeal of a loft usually comes not from the loft itself, but it's surrounding environment. That corner of the metro region is definitely not a walkable area.

If you told me it was going in Allen Park, Ecorse or even River Rouge it might have a shot. It doesn't stand a chance on that stretch of Fort street.

**Downriviera** · April-13-09, 12:43 PM

Fort Street Brewery is right across the street. Beer and food, thats 90% of what a lot of people require. You can walk to Calder Dairy, Clementes bar/restaurant/bowling alley, and much more. You could even walk to Detroit River about a mile away. Close to I-75, I-94 and Southfield freeway, too.

**Ed Golick** · April-13-09, 01:11 PM

Although I suppose it's better than bulldozing the building, I don't consider carving up a theater for lofts "saving a theater."

**ndavies** · April-13-09, 02:33 PM

I know the area well. My father used to live about 4 blocks form there. 1 brewery and the sad ass collection of businesses there doesn't make a very walkable downtown. It's more like a car feeder for the freeway and Southfield Rd. than a downtown.

**ghettopalmetto** · April-13-09, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by ndavies

I know the area well. My father used to live about 4 blocks form there. 1 brewery and the sad ass collection of businesses there doesn't make a very walkable downtown. It's more like a car feeder for the freeway and Southfield Rd. than a downtown.

Ya gotta start somewhere, right?

**NoHeartAnthony** · April-13-09, 03:44 PM

Clemente's is closing, so nix that one. Calder Dairy is at least a quarter mile walk. Fort Street Brewery has awful food and so-so beer. Also some gang activity in the area shown by the graffiti.

**56packman** · April-13-09, 09:30 PM

I helped hang a new screen in the Park, circa 1978. The place was pretty funky, given the nature of the business and the clintele. We always turned the light all the way up to do our work, not something you wanted to do in an adult theater.

"That's not corn husker's lotion!"

**reddog289** · April-14-09, 12:08 AM

I should have said "At least they are saving the building". A regular movie house would be better, There a still a few around that are not as lucky as the Redford.
When is Clementes closing ? I,d wanted to go there for awhile. Guess I'd better do it. From what I have seen in the past few days having spent a good deal in Lincoln Park,I would not exactly call it a Ghetto.

**NoHeartAnthony** · April-14-09, 12:39 AM

I wouldn't call it a ghetto either. It's just that I've seen graffiti right near there that's basically saying its Blood/Crip turf or whatever Hispanic gangs claim those symbols.

**East Detroit** · April-14-09, 06:00 AM

Based on the premise that they are saving the Park Theatre, Detroit can claim to have saved the Madison Theatre since its marquee is also still there.

Oh, and Hamtramck could claim to have saved the Lasky Theatre.

**Lowell** · April-14-09, 12:08 PM

I wonder if this move is anticipating the announcement of the development of the film studio in LP.

**Danny** · April-14-09, 01:53 PM

Clemente's is closing, Where's the proof?

**NoHeartAnthony** · April-14-09, 04:33 PM

Knowing the owners?

**Bloomfield Pills** · April-16-09, 04:55 AM

Bah. This world doesn't need more lofts; it needs more porno places, which are fast disappearing.

First, VCRs killed off adult movie theaters. Now the Internet is killing adult bookstores. Who wants to pull their collar up and sneak into a seedy joint to buy a movie or two when you can just order it off the Internet?

But I say if someone wants to watch a dirty movie, they should have to feel dirty about it, by gosh!

**SaintMe** · April-16-09, 12:15 PM

Film studio is in Allen Park

**reddog289** · April-20-09, 01:26 AM

After my 2nd weekend in a row in Lincoln Park, I went to Clementes for the 1st time. Will go back as long as they are there. As for the closing from what I here they are gonna try to ride it out from what I gather. Having driven by the Park, I will say that if lofts do go in there it would be better then a parking lot or a Rite Aid /CVS ETC.

**lpg** · April-20-09, 08:40 PM

When the State of Michigan banned the median parking, and there was no parking in the back, only along Fort Street, people stopped going to the stores. I remember in the 50's when Fishers and Sims and all the other stores were doing quite well. There was a large variety of stores to choose from. My grandfather used to sell the Free Press on the corner of Fort and Southfield during the depression. My mothers side of the family moved to Lincoln Park in 1914 when it was still Ecorse Township. She saw the city grow and also saw the decline.
I talked to one of the local business owners and he said a auto parts store was going to replace Clemente's. If it happens.

**reddog289** · April-21-09, 01:16 AM

I to have heard that Auto Zone was gonna buy the land where Clementes sits. I do buy enough auto parts and pizza. Given the choice and living in Wayne, I would much rather drive to Lincoln Park to get pizza then spark plugs. . Who knows with this movie studio deal things might work out in the Park Theatre project and Clementes favor.