No heat in Belle Isle Conservatory?

[carlscomputers]

Just saw on the news, heat been out since weekend, plants turning brown, heaters "on order"? Anyone know who's responsible for maintaining/fixing heat there?

[LodgeDodger]

Detroit Parks and Rec

Perhaps contacting various council members and the Mayor might spur some fast action? I've contacted FOBI to see if there's anything we can do.

[LodgeDodger]

Send a message to the City Council:

http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/legislat...il/Default.htm

Call the Mayor's Office:

City of Detroit
Executive Office
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave., Ste. 1126
Detroit, MI 48226

[[313) 224-3400

[LodgeDodger]

Send a message to the City Council:

http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/legislat...il/Default.htm

Call the Mayor's Office:

City of Detroit
Executive Office
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave., Ste. 1126
Detroit, MI 48226

[[313) 224-3400

Friends of Belle Isle--Ask them if there's anything you can do to help:

http://www.fobi.org/contact.htm

Also, if friends with any of the Council members, media, or Mayor on Facebook, contact them!

[Buy American]

Most of the plants and flowers are older than some of us....this shows me that the sense of urgency the CofD has regarding something of a "historical" nature is and never has been important to the powers that be. If these living things die because no one in the CofD can get someone over to Belle Isle to fix a furnace, that would be a tragic thing.

[Stosh]

I can't imagine that they would let this happen. Haven't they heard of portable heat?

[LodgeDodger]

A few years ago, there was a heating problem [[a heating upgrade was inadequate). Staff members brought in their own space heaters. The folks who work and volunteer at the Conservatory are some of the best.

Anyone have space heaters? Perhaps we need to round up a bunch to take down there until the problem is fixed?

[LodgeDodger]

There is heat in the greenhouse, but it's inadequate. Does anyone have access to some propane torpedo heaters? Contact the Conservatory if you're willing to loan some to them: 313.821.5428.

[Stosh]

There is heat in the greenhouse, but it's inadequate. Does anyone have access to some propane torpedo heaters? Contact the Conservatory if you're willing to loan some to them: 313.821.5428.

I wish I had one to lend. What with all the trees the city cuts down each year, it's a shame that they just don't get a wood furnace that heats water and just do it that way when it gets too cold. Of course, thats labor intensive. But free!

Also, do they have propane tanks?

[Kell31]

I just called the conservatory because I have a torpedo propane heater they could use.

The lady who answered the phone said she could not help. She informed me the person I need to speak to is in a meeting until 1pm. She had no idea about anything. And when I asked if the conservatory had it's heat restored she just laughed and said she could not tell me anything about that.

Overall I understand why this is happening. They don't even care about their own building.

Tried to help, but oh well my "suburb" propane heater will sit in the garage unused.

[Johnlodge]

Sometimes it is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

[LodgeDodger]

I just called the conservatory because I have a torpedo propane heater they could use.

The lady who answered the phone said she could not help. She informed me the person I need to speak to is in a meeting until 1pm. She had no idea about anything. And when I asked if the conservatory had it's heat restored she just laughed and said she could not tell me anything about that.

Overall I understand why this is happening. They don't even care about their own building.

Tried to help, but oh well my "suburb" propane heater will sit in the garage unused.

No, don't be like that. Did you call the following number? 313.821.5428. I spoke to a young guy who really cared about the Conservatory. In which suburb do you live [[send me a PM).

If the lady you spoke to is the lady I'm thinking of, pay her no mind. Please let them use your heater.

[Retroit]

Maybe the City Council could hold their first meeting there. That ought to generate enough "hot air" to keep the place warm for awhile.

[old guy]

My hat's off to you guys for trying to deal with this situation. Good luck.

[eno]

Perhaps if you alert the media to the problem at the conservatory it will get a quicker reaction from the City. They have plenty of journeyman electrical workers from Public Lighting and the water department who could diagnose the problem and take corrective measures.

[Detroitnerd]

What? Going behind the city's back to talk to the news media? Why?

Oh, yeah, right. They were totally unresponsive when you called them directly. OK.

[LodgeDodger]

Perhaps if you alert the media to the problem at the conservatory it will get a quicker reaction from the City. They have plenty of journeyman electrical workers from Public Lighting and the water department who could diagnose the problem and take corrective measures.

It was on last night's news. I've sent messages to some of the local media, hoping it will get more air time.

[carlscomputers]

Most of the plants and flowers are older than some of us....this shows me that the sense of urgency the CofD has regarding something of a "historical" nature is and never has been important to the powers that be. If these living things die because no one in the CofD can get someone over to Belle Isle to fix a furnace, that would be a tragic thing.

Just like the fish that died when the Aquarium closed. I just don't get it! In a city rich with culture, history, & the arts, they are typically the most neglected. I hear Council members talk about "our jewels", yet they are just neglected relics of a time gone by to most folks... I may sound selfish, but maybe we should have "The MGM Grand Belle Isle Aquarium", "The Motor City Casino Belle Isle Conservatory", "The Greektown Casino Belle Isle Zoo"....

[littlebuddy]

But who really cares about these things? Drugs, guns, ho's, vidio games, etc is all anyone cares about. I know there is a small handful of people who do like these things, but not enough to vote and make a difference. This is just sad.

[LodgeDodger]

bump

. . . . .

[Mikeg]

There is heat in the greenhouse, but it's inadequate. Does anyone have access to some propane torpedo heaters?

I wish I had a heater to donate, but I don't. Hopefully they will be able to round up enough portable heat. In the meantime, think warm:


Sept. 1955


Sept. 1955


April 1956

[Retroit]

1955? How did you keep those pictures from fading? All my old color photos are faded. In fact, I don't think I even have color pictures that old.

[Stosh]

Cracked glass wilts exotic plants at Belle Isle conservatory

Tom Greenwood / The Detroit News

A "Perfect Storm" of brutal cold, high winds and broken glass has caused damage to scores of tropical plants at the conservatory on Belle Isle.
Temperatures hovered in the mid-40s in the fernery as workers, dressed in jackets, gloves and knit hats, trimmed back foliage on plants that are usually found in lush tropical forests.
"The damage has mostly been confined to the fronds," said Peter Thiede, floriculture foreman for Detroit's Department of General Services.
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"I don't think the roots were damaged, but we won't really know until about March when new growth starts to show. We normally cut back the plants this time of year anyway when they become dormant."
It was mainly a matter of bad timing, according to Steve Feehily, who volunteers his time at the 106-year-old facility formerly known as the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.
"It was just a number of bad things happening all at once: We had a broken window, high winds and very low temperatures all come together at the same time," Feehily said.
"Plus it happened over the holiday weekend, when we only had one person here, so nobody noticed it until later."
Feehily pointed to the tops of two tall fern trees from Tasmania and Australia.
"The broken window is hard to see because it's hidden by the fronds of the trees," Feehily said.
"We spotted it after we noticed that the incoming wind was blowing the branches."
Temperatures in the rest of the conservatory read 60 degrees, not ideal for the palm trees, banana plants, orchids, sugar cane and cactus rooted throughout the building, but still warm enough to prevent damage.
Portable heating units are being brought in to warm up the fernery, according to Thiede. The plants can also be saved from further damage through the use of portable sprinklers, which help to warm the plants.
"Glass gets damaged here all the time from storms, high winds and falling ice," Thiede said.
"The glass is expensive and it's hard to reach because it's up on the domes."
The fernery used to have its own separate boiler for heat, but it was taken offline when it was hooked up to a new hot water system three years ago.
"But that also has its problems," Feehily said.
"The main boiler is quite a distance away, and some heat is lost as it's sent here to the fernery. But even though these plants are from the tropics, they're tougher than people might think.
"We'll know in the spring."

http://detnews.com/article/20100105/...e-conservatory

[LodgeDodger]

This is good news.

What worries me is the vulnerability of the Conservatory. One person on a weekend who didn't know to notify the people in charge? Jeez.

[Gistok]

... that article stated "formerly known as the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory"...

I don't remember a name change, ever?