A nice addition to the Riverfront almost adjacent to Hart Plaza looks like it will be ready for summer.
The glorious day had the Riverwalk buzzing with pedestrians.
Hey! Detroit Rises!
A nice addition to the Riverfront almost adjacent to Hart Plaza looks like it will be ready for summer.
The glorious day had the Riverwalk buzzing with pedestrians.
Hey! Detroit Rises!
When is it due to open?
2006.
That 3 story 200 ft long building has taken literally years to complete. Bizarre.
Unfortunately, that building is cut off from the rest of downtown by the Miller parking garage. It's unfortunate that we've built parking garages all around the Ren Cen in our prime riverfront area. The port authority building is really nestled into a spot surrounded by awkward paved roads with no real sidewalk other than the river walk. Hopefully they will find a way to better connect this building to downtown. Also, something needs to be down with those unused buildings in the Hart Plaza area.
The buildings in the Hart Plaza area have too many friends to protect them. The Friends of Ford Auditorium, The Friends of the Veterans Memorial.Whenever a plan is made to raze the buildings their' Friends put pressure on the council to save them. It is bizzare that it had taken 2 years to build this 3 story building. That is the result of the politics and red tape that is wrapped around this city. I had thought that Federal and County money had went into the construction of this project. Could it also be that the completion of the project is prolonged to keep the construction workers and contractors employed?Unfortunately, that building is cut off from the rest of downtown by the Miller parking garage. It's unfortunate that we've built parking garages all around the Ren Cen in our prime riverfront area. The port authority building is really nestled into a spot surrounded by awkward paved roads with no real sidewalk other than the river walk. Hopefully they will find a way to better connect this building to downtown. Also, something needs to be down with those unused buildings in the Hart Plaza area.
Hi, my name's Dynamite, I'd like to become a friend of the Ford Auditoruim.The buildings in the Hart Plaza area have too many friends to protect them. The Friends of Ford Auditorium, The Friends of the Veterans Memorial.Whenever a plan is made to raze the buildings their' Friends put pressure on the council to save them. It is bizzare that it had taken 2 years to build this 3 story building. That is the result of the politics and red tape that is wrapped around this city. I had thought that Federal and County money had went into the construction of this project. Could it also be that the completion of the project is prolonged to keep the construction workers and contractors employed?
A few more questions:
- When is the first cruise ship going to use the terminal?
- Will this facility stay busy enough to actually stay opened for any length of time?
- Will it face the same staffing shortage that the Rosa Parks Transit Center has?
- Once it becomes vacant, would anyone be willing to form a Friends of Marine Terminal so we can preserve this eyesore for ages to come?
"It's not exactly an architectural jewel."
Actually, I think it's both architecturally and historically significant.
Also, I challenge anyone to think of a realistic plan to transform that area into a walkable urban area. Even if the garage was replaced with something, the tunnel was rebuilt with buildings on top, the auditorium was replaced, and new buildings were built along the water, I don't think it would be possible to create that kind of environment. It would take a lot of rebuilding to urbanize that part of the waterfront.
Last edited by Jason; March-20-10 at 07:22 PM.
The building is essentially useless. It may, in fact, have the worst acoustical design in the world... there is a reason they stopped taking reservations for events there. One of the few ideas of Kwame's that I really liked was to raze this building and build an ampitheatre there that connects with Hart Plaza. There were attempts in the past to fix the acoustical flaws in the Auditorium, so now there is no reason to have a useless building sitting vacant on the riverfront, with all of the outdoor summer events that go on in Hart Plaza and the Riverwalk, if there was an ampitheatre there, that could be a big summertime thing for downtown."It's not exactly an architectural jewel."
Actually, I think it's both architecturally and historically significant.
Also, I challenge anyone to think of a realistic plan to transform that area into a walkable urban area. Even if the garage was replaced with something, the tunnel was rebuilt with buildings on top, the auditorium was replaced, and new buildings were built along the water, I don't think it would be possible to create that kind of environment. It would take a lot of rebuilding to urbanize that part of the waterfront.
As for the dock, I really hope they do a better job to connect it to Hart Plaza and such...
I agree, it would be a mistake to "urbanize" this area. Keep it as a recreational area. Take out some of the concrete, add more greenery. Take out abandoned buildings and prevent any new construction between Jefferson Ave./Fort St. and the river. The river should be more accessible and more easy to be appreciated by Detroiters and visitors.Also, I challenge anyone to think of a realistic plan to transform that area into a walkable urban area. Even if the garage was replaced with something, the tunnel was rebuilt with buildings on top, the auditorium was replaced, and new buildings were built along the water, I don't think it would be possible to create that kind of environment. It would take a lot of rebuilding to urbanize that part of the waterfront.
Urbanize the rest of Detroit, but not here.
It's not even close to being done. They will begin the warf and boarding dock this summer. It will extend 40' into the water. $5.35 million.
Maybe this will stop in Detroit now instead of Wyondotte.
http://www.greatlakescruising.com/ma...-waterways.php
Will the building itself open by the summer? I still say red tape and politics had prolonged the completion on this project.It's not even close to being done. They will begin the warf and boarding dock this summer. It will extend 40' into the water. $5.35 million.
Maybe this will stop in Detroit now instead of Wyondotte.
http://www.greatlakescruising.com/ma...-waterways.php
Even if it extends out into the river, what are they going to do about this absolutely isolated location?
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...04812&t=h&z=18
Wow, that building looks like it was designed in 1963 or something. So, um, modernistic ...
What do you mean by isolated? It's right on the edge of the CBD core. It couldn't be any less isolated and still be on the river. This is the least isolated part of the river. If you moved it a block either way it would be even more isolated. Unless you're looking to dredge a channel up Woodward into Campus Martius park.Even if it extends out into the river, what are they going to do about this absolutely isolated location?
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...04812&t=h&z=18
Most of the cruise passenger trips are not going to be originating or terminating there. For boat passengers they only have to walk half a block to the Ren Cen and they have access to buses, cabs and the people mover.
clearly there needs to be a people mover/light rail stop there to get people from the RenCen to the riverfront.What do you mean by isolated? It's right on the edge of the CBD core. It couldn't be any less isolated and still be on the river. This is the least isolated part of the river. If you moved it a block either way it would be even more isolated. Unless you're looking to dredge a channel up Woodward into Campus Martius park.
Most of the cruise passenger trips are not going to be originating or terminating there. For boat passengers they only have to walk half a block to the Ren Cen and they have access to buses, cabs and the people mover.
Here's what I mean. It's surrounded by a vacant auditorium, a parking garage, the tunnel to Canada and the Renaissance Center [[a building that is very fortress like and relatively unaccessible, despite the Wintergarden). Furthermore, it's surrounded by paved roads that have no sidewalks. In terms of a tourist spot, it's a really difficult location to get to from just about anywhere except for the RenCen and the water.What do you mean by isolated? It's right on the edge of the CBD core. It couldn't be any less isolated and still be on the river. This is the least isolated part of the river. If you moved it a block either way it would be even more isolated. Unless you're looking to dredge a channel up Woodward into Campus Martius park.
Most of the cruise passenger trips are not going to be originating or terminating there. For boat passengers they only have to walk half a block to the Ren Cen and they have access to buses, cabs and the people mover.
"...it's surrounded by paved roads that have no sidewalks. In terms of a tourist spot, it's a really difficult location to get to from just about anywhere except for the RenCen and the water"
Incorrect^. The facility is already connected to RenCen by the Riverwalk, eventually it will also be connected to Hart Plaza. It's position along Atwater Drive will allow taxi's and tour buses to access it.
Lowell, you are correct. There is a sidewalk along Atwater but this sidwalk contains a large concrete barrier that cuts it off from the building and the riverwalk [[it's hard to see this barrier on the google satellite image). The building is also connected to the riverwalk, but as I said, it's horribly disconnected from downtown [[especially because it's tucked in behind a much larger parking garage)."...it's surrounded by paved roads that have no sidewalks. In terms of a tourist spot, it's a really difficult location to get to from just about anywhere except for the RenCen and the water"
Incorrect^. The facility is already connected to RenCen by the Riverwalk, eventually it will also be connected to Hart Plaza. It's position along Atwater Drive will allow taxi's and tour buses to access it.
I really hope this project is successful and don't mean to be a negative nancy ... I'm just trying to be realistic about the drawbacks of that particular spot. As it stands, Hart Plaza and the Ren Cen are already fairly disconnected from the rest of downtown and don't get a lot of natural foot traffic. Even after this building is up and running, there isn't a whole lot in the immediate vincinity for tourists to go to and do [[shop, etc. ... besides the RenCen which is a fairly confusing building to navigate in, especially for a tourist).
Sure, Lowell, you can 'get there', but what's going to entice someone drifting around downtown as a visitor etc to walk there from, say, Campus Martius or Greektown? There are no appealing, properly urban streets linking Jefferson and the water [[ironically, of course, there were plenty before urban renewal), and if you walk through the Ren Cen you'll probably get lost. Lowell, would you agree that Bates St. and the FA site need to be focused on as this Port nears completion?
I'm not sure a facility like this benefits that much from random foot traffic from people drifting around downtown, being its purpose is so specific. If you want to use it, you'll find out where it is. But I would agree that it is a bit "isolated". Since you can't do much on two sides, the Ford Theater seems like the obvious answer to opening the area up a bit. But again, not sure how much benefit would come from that.Sure, Lowell, you can 'get there', but what's going to entice someone drifting around downtown as a visitor etc to walk there from, say, Campus Martius or Greektown? There are no appealing, properly urban streets linking Jefferson and the water [[ironically, of course, there were plenty before urban renewal), and if you walk through the Ren Cen you'll probably get lost. Lowell, would you agree that Bates St. and the FA site need to be focused on as this Port nears completion?
A walk through Hart Plaza to Campus Martius is not daunting for the average person and would be a pleasant stroll. Likewise to walk through RenCen to the People Mover station is easy, interesting and pleasant. For the lazy and vehicle addicted types it is an easy pickup and drop off. There is a taxi stand by RenCen too.
Hey it's the Riverfront. This is primarily for people debarking not for foot wanderers. If you can think of a better location tell us. I think it is the best possible location of those available.
Agree and disagree, for your average person getting off a tourist ship at the port authority building, getting to the RenCen and then navigating through the RenCen to find the People Mover Station isn't straightforward, they will probably need to use maps and/or ask the security personnel around the building. Again, not a huge deal, but this area isn't exactly like Fisherman's Wharf in San Fran or the marina district in Baltimore in terms of its accessibility and nearby attractions.A walk through Hart Plaza to Campus Martius is not daunting for the average person and would be a pleasant stroll. Likewise to walk through RenCen to the People move station is easy, interesting and pleasant. Hey it's the Riverfront. If you can think of a better location tell us.
Plus the M1 is supposed to run all the way to Hart Plaza
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