New Police Headquarters Thread

**esp1986** · March-24-10, 10:19 AM

Last night, Dave Bing stated, in his State of the City Speech, that he would announce plans for the long awaited police headquarters in 60 days.

Let the speculation begin...

A few months back, there were rumors on the United Artists Building, as stated by Matty Moroun, that the building was to be renovated for a governmental entity. Since then, work has slowed on the building, and last night's speech has a lot of coincidences, at the least.

1) Bing stated, that they were finalizing the financing of the project. If the UA is to be the site of the new Police Headquarters, this would explain why work has stopped following cleanup, because monies have not yet been appropriated for the project.

2) The UA is a large building, larger than the current Police Headquarters, at 18 stories, it provides extra space. If the building, as rumored, is being renovated for a governmental entity, what possible entity, that is in need of a new facility, is possibly large enough to fill a building of this size?? I can't think of many.

3) With direct access to the People Mover, and its proximity to Woodward Avenue [[with LRT on the way), this makes a whole lot of sense for tha sake of people who will work at or need access to the building, a much more favorable location to Greektown, near where the current DPD Headquaters is.

4) With 2 adjacent vacant lots [[Statler and Tuller Sites), there is ample room for parking for not only, well, patrons of the building, but for public service vehicles, in secure private spaces.

5) It is entirely possible that this has been in the works for a while, well before Bing's time, and is just now coming to fruition. With the shroud of secrecy over nearly everything the Ilitches do, it would not be suprising if the UA was the location. Last time there was an announcement about new Police Headquarters [[at MCS), a public announcement was made. But, if it is actually the UA that could be the new Police Headquarters, the Ilitches likely wanted to keep everything hush-hush until financing was secured, which is why there has been no announcement.

Just the fact that there has been no announcement, is reason enough to believe that the Ilitches are involved, as almost every other developer in town would be asking for you to bow to them already.

Obviously time will tell what actually happens, but based on everything above, what do you all think??

**REL** · March-24-10, 10:22 AM

My first thought: what are they going to do with the old one?

**esp1986** · March-24-10, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by REL

My first thought: what are they going to do with the old one?

I was thinking the same thing... since no one will likely want the building, it will likely stand for 10 more years before becoming the newest parking lot. Although, with it's proximity to Greektown, someone could be interested, it would be the largest vacant building or one of the largest land plots in Greektown.

**SWMAP** · March-24-10, 10:41 AM

Sad about 1300 Beaubien, with all its stories. Detroit doesn't love its historic architecture. 1300 Beaubien was designed by the same man who designed the DAC, I believe. Can't it be cleaned up and renoveated? The Book Cadillac was a rathole, too, not too long agao.

**esp1986** · March-24-10, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by SWMAP

Sad about 1300 Beaubien, with all its stories. Detroit doesn't love its historic architecture. 1300 Beaubien was designed by the same man who designed the DAC, I believe. Can't it be cleaned up and renoveated? The Book Cadillac was a rathole, too, not too long agao.

Compared to what the Book Cadillac used to look like, it is a gem. The problem is, finding someone who will spend the money on renovation before the building falls further into disrepair. If they are smart, a stretch, I know, they will bring in the DEGC right away. The DEGC has had so many developers interested in buildings downtown, but they have been too bad of shape to make anything work, the Metropolitan Building comes to mind. Since this building has been in use, it would certainly be cheaper to renovate. If it is cleaned up, it is certainly a beautiful piece of architecture, but who knows if anyone will actually spend the money to do so.

**DetroitPlanner** · March-24-10, 10:59 AM

My best guess is the old MGM Grand with a design build contract, setting up a public-private partnership. MGM needs to get some revenue out of this old space to pay for its other developments. If anyone needs parking, it is the police force, and this site has thousands of relatively new spots. One the old Police Building is empty, it can be renovated and used for the additional space needed by the jail and Frank Murphy. Who knows, maybe the crime lab can go there too.

Buy American · March-24-10, 11:01 AM

Is he going to hire any new officers?

**esp1986** · March-24-10, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

My best guess is the old MGM Grand with a design build contract, setting up a public-private partnership. MGM needs to get some revenue out of this old space to pay for its other developments. If anyone needs parking, it is the police force, and this site has thousands of relatively new spots. One the old Police Building is empty, it can be renovated and used for the additional space needed by the jail and Frank Murphy. Who knows, maybe the crime lab can go there too.

Only problem is the old casino isn't really set up for offices that they Police Headquarters would require.

**SWMAP** · March-24-10, 11:23 AM

Why can't the City renovate it for the DPD? Why must every new administration abandon buildings so they can put a personal stamp on another building? I remeber that our Governor had to build a new MSP headquarters when the old on could have been renovated. But she had to make good on a promise to some supporters!

**Kevgoblue** · March-24-10, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Buy American

Is he going to hire any new officers?

He was going to, but I think the funding needed is going to be tied up in new offices, chairs and high speed internet

**esp1986** · March-24-10, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by SWMAP

Why can't the City renovate it for the DPD? Why must every new administration abandon buildings so they can put a personal stamp on another building? I remeber that our Governor had to build a new MSP headquarters when the old on could have been renovated. But she had to make good on a promise to some supporters!

Renovating the existing building, right now, would be a cost the city can't really bear. It would be cheaper to go elsewhere. If they were to renovate the existing building, they would need to find a temporary location and then move twice instead of once. In this case it would appear to be more of a cost saving move than anything. As long as they don't build a new building altogether, I don't really care, I wouldn't mind if they renovated another building. But I, too, am worried about the fate of the old building.

**kryptonite** · March-24-10, 11:40 AM

What about the old WC court house? Didn't the county vacate that building?

**DetroitPlanner** · March-24-10, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by esp1986

Only problem is the old casino isn't really set up for offices that they Police Headquarters would require.

Au Contraire mon frere! The building was used as the IRS HQ for decades prior to the move to the current building. The building has several floors, only two were converted for the casino.

**M CD M** · March-24-10, 07:03 PM

When I visited the Stephen Fosters building last week for fallout shelter information.
The Folks inside mentioned that the crime lab was moving out sometime soon. Bomb Squad was in the same building, but now has moved out. I did not get their names, but one was in DPD uniform. And besides, parts of that building is falling apart.

If DPD moves out of the old HQ, maybe Wayne county Sheriff would take it over.

EastSider · March-24-10, 07:12 PM

The UA may be taller than 1300 Beaubien, but since it's so narrow, is the square footage really bigger? How do the dimensions of the floor plates compare between the two? If the UA floors are smaller, you'd have fewer people on each floor. How would that be conducive to working together? Would that make it more likely that the HQ force is fragmented, each floor coalescing into its own clique?

**p1acebo** · March-24-10, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by EastSider

The UA may be taller than 1300 Beaubien, but since it's so narrow, is the square footage really bigger? How do the dimensions of the floor plates compare between the two? If the UA floors are smaller, you'd have fewer people on each floor. How would that be conducive to working together? Would that make it more likely that the HQ force is fragmented, each floor coalescing into its own clique?

I don't know much about the situation or the coordination of the different departments of the DPD, but wouldn't it be easier to organize them floor by floor?

**Warrenite84** · March-24-10, 11:10 PM

IMHO, I'm going to guess one of the two lots bounded by Gratiot, I-75, Clinton, and St.Antoine would be most likely, since it is near the jail and courthouse, [[can't remember the name of it-haven't been there). They could put a good sized building in along Gratiot with room to add on if necessary and have room for a parking garage/police car maintainance center behind it. It would be a good way to fill in a streetwall along Gratiot. I would love to see spinoff development in the 5-10 story range in those triangular lots along Gratiot & Madison. [[I know, i'm dreaming)

**Gistok** · March-25-10, 12:19 AM

Interesting idea about the UA as Police HQ, but I haven't heard any speculation. Maybe they could use the old NBD bank vault to store the confiscated contraband... since it seems to have a propensity to disappear at 1300 Beaubien.

As for the former permanent Greektwon Casino site along Gratiot and St. Antoine... I remember that Greektown Casino originally spent something like $34 million buying up and clearing all that land, only to later change their mind, and decided to stay and expand their temporary location. That would be some pricey real estate to build upon.

Although the MGM Grand temporary site had $212 million sunk into it... [[also a lot of money)... at least it has buildings and parking structure on it. I wonder what MGM is asking for that property [[likely pennies on the dollar).

**stasu1213** · March-25-10, 05:20 AM

i think the former state building downtown could be the next police headquarters. It is located on sixth near fort street. The older part could be used to house the prisoners

EastSider · March-25-10, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by stasu1213

i think the former state building downtown could be the next police headquarters. It is located on sixth near fort street. The older part could be used to house the prisoners

Given the choice between 1300 Beaubien and the dump that was the State Plaza Building, I'd say the better bet would be 1300. I never really understood the meaning of the word "rickety" until I worked in the Plaza.

**esp1986** · March-25-10, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Interesting idea about the UA as Police HQ, but I haven't heard any speculation. Maybe they could use the old NBD bank vault to store the confiscated contraband... since it seems to have a propensity to disappear at 1300 Beaubien.

As for the former permanent Greektwon Casino site along Gratiot and St. Antoine... I remember that Greektown Casino originally spent something like $34 million buying up and clearing all that land, only to later change their mind, and decided to stay and expand their temporary location. That would be some pricey real estate to build upon.

Although the MGM Grand temporary site had $212 million sunk into it... [[also a lot of money)... at least it has buildings and parking structure on it. I wonder what MGM is asking for that property [[likely pennies on the dollar).

I remember a couple months ago, the movie studio that just rented space at Ford Field was trying to get the former MGM building... they later backed out, price was probably too high... so who knows...

**canuck** · March-25-10, 08:35 AM

They should use an existing structure wherever possible. In Detroit there is a dearth of quality disused buildings. Adding another new structure will only emphasize how empty the downtown really is...

**buckster1986** · March-25-10, 09:00 AM

A hotel in Boston [[The Back Bay Hotel) currently occupies the former Boston Police Headquarters. The building itself reminds me of DPD headquarters. There is probably a 3% chance a hotel would ever take the building but it would be plausible for condos. Then again nothing will probably go in there until the market turns around because the demand is not there and the money to make it happen is scarce. Nonetheless I always hope for the best.

Plus Iâ€™d like to know how the jail got built downtown. Neighbors youâ€™d never see until release day?

bartock · March-25-10, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by EastSider

Given the choice between 1300 Beaubien and the dump that was the State Plaza Building, I'd say the better bet would be 1300. I never really understood the meaning of the word "rickety" until I worked in the Plaza.

If there is any fruition to the talk of consolidating all of the courts into the old MGM Grand, the old State Building would make sense from strictly a location standpoint.

Of course there is no market for it, but renovation and turning 1300 Beaubien into a hotel would be something [[they did it in Boston with Jurys, now called something else). In a better economy, and perhaps if it was boutque enough, it's proximity to the stadiums and casino might make it sustainable

bartock · March-25-10, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by buckster1986

A hotel in Boston [[The Back Bay Hotel) currently occupies the former Boston Police Headquarters. The building itself reminds me of DPD headquarters. There is probably a 3% chance a hotel would ever take the building but it would be plausible for condos. Then again nothing will probably go in there until the market turns around because the demand is not there and the money to make it happen is scarce. Nonetheless I always hope for the best.

Plus Iâ€™d like to know how the jail got built downtown. Neighbors youâ€™d never see until release day?

Buckster I posted my message before seeing yours. Great minds think alike! The hotel was called Jurys after the renovation. My wife and I stayed there...there was a popular night club on the bottom level and the hotel was/probably still is magnifient.