Work Begins/Continues Across Midtown

[DetroitDad]

Sorry about the small size of the second picture.

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[DetroitDad]

Work has begun moving down to the Bittersweet Buildings next to Zakoor's Novelties. This is a later phase of a multi phase development.

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[DetroitDad]

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Work has finished on the exterior of Michigan State's new building and Wayne State's Bonstelle Theater. Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe continues it's renovation, and Midtown should have a nice grocery store again. Meanwhile, cleanup work continues at a former auto service station near Woodward Place in Brush Park. Unfortunately, it can be said that the Woodward Place condos have seen better days, as the windows and woodwork facing Woodward Avenue appears to look a little worn, and has faded and chipping green paint over rotting wood in places.
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[DetroitDad]

I've never seen a building braced against a tree. Is that really a good idea? Especially that high from the ground? Trees bend in the wind and we're due for some wind tonight.

Maybe they have some guy wires stiffening the tree?

It looked like just wood.

[casscorridor]

Not necessarily, but it is a garage that will be taking a more urban form I am told [[we'll see), and it should help with demand for surface lots in the immediate area.

What does that mean? Take an urban form? Does that mean they will be adding first floor retail? I really hope so. When I first noticed the construction at this garage a week or so ago, the first think I thought of was "wow... maybe they are making room for retail". I mean, it would make sense because it sits along Phase I of the Midtown loop which will bring significant foot traffic.

Also, I noticed that a WSU parking garage on the corner of Cass and Palmer is under construction. When I saw this for the first time I thought the same thing... retail??!?! Maybe?! It makes a lot of sense. Right across the street from a successful bar [[Alvin's) and the busy Faculty/Administration Building and the Law School [[which, btw, is being expanded).

If I am not mistaken, Downtown has a policy that all new parking garages must have first floor retail. Could the same not be done in Midtown? We already have two examples of new garages that do this -- Cass and Putnam and the garage at Forest between Woodward and Cass.

[kraig]

It's becoming somewhat clear to me that Woodward, between Temple and Forest is going to essentially be Main Street Midtown, and a sort of village center at some point. If you are into urban living [[new urbanism, or just urbanism), this has got to be the best stretch to locate. Developers and business owners would be smart to gear this area towards this group, as well as those suburbanites who are tired of the car culture.

My commentary on strategy might be to focus heavily on making this area have a small town center or uptown feel. Then, maybe focus on getting some good destination shopping on Woodward in Downtown, from Grand Circus Park to Campus Martius. All of this would make destinations on both sides of the Brush Park and Cass Park area of Woodward Avenue. If you add in a better transit line, you have the recipe for something good.

This is a pretty vague description of what needs to get done. Once you get into the details, it gets much more tricky.

Actually, your small town center thought isn't bad. If Detroit needs anything, it's more walkable areas. That's what I loved about growing up in the Lafayette Park area. I wouldn't mind seeing some type of fountain or pond built in a few of the midtown areas.

[casscorridor]

Actually, your small town center thought isn't bad. If Detroit needs anything, it's more walkable areas. That's what I loved about growing up in the Lafayette Park area. I wouldn't mind seeing some type of fountain or pond built in a few of the midtown areas.

I don't really see Lafayette Park [[which often times includes Elmwood Park) as very walkable. When it was built, it destroyed one of the oldest and densest neighborhoods in the city at the time. It was built to compete against developments in the suburbs which were all the rage.

I explored the area at night recently and I was more scared than any other neighborhood in the central city. Something about it being suburban in form made it very scary to me. Everything beyond the orgional van der Rohe apartments look run down, like there hasn't been a single update since it was built... weeds growing up from every crack, broken concrete and ugly pre-fab suburban apartments. And its especially scary with all the random dead ends and fences blocking access to pedestrians. It feels like a maze, and and it feels like it'd be easy to get stuck in some dark dingy corner.

Not to mention Lafayette park is the reason why Downtown and Greektown just randomly end. You got a dense vibrant, walkable block and then you randomly run into a freeway and a bunch of suburban apartments.

In short... Lafayette Park = worst neighborhood in central Detroit, in my humble opinion.

[kraig]

I don't really see Lafayette Park [[which often times includes Elmwood Park) as very walkable. When it was built, it destroyed one of the oldest and densest neighborhoods in the city at the time. It was built to compete against developments in the suburbs which were all the rage.

I explored the area at night recently and I was more scared than any other neighborhood in the central city. Something about it being suburban in form made it very scary to me. Everything beyond the orgional van der Rohe apartments look run down, like there hasn't been a single update since it was built... weeds growing up from every crack, broken concrete and ugly pre-fab suburban apartments. And its especially scary with all the random dead ends and fences blocking access to pedestrians. It feels like a maze, and and it feels like it'd be easy to get stuck in some dark dingy corner.

Not to mention Lafayette park is the reason why Downtown and Greektown just randomly end. You got a dense vibrant, walkable block and then you randomly run into a freeway and a bunch of suburban apartments.

In short... Lafayette Park = worst neighborhood in central Detroit, in my humble opinion.

You couldn't be more wrong. First off, you're looking at probably one of the least, if not the least, foreclosed areas in the city. Given the apartments, condos and co-ops there, that's a very good thing. Besides, I'm talking about how the neighborhood used to be. There was a Farmer Jack and Perry Drug Store along with shops, small eateries, the public library, a dentist's office and doctor's office and a police mini-station on Chene & Lafayette.

On Lafayette & Orleans, there was an okay Spartan store, Boxseat Video, Sala Thai, the Paris Cafe and Richard's Drug Store. All of us in that neighborhood grew up walking to the stores, being able to get prescriptions filled, walking to school [[Chrysler & Duffield elementary schools, Whitney Young & Miller middle schools and Martin Luther King Jr. high school), walking to greektown and the Renaissance Center.

Hell, anyone 35 and up from that neighborhood can brag about walking downtown, going to the movies [[Adams, Fox, Madison, Grand Circus, Plaza), shopping at Hudson's, Crowley's, Kresge's, Hughes & Hatcher and Colonial Merchandise. Hanging out at Nikki's Pizza and Yassoo's ice cream and walking down to the ethnic festivals every weekend for 5 months out of the year.

There's still more walking going on in that neighborhood than most other places in the city. The only thing that's slowed it down was the idiot owner of the Lafayette/Orleans Plaza kicking out viable businesses in order to do a BS remodeling job.

Navarre Place, Mies Van de Rohhe, Lafayette Towers, 1300, Hyde Park, Crescent, Town Square, Franklin Wright, Ralphe Bunche, Town Square, Huntington Place, the Old Pavilion, hey, I'll even thow in the King Homes. Worst neighborhood? You must be out of your f***ing mind. That's one of the best neighborhoods in the city. Especially considering that this area is the least demanding as far as resources go.

And with a handle like casscorrider, if you're not afraid of walking your own neighborhood at night, I know you're not afraid to walk down there.

[casscorridor]

kraig, I understand what you are saying. I am pretty familiar with the area and its history. I should have clarified that I was in the the park/greenway area, off the street. I also should have clarified that I wasn't really scared, I mean, I'll pretty much go anywhere in the city. I was just saying its "scarier" than other neighborhoods in and around Downtown. And yes, I feel safer walking around the Cass Corridor... it is called Midtown now after all. I feel safer walking at night around Corktown, and Woodbridge, and Eastern Market, and New Center than in Lafayette Park. Safer, not "unsafe."

I'm sorry if I sounded harsh. This is all perceived, and my perception may be radically different than another persons. But the fact remains that urban renewal projects such as Lafayette and Elmwood represent an obstruction to urbanism. They are obstructions to the urban form. Imagine what that area would have looked life it it had not been cleared for redevelopment. One person might say it would have looked blighted and bombed out. But I might say it looks authentic, historic, beautiful and filled with potential.

I don't think we should do the same thing and tear it all out, it still has value. It can attract people to the central city that want a suburban apartment but still be close to urban amenities like Downtown and the Riverfront and Eastern Market. I just think that it was a mistake to build it and nothing like it should be built in the future.

Also, I don't consider it the worst in all of Detroit, just the worst among the neighborhoods around Downtown. Sorry for not clarifying.

[Detroitnerd]

Lafayette Park is a very complicated story. But one thing it isn't exactly is "urban." And the idea that a dense area was flattened to create a low-density non-urban environment sticks in a lot of craws. Which is not to say that Lafayette Park sucks. It is what it is. And for "new urbanists," it's increasingly not where it's at.

Just sayin'.

[Gistok]

Casscorridor... the neighborhood that Lafayette Park was built on was already starting to look like Brush Park and the area NE of the DIA long before the first buildings went up in Lafayette Park.... lots of abandoned houses [[later turned into multi-tenant residences) had already been torn down and that area had lots of empty lots. The only unfortunate part was that [[unlike Brush Park)... the few survivors that remained were also torn down to make Lafayette Park.

[DetroitDad]

Pictures of the recently announce Auburn apartments in Midtown Detroit, at the corner of Cass and Canfield, as well as discussion and updates can be found by clicking here.

[fryar]

Not to hijack this thread, but a big part of me wants to point out that a car share might fit in quite well there, in midtown, and make it more attractive from a "new urbanism" perspective.

[DetroitDad]

I have been trying to figure out what they were doing next to the the Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe. I didn't want to waist picture space on a future dumpster or walk in fridge, so I haven't posted pictures until now. To my surprise, they built a landscaped outdoor patio, all in about a week or so. The space has black posts in a cement foundation, with brick pavers. I am not sure what the black poles and small curbed indent [[bottom left in the picture) is for. Obviously, this must be for a fence. I could picture a nice outdoor fruit market, or a stand selling prime rib and turkey sandwiches, like the one near the gift shop in Greektown Casino.

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[p1acebo]

I have been trying to figure out what they were doing next to the the Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe. I didn't want to waist picture space on a future dumpster or walk in fridge, so I haven't posted pictures until now. To my surprise, they built a landscaped outdoor patio, all in about a week or so. The space has black posts in a cement foundation, with brick pavers. I am not sure what the black poles and small curbed indent [[bottom left in the picture) is for. Obviously, this must be for a fence. I could picture a nice outdoor fruit market, or a stand selling prime rib and turkey sandwiches, like the one near the gift shop in Greektown Casino.

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Personally I drive by the Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe just about everyday and I haven't seen much improvement inside [[granted maybe I am not noticing it because it is like every other day). I am curious if anyone knows when it is suppose to be complete?

[DetroitDad]

Some other new projects;

1. The old building Radio Shack was in at Warren and Woodward Avenue has been demolished, except for it's facade.
2. The Raw Cafe is to be opening next to the Majestic Theater. They are now accepting applications. [[Thanks Casscorridor for catching this one, I noticed one of the early signs, but there was no site or other info yet).
3. There is a new development on Cass, South of Warren.

[DetroitDad]

Personally I drive by the Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe just about everyday and I haven't seen much improvement inside [[granted maybe I am not noticing it because it is like every other day). I am curious if anyone knows when it is suppose to be complete?

They moved some stuff around in the beginning, or so it seemed. I'm not sure that it needed much more work than that, other than basic cleaning. The former grocer was only closed a year before the current owners made their announcement.

Press Release for Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...REE/100209938#

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/notes/ye-old...e/286947147939

Enhancing the user-friendly concept will be the addition of a City Basics department, which will feature paper and cleaning products, seasonal items, kitchen gadgets, and other sundries for the greater downtown Detroit’s growing residential market. Additionally, the Solaka brothers are adding a dedicated and fenced parking lot just east of the store on Watson Street, with a new east entrance at the rear of the store, and an outdoor patio for casual dining at the north side of the building, fronting Woodward Avenue.

“We are determined to provide our customers with quality and pricing no different than a comparable store in the suburbs. Since so many Detroiters have to drive there for their groceries as it is, with free parking, I think we will compete well.

May all current Detroiters who desire to stay, someday be able to overcome their hard times, embarrassing acceptances of tax payer handouts or pan handling, and have a rewarding human habitat in the city that they can be proud of.

[ScienceFair]

The outdoor patio is going to be a feature for dine-in food customers including the possibility of an ice cream parlor.

Improvements have been ongoing, but I am not aware of an opening date.

There may still be some issues between the store owner and the building owner that are holding up the works.

[jtw]

What's the work being done on the northwest corner of Cass and Alexandrine? Is that a Slows expansion?

[DetroitPlanner]

There is an outdoor fruit market/deli in the Greektown Casino??? Back in Trappers alley days they used to have some outdoor areas on the higher floor, I guess I don't gamble enough to notice these things.

[Danny]

"The units will rent for approximately $1.00 to $1.15 a square foot. Each, even the nonresidential ones, has its own geothermal pump for temperature monitoring. Common space includes the dramatic lobby, which was mostly spared the flames. "It's not quite the Book [[Cadillac) or Fort Shelby, but it's pretty impressive," says Diane Van Buren of development consultant" Zachary and Associates.

WOW! now that's cheap rent!

[Detroit Stylin]

What's the work being done on the northwest corner of Cass and Alexandrine? Is that a Slows expansion?

Yes. The old church with the tag that says GOLD on it....

[bartock]

I thought I saw what looks like a new restaurant being built into space on W. Grand Blvd., south side of the street, I want to say around 3rd. Anybody know what this is?

[DetroitDad]

There is an outdoor fruit market/deli in the Greektown Casino??? Back in Trappers alley days they used to have some outdoor areas on the higher floor, I guess I don't gamble enough to notice these things.

No, there is a pair of stands that sells various things, but one stand sells fresh prime rib or turkey sandwiches, cut and made right in front of you. The nearby seating area opens out onto a rooftop overlooking Monroe.

[DetroitDad]

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Office tenants begin filling the Woodward Garden Block buildings in Midtown.

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The Raw Cafe is getting ready to open next door to The Majestic Theater.

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The ongoing renovation of the former Helen Newberry Nurses Home.