The Detroit Riverfront

**R8RBOB** · April-25-09, 03:12 PM

Driving from Belle Isle today, I detoured on Riopelle and starting traveling along that area and had to shake my head. How did the Young, Archer and Kilpatrick administrations allowed this area to rot and die? The area represents old Detroit. Just drive on Atwater and check out the bricks on the road. That's old Detroit for you.

I remembered going to the bars in the area: The Rhino, the Soup Kitchen, Bastilles, the Key Club and Detroit could have pushed this area like San Diego did with the Gaslamp Quarter. What do you think?

Anyone know when the nightclubs BCs and Feathers were torn down? The area has changed so much I forgot where they were located.

**Russix** · April-25-09, 04:04 PM

I heard along time ago that most of those businesses were forced to close as property owners sold their properties for some Rivertown casino that never materialized.

**Bobl** · April-25-09, 04:54 PM

Yep. They destroyed a vibrant entertainment community that was also ripe for retail and residential development, featuring the ambiance of the river.
Instead, they left behind pheasants, rodents, and desolation. Then, they ruined Greektown. This is Detroitspeak for "progress".
I still sorely miss the music, food and vibe of the Soup Kitchen!

**Bobl** · April-25-09, 04:56 PM

Wow. Just realized that I have accumulated 116 posts, in little more than a month. I will now pause, and limit future posts to positive, happy posts where appropriate!

**R8RBOB** · April-25-09, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Russix

I heard along time ago that most of those businesses were forced to close as property owners sold their properties for some Rivertown casino that never materialized.

Oh I remember that disaster. I liked Archer as mayor but that was his biggest screw-up. Having the three hotel/casinos on the riverfront looked good on paper but greedy landowners killed the thought.

I would like to go back to the Young administration when the businesses were creeping out of the riverfront and the buildings sat and crumbled. Had he pushed for redevelopment and Archer had contiuned it it could have rival the Gaslamp in San Diego. Archer saw a dead zone and said "ok let's put the casinos here" and he put a red X on the riverfront area.

Kilpatrick was the man during the construction of the RiverWalk which is good, but that covers only the river. The area beyond the river looks like trash and it will sit and continue to die.

Retroit · April-25-09, 07:01 PM

It's been nice knowing you, Bobl. lol

I'd say the biggest problem with the last 3 mayors [[and probably at least a few before them) is that they were more concerned with "projects" than they were with "policy". They spent too much time promoting downtown and focusing on certain developments than on providing a favorable business climate city-wide. And that's not to mention their virtual disregard for the residential areas.

**R8RBOB** · April-25-09, 07:53 PM

In 2003, I visited San Diego and my friend took me to the Gaslamp Quarter which was at one time a run-down section of downtown San Diego. Much like the riverfront today. The area was full of life. There were restaurants, Irish pubs, Oldies bars, Hip Hop clubs, tequilla bars and a TGIF. I was sad knowing that Detroit didn't have such an environment in a central location.

I'm not saying Detroit don't have any nightlife because it does, however, it is for people who live here. When attracting tourists from other states or countries you want to be able have them go to a central location like Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco or Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. Hell, Detroit could have used downtown Windsor as a model to make it a place to be.

Retroit · April-25-09, 09:26 PM

Maybe one of the problems is that only recently, with the development of the Riverwalk, have people come to think of the river as an attractive asset. For a long time, the river was lined with factories, steel mills, warehouses, and parking lots [[and still is). I think that when the Riverwalk, Tri-Centennial Park, and The Dequinder Cut are all completed and integrated, they will be a big attraction. Let's hope!

**royce** · April-26-09, 03:45 PM

Those in the city responsible for redeveloping the Rivertown area [[what the area is officially called) don't have a clue as to what to do with this area. Case in point, after the casino debacle, the city seized a large portion of the land in Rivertown. This fact should have made it easy for the city to redevelop the area, but the casino debacle was over 10 years ago and not much has happened since.

The city gave land to Dave Bing and the Delmar Development for a dollar each and yet these developments couldn't be developed. Why? Because the developers wanted too much for the units in their developments, that's why. How many folks in Detroit can afford a million dollar penthouse? Developments need to be designed for middle incomers not only the rich.

A new street south of Atwater needs to be developed. Atwater is a football field away. Between the new street and Atwater there can be residential developments.

Chene Park needs to be closed and rebuilt on the Ford Auditorium site. Too much valuable land is being wasted for parking at Chene Park. Also, no one who wants to live near the river wants to hear loud concert music nearly every night for four months.

Parking along the river near Stroh River Place and Jos Campau needs to be condensed into a parking deck, leaving the area closest to the river available for residential development.

**mallory** · April-27-09, 08:26 AM

I worked at Feathers when it was the Tangerine Room. On slower nights during the week, we'd head across the street to the Rhino. Clubs come and go, but the Rhino? That was one of those places that you figured would stay around forever. Now, the whole area is a ghost town. Very sad, and it seems like nobody cares.

**Rocko** · April-27-09, 09:36 AM

The parking lots between the River and Atwater will be built over when demand for condos, apartments, and retail along that stretch picks up. A circle drive/drop off it supposed to remain from Atwater to the Rivard Plaza, I'm told. Diamond Jack's River Tours is moving to a new dock at the Rivard Plaza from Hart Plaza so that may help increase foot traffic in this area, at least on weekends.

**GREENTROIT** · April-27-09, 10:04 AM

I inquired about purchasing an abandoned building in the East Riverfront area. It is a two-story building on a corner lot, not too big. I called the owners and left a message and never got any reply. I wanted to renovate the inside, make the upper residential and the lower retail space. I still love the building and would love to do it, but because I never got a response I don't even know the price or anything. I also doubt any bank would finance a sale in this area filled with abandoned buildings and empty lots. Someday....

**R8RBOB** · April-27-09, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by mallory

I worked at Feathers when it was the Tangerine Room. On slower nights during the week, we'd head across the street to the Rhino. Clubs come and go, but the Rhino? That was one of those places that you figured would stay around forever. Now, the whole area is a ghost town. Very sad, and it seems like nobody cares.

I remember the Rhino quite well. I drove pass it on Saturday and wow...a disaster. The term ghost town is chilling because it is so true. The area is a ghost town.

When Archer announced that he was going to lump the three casinos on the riverfront, I was like great. This would be the shot needed to make a area that was decaying, alive and a new go-to location. Greedy landowners killed that area and created the death blow for the remaining businesses in the area. I remember the story about a bar in the area that closed its doors waiting to be bought and when the prices when up and up the offers were pulled and the property was never bought. I believe this bar was a speakeasy back in the 20's. Anyone know the name of this bar?

**Hypestyles** · April-27-09, 04:08 PM

aggressive redevelopment efforts must take place.. it can start by knocking down any and all crumbling dinosour structures in the area.. even reconverting for lofts isn't an automatic given for these neighborhoods..

**Detroitej72** · April-27-09, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

I remember the Rhino quite well. I drove pass it on Saturday and wow...a disaster. The term ghost town is chilling because it is so true. The area is a ghost town.

When Archer announced that he was going to lump the three casinos on the riverfront, I was like great. This would be the shot needed to make a area that was decaying, alive and a new go-to location. Greedy landowners killed that area and created the death blow for the remaining businesses in the area. I remember the story about a bar in the area that closed its doors waiting to be bought and when the prices when up and up the offers were pulled and the property was never bought. I believe this bar was a speakeasy back in the 20's. Anyone know the name of this bar?

Would you be talking about the Woodbridge Tavern? It certainly was a speakeasy back in the dry days. I believe the Soup Kitchen was as well.

**R8RBOB** · April-27-09, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitej72

Would you be talking about the Woodbridge Tavern? It certainly was a speakeasy back in the dry days. I believe the Soup Kitchen was as well.

Yes, that was it. Thank you, the name slipped my mind. The owner of Woodbridge closed the bar like the others did thinking they were going to get a big payday for their property. After the deal fell through, all those bars never opened back up. I'm still sad driving down Jefferson and not seeing Bastille's on the corner of Riopelle. Is the bar about Steve's Soul Food still called the Key Club?

**Detroitej72** · April-27-09, 09:47 PM

Not sure about the Key Club.

The Woodbridge was breifly reopened and called The Stinkey Rose, but had a fire in it about 2 years ago. That pretty much spelled the end of the road for the building.

**leland_palmer** · April-27-09, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitej72

Not sure about the Key Club.

The Woodbridge was breifly reopened and called The Stinkey Rose, but had a fire in it about 2 years ago. That pretty much spelled the end of the road for the building.

http://fadeddetroit.blogspot.com/200...ge-tavern.html

**royce** · April-27-09, 11:07 PM

Mallory, how can you work at Feathers when it was at the Tangerine Room? Wouldn't it either be called Feathers where the Tangerine Room used to be?

Here's a general question about what happened in Rivertown. If greedy landowners were the cause of the debacle in Rivertown, why does the city get the blame? What other way was the city going to get property for the casinos? Could they have bought property in a timely manner without the greedy landowners finding out why the city wanted to buy their property? How was the city's desire to buy land in Rivertown for casinos different from say Mike Illitch wanting to buy land in Rivertown for a new baseball or hockey stadium?

Also, I remember the owner of the Soup Kitchen closing up due to lack of business simply because he said people thought he was closed due to the news about the city buying up property for the casinos. If he still had his property and restaurant, why didn't he run a few TV and/or radio spots announcing that the business was still open?

BTW, Woodbridge Street is an alley street.

**R8RBOB** · April-28-09, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by royce

Mallory, how can you work at Feathers when it was at the Tangerine Room? Wouldn't it either be called Feathers where the Tangerine Room used to be?

Here's a general question about what happened in Rivertown. If greedy landowners were the cause of the debacle in Rivertown, why does the city get the blame? What other way was the city going to get property for the casinos? Could they have bought property in a timely manner without the greedy landowners finding out why the city wanted to buy their property? How was the city's desire to buy land in Rivertown for casinos different from say Mike Illitch wanting to buy land in Rivertown for a new baseball or hockey stadium?

Also, I remember the owner of the Soup Kitchen closing up due to lack of business simply because he said people thought he was closed due to the news about the city buying up property for the casinos. If he still had his property and restaurant, why didn't he run a few TV and/or radio spots announcing that the business was still open?

BTW, Woodbridge Street is an alley street.

I will try to answer. I have to go back 10 years in my memory. Back in the late 90's, there was the issue of where to put the three casinos. They believe that the casinos should be in close proximity to each other. After looking at locations in downtown, Archer decided that the casinos should be on the riverfront. Great idea because it would completely transform the area but the city didn't do its homework. The city attempted to buy the property needed for the project but there was a oversight they didn't know about. They were trying to buy land at regular valve but the federal government have a law that say that land acquired for a casino must be purchased at a higher price. The landowners sued the city because the city was attempting eminent domain to acquire the land at their price.

The court ruled against the city and the walls started crashing down on the riverfront project. The bar owners like the Woodbridge, the Soup Kitchen, etc... saw the money before they got the money so they closed their businesses expecting a windfall. After the deall fell through, I guess these owners couldn't unring the bell and tell all the customers, "hey, my bad."

**Gistok** · April-28-09, 01:06 AM

Um.... sorry but there is no law that land purchased for casinos has to cost more... it's just the nature of the beast.

Land and building owners saw $$$ in their eyes when it came to selling their land/buildings to the city for the 3 casino developments. The city could not use Eminent Domain, since it was for a private [[and not a public) use.

Landowners wanted more than the city was willing to pay [[the limit was $150 million, the maximum price the 3 casinos were willing to fork over).

So when only about 60% of the land was procured for the $150 million, the deal with Archer and the casinos fell thru. The sellers who already sold their land made out OK, but boy the holdouts were pissed. Some tried to sue, but they had no legal standing.

So that was the end of that... and Archer told the casinos to build where they wanted to, to avoid land speculators. Well 2 of the 3 casinos opted to expand in their temporary sites, while MGM built a new casino from the ground up.

In order for Archer allowing the casinos to build where ever they wanted to, the city got to keep the [[very expensive) land. Part of that land is being developed for Tri-Centennial State Park, and other parcels are planned for commercial developments [[which have yet to get started).

The sad thing about the current state of the automotive industry is that GM was going to develop part of the east riverfront, just as they had developed the area around their New Center former HQ [[that development was called New Center Commons).

But with the automaker nearly in bankruptcy, it is doubtful that much new development will be taking place by GM on the east riverfront.

**gnome** · April-28-09, 08:43 AM

gistok, thanx for bringing some clarity to the discussion.

Many folks never cared for the Archer Casino Riverfront plan. Detroit has historically built buildings on the riverfront which didn't need windows. Joe Louis, Cobo, Ford Auditorium, Free Press printing plant and the places that did have windows closed off the water from the city.

Archer fatal mistake was in annoucing his plan before he had the land, before city council was on board and in direct opposition to the Greektown [[read Sault St. Marie) objective of staying in GreeKtown.

IMHO the area to build a Casino district was around Grand Circus. Imagine a renovated Statler, United Artist/Tuller and Broderick all transformed into an entertainment zone tying together the theater district into an area where folks could walk from one venue to another.

But what the hell do I know.

**Henry Whalley** · August-31-20, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

Driving from Belle Isle today, I detoured on Riopelle and starting traveling along that area and had to shake my head. How did the Young, Archer and Kilpatrick administrations allowed this area to rot and die? The area represents old Detroit. Just drive on Atwater and check out the bricks on the road. That's old Detroit for you.

I remembered going to the bars in the area: The Rhino, the Soup Kitchen, Bastilles, the Key Club and Detroit could have pushed this area like San Diego did with the Gaslamp Quarter. What do you think?

Anyone know when the nightclubs BCs and Feathers were torn down? The area has changed so much I forgot where they were located.

They got an offer they couldn’t refuse.
Same goes for Greektown.
Let’s face it. Greektown no longer exists. We should rename it. I propose Trojantown or Tragictown.

**Gistok** · August-31-20, 10:28 AM

^
You responded to an 11 year old Rivertown thread post about Riopelle St. just to complain about Greektown?

By the way Riopelle is doing much better these days...
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3344...7i16384!8i8192

**Henry Whalley** · August-31-20, 11:43 AM

Rivertown and Greektown were both defuncted for the same reason. That was my point. And to reiterate, Greektown is an absurd name for what exists on Monroe St. these days. Just as Midtown is a ridiculous name for the Cass Corridor. And yes, I responded to an old post rather than starting a new one on the same topic.