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!

**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.

**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.

**Gistok** · August-31-20, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Henry Whalley

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.

OK, I wasn't sure if you knew it was that old... I've seen people restart old forum arguments where not only were the original posts were so old, but the original posters were no longer on DYES to argue with.

But I do disagree with you on Midtown and Cass Corridor. Midtown is a much larger segment of central Detroit than Cass Corridor ever was. Cass Corridor was always just the section along Cass Avenue. Whereas Midtown includes sections of the city that were never part of the Cass Corridor... such as the Cultural Center, Medical Center, WSU, and Brush Park.

Cass Corridor had a bad reputation, drugs, crime and decay... so I'm glad that it was rebranded, and today the area is broken up into Midtown Cass Park [[Ilitchville) and Midtown North Cass, although those names are not often referred to.

**Lowell** · September-01-20, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

Cass Corridor had a bad reputation, drugs, crime and decay... so I'm glad that it was rebranded....

Not to mention what has now come to light about Cass's slave-holding / pro slavery past. I still think Midtown is a boring choice however.

**cleanmotorway** · August-31-20, 01:37 PM

Yeah I don't understand when people get offended at the Midtown label. It's not replacing Cass Corridor. It's a larger area that happens to also encompass CC. I don't think it's even fair to say it's a rebranding.

What else are we supposed to call the large area between Downtown and New Center? It's literally the middle of town, Midtown.

**Henry Whalley** · August-31-20, 03:33 PM

OK, you and Gistok make good points and I see why Midtown is apropos.

But it is written that the former Greektown forever shall be dubbed Trojantown or Tragictown. [[It's a seldom-noted fact that Agamemnon, rather than a cuckold, was a real estate developer, don, or taikun. And The Trojan Women would be no less tragic had the true story been told.)

**Gistok** · August-31-20, 04:23 PM

^ Ohhhhhhh-kay.... whatever name floats your boat...

But I wouldn't count on either name to stick....

The city "relabeled" the Harmony Park area as the new Paradise Valley... but that name won't stick either.

**K-slice** · August-31-20, 05:57 PM

Greentown was too small and too centrally located to stay a true ethnic neighborhood. It's tough to maintain a small, ethnic trick neighborhood when corporate interests want to demolish them for skyscrapers.