Arcade Bar Building

[BrushStart]

Well, judging by the redevelopment status of other previous demolition sites such as the Tuller Hotel [[torn down in 1991 and still a dusty gravel lot today), The Statler Hotel and the Donovan Building [[both torn down in 2005 and both still weed choked lots today) I'd have to say don't hold your breath for anything to happen on the Lafayette site.

Wait, wait, wait. I know better than to hold my breath, but was there a plan to turn those lots into parks when they imploded that Statler and the Donovan? I remember that being a condition of tearing down the Lafayette if Gilbert wasn't going to build on the site. This is a very visible location- behind the coney islands, across from the federal courthouse, and kitty-corner from the Book Cadillac. It is already a dirt lot, the city could just lay some grass seed and borrow a few table/chair sets from Campus Martius, and you'd have a park. Add an official placard "Lafayette Building Memorial Park", a few small trees, and possibly a flower bed or gravel path and you have a nice park. How hard is that?

[Whitehouse]

\

Wow!
That's some kind of optical illusion. Looks like it's only a facade, but than it would be impossible for someone to be inside that building. The building's footprint is a trapezoid and not square.

[DC48080]

Wait, wait, wait. I know better than to hold my breath, but was there a plan to turn those lots into parks when they imploded that Statler and the Donovan? I remember that being a condition of tearing down the Lafayette if Gilbert wasn't going to build on the site. This is a very visible location- behind the coney islands, across from the federal courthouse, and kitty-corner from the Book Cadillac. It is already a dirt lot, the city could just lay some grass seed and borrow a few table/chair sets from Campus Martius, and you'd have a park. Add an official placard "Lafayette Building Memorial Park", a few small trees, and possibly a flower bed or gravel path and you have a nice park. How hard is that?

Neither the Statler or the Donovan were imploded. The Statler was dismantled from the top down from the inside out. If I am not mistaken the Donovan was brought down with a wrecking ball or some other traditional method.

Anyhow, you're correct that it should be a very simple matter to create the park at the Lafayette site. But this is Detroit, the simplest of things get bogged down in stupidity, red tape, and of course multiple kickbacks to friends and family of city officials. The simplest things rarely get done in an expedient manner in Detroit.

[BrushStart]

Neither the Statler or the Donovan were imploded. The Statler was dismantled from the top down from the inside out. If I am not mistaken the Donovan was brought down with a wrecking ball or some other traditional method.

Anyhow, you're correct that it should be a very simple matter to create the park at the Lafayette site. But this is Detroit, the simplest of things get bogged down in stupidity, red tape, and of course multiple kickbacks to friends and family of city officials. The simplest things rarely get done in an expedient manner in Detroit.

I know they weren't imploded, it was just a figure of speech. And kickbacks, on planting grass? If this true, things have seriously gotten out-of-hand.

[cman710]

I agree that things always take long to happen in Detroit, and many things never happen at all. But with this being such a prominent location, I do think something will be done before too, too long. I am not sure we should expect anything before next summer, though.

[leland_palmer]

The view from the west. http://fadeddetroit.blogspot.com/201...t-remains.html

[Detroitnerd]

I got a nice tour the other night from the night watchman after leaving Lafayette Coney Island. It's early days there yet, but they are doing a ton of work. My friend who was with me had memories of the bar in its glory days, thanks to parents who worked at the railroad office behind there, and said it was quite an experience to see it again.

[TheKage]

I talked with a few of the landscape crew members, and they were disappointed that the city scrapped the idea of building an actual park [[sidewalks, benches, trees,...) in that space, and instead has decided to throw down some grass seed and call it good. Kind of a bummer. Here's a link to a picture and info. http://fromthekage.blogspot.com/2010...-building.html

[BrushStart]

I talked with a few of the landscape crew members, and they were disappointed that the city scrapped the idea of building an actual park [[sidewalks, benches, trees,...) in that space, and instead has decided to throw down some grass seed and call it good. Kind of a bummer. Here's a link to a picture and info. http://fromthekage.blogspot.com/2010...-building.html

You know, I'm not as upset by this as most might be. Honestly, a giant grass field downtown might be really nice. No frills, just a green place to have a picnic or throw the baseball in the summer. Downtown already has enough parks w/ concrete and benches and bushes. This might actually be kind of cool. See, I found a silver lining.

Also, construction is still happening at the Arcade Bar. I walked by on Tuesday, and there is always music and lights on in the building. Sometimes, there is a guy on a laptop that waves when I peer in.

[TheKage]

Yeah, I went in not long ago and talked to the guy doing some interior work. It's looking pretty cool. He was bummed about news of the park plans next door being scrapped, but he still seemed confident they could use the area as a "patio" of sorts.

[j to the jeremy]

Will this grass be fenced off with a 10 foot high fence like all the "pocket parks" around Grand Circus?

[Detroitnerd]

Hahaha. This time, they said they weren't just knocking a building down and leaving an empty parcel. They had a PLAN! It was going to be a PARK!

Unfortunately, after spending a fortune on graft ... er, I mean demolition, there were no funds left over for anything. No remediation. No landscaping. No paths. Just going to be a lawn.

Aren't you glad they had a PLAN this time?

[casscorridor]

So absurd. They should have left the Lafayette building untill it fell over on its own. It surely would have been rehabed by then. They could have used demo money to secure the building to prevent further deterioration. But no! We need progress. Soon all of Downtown will be converted to green space and assembled together to form a new Central Park for Detroit, surrounded by hotels, stadiums, casinos and theatres. Damn, won't it be great!!!! Who needs buildings when we can have weed infested lots?!?!?

[DetroitScooter]

Typical. The follow-through on the these downtown development plans is zero. Thanks, you bums.

[BrushStart]

In all honestly, what is the possibility of having this grass lot transformed into a simple park by private donation? Call it "Quicken Park" and have the company donate $5k for a few benches, a gravel path, and some minimal landscaping. I mean, this space really doesn't need to be a featured attraction. No matter what you do with it, it's always going to be eclipsed by Campus Martius, which is one block over. Just make it look decent and not like an overgrown trash field. I'd even be willing to donate a bench if I could put my name on it. This is such a simple task. For the amount of time spent talking about it, a handful of us could have done the work in one afternoon. I'm not saying that we should [[based on principle), but honestly, this task encompasses nothing more than adding some lawn furniture and a few schrubs to a backyard. If nothing's done to it by late May, I'll set up an afternoon event to get people together and finish the job. Bring your bbq grills. Heck, maybe even the coney islands will throw in some free dogs. Serisouly, remind me around April to call the city to put them on notice. It'll be a good time.

[stasu1213]

I had said that the location would be nice for a smaller park where gatherings and entertainment could be held. I had added the comment to a post last year. That would had increased the pedastrial traffice from events be held at that park to events being held at Campus Martius. Support for the coney islands would had increased for the amount of people being drawn to the while walking by

[mrfinewine]

When did the Lafayette Coney acquire the Michigan Avenue storefront? The map shows that it was once just half the size it is now, and opened only onto Lafayette. I don't think I remember a time when it didn't face both streets....

[DownriverGRap]

Anyone have an update on the Arcade Bar Building rennovations?

[DownriverGRap]

Once more---any updates on the Arcade Bar building?

[esp1986]

According to the Free Press, the Arcade Bar is being turned into a three story jazz club, to be called the McNamara.

Story here: http://detnews.com/article/20110726/...ble-landscape’

[stinkytofu]

According to the Free Press, the Arcade Bar is being turned into a three story jazz club, to be called the McNamara.

Story here: http://detnews.com/article/20110726/...ble-landscape’

That sounds cool. I'm cautiously optimistic, but the recent "club" openings downtown have me a little nervous. I know this is a jazz club, but until we see it catering to a crowd that doesn't spray bullets into crowds, then I'm going to be cautious. Imagine if a bunch of shootings started to occur outside the B-C.

[kryptonite]

Avoid the new club if anything on a sign or web site says "Dress to impress". That translates to "bring yo' guns and ammo"

[Pcm]

Demolishing a building and planting a vegetable garden is a revival?

[kryptonite]

Well, the fact that an old bar next to the once beautiful demolished building is going to be renovated is what the 'revival' refers to. Saddest of all is that the Lafayette Bldg was demolished, it was a very nice building with a great arcade of small businesses once, a sad loss for Detroit.

[gnome]

According to the link newspaper article, the name for the new place will be McNamarra's? For a Jazz bar? That name makes me think of Dead Ed and by connection, Team Kilpatrick. Count me out.