Tear Down Building of Your Choice

**Gistok** · October-16-10, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by EastSider

So now you're defending Penske, too?

Poor drainage=wetland. Why do you wetlands?

Seriously, though, the acres of concrete are horrible. Scott Fountain may as well by moved to the parking lot of Lakeside Mall now, especially since the decorative tiles have been trashed.

What part of "IT LOOKS HORRIBLE" in my post didn't you understand??

But it's not as though Penske had a magic crystal ball to forsee that Detroit would one day no longer have a Gran Prix [[or for that matter a State Fair)... at least until the economy improves. The Grand Prix was cancelled before, and reinstated again a few years later.

Until they decide to remove it or return the Grand Prix, they might as well use it... it's already being used by skateboarders, they might as well turn it into a skating rink in the winter as well.

I would have prefered they never erect the concrete either... but until money is procured to remove it, they might as well turn that lemon into lemonade...

And poor drainage does not automatically mean wetlands. That section of the island was always somewhat muddy. 100 years ago Belle Isle was only 2/3 the size it is now... some of the expansion may have caused the drainage issue.

**Dan** · October-17-10, 10:28 AM

Guardian for sure.

Sayonara you brick pile of poo, landscaped parking lot here we come!

gdogslim · October-17-10, 11:51 AM

The Crack House in my neighborhood.

That brings up a question, should there be a thread entitled
"Crack houses in your neighborhood"

Afterall, it would answer the login question, what went wrong, how can we fix it ....
Pointing out crack houses would help close shop to these bad boys and clean up the neighborhood. We all know the police are of little help with the resources issues.

**TJC** · January-07-11, 09:51 AM

Why? Because it looks like a gaggle of additions and makes the neighbourhood look ugly!!! Trappers Alley was never intended to be a casino, and it shows. Tear it down and start over!!!

**esp1986** · January-07-11, 10:25 AM

1) Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2) Palace of Auburn Hills
3) Somerset Collection
4) Southfield Town Center 1-5
5) AAA on Bagley

muskie1 · January-07-11, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPole

Not a building per say, but Penske Field on Belle Isle. Turn it back into a park for the citizens like it should be, not a suburban millionaire parking lot for race cars that he stopped running. I hate him for what he did to that space.

Probably the only space on the island that makes some money and draws suburbanites into the city. They do rent it for autocross during the warm months and draw a couple hundred people. I would vote Cobo, move it and make some use of the riverfront property ther.

**Planner3357** · January-07-11, 10:37 AM

Washington Square Apartments [[Trolley Plaza)...what an ugly ass building..

**rb336** · January-07-11, 10:41 AM

I would knock down pontiac mal - er, summit place. And every strip mall everywhere

bartock · January-07-11, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by windsor_shane

i have 2.

somerset mall & great lakes crossing

Great idea. Then they can build new ones at 32 Mile and Gratiot.

I agree with Summit Place because it is nearly empty. Can't wait for the minor league team to go there...not sure if they are clearing anything away, though.

I second the Hamilton idea.

bartock · January-07-11, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

Pontch [[aka Riverside.). It's embarrassing to have a large abandoned hotel across the street from your convention center. Could have been worse I guess. They could have built the covered walkway to it.

If they did that, then they couldn't do this [[you can't see it, but it is a Mercedes ad, so you can guess what the rest of it will say).

**Detroitnerd** · January-07-11, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by muskie1

Probably the only space on the island that makes some money and draws suburbanites into the city.

That must be the purpose of everything now.

Have a quaint 19th century park? Don't you hate how it just SITS there and don't make no money? Isn't it ridiculous to have a white elephant there just to please the residents of the city, while it's a total failure at drawing in suburbanites?

We at D'Angelo Concrete and Roadbuilding have the answer: Cover it with concrete! Not only will suburbanites come pouring in to rev engines all day [[for a total of two days) but now it will become a glorious profit center.

Unsightly monuments in the way? We'll appropriate some of the land without the added expense of having to knock them down!

Unsightly city picnickers all over the area? Let us lay down the concrete and those unsightly folks will SCATTER after we bring down half of Royal Oak's crotch rockets to VROOOM VROOOM VROOOM!

Remember: Only concrete, and PLENTY OF IT, will help your outdated, unprofitable rustic oasis in the city become a PROFITABLE place that DRAWS SUBURBANITES into your city.

[[This satirical message intended to cause laughter for the sane, and to irritate fan's of Penske's maxi-pad.)

muskie1 · January-07-11, 05:51 PM

I do agree, the problem with this nice 19th century park is that it is a urban ghetto war zone. I no longer go on my weekend bike rides there,my truck was stolen on a Sunday morning on the island. I miss watching the hydro plane races from the island but still do from the Detroit shoreline. Last time I was on the island to watch the races somone stole my lawn chairs What I was trying to say about that slab of concrete is that it brings in money from people who would not be going anywhere near the city. After the autocross events people are always talking about where to go eat lunch, have a drink etc. I was lucky enough to be in the middle of a nice urban birthday party shooting last July in the middle of the afternoon after a autocross event there. Will I be back,sure. The island is no longer the gem it was, it is not deserving of the way the people of Detroit treat it. Make it a state or metro park,blow up the bridge and make everyone take a boat or a ferry to get there. As is typical of just about everything and place in Detroit it has been ruined by its inhabitants. They have proven they do not respect gems like this over and over and if money can't save it from the native Detroiters, nothing can.
It is at least a nice use of a horrible slab of cement and helps draw in people.

**Gistok** · January-07-11, 06:03 PM

Muskie1... while I don't care for that big slab of cement... it looks absolutely awful from the air... our flying forumer Flybydon took some interesting aerial shots of the park with that vast sea of concrete.

Fortunately that slab didn't do 2 things...
1) affect the Fredrick Law Olmstead portion of the park... only about 600 of the 982 acres of the park even existed when Olmstead designed it. The area around the Scott Fountain [[including the slab) and tidal basin didn't exist when the park was designed.
2) no grove of trees were removed when the slab was installed... just some scrubland with a high water table and poor drainage [[not a wetland by any stretch of the imagination) was paved over.

So if this slab gets torn down... so be it. If the Grand Prix returns... even better.

**maxx** · January-07-11, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Fury13

Barring that, the IHOP on East Jefferson.

Yes, didn't some singer tear down an historic tavern to build that IHOP? Little Harry's, I think.

**GOAT** · January-07-11, 06:18 PM

Too many to list and that is only for downtown. For prominence, I would also vote for the ugly shitty looking CAY building. Leaky windows, different colour window tints, it is just skeezy.

**wolverine** · January-07-11, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by TJC

Why? Because it looks like a gaggle of additions and makes the neighbourhood look ugly!!! Trappers Alley was never intended to be a casino, and it shows. Tear it down and start over!!!

While I remember Trappers alley before the casino modifications, it certainly has lost its shine hasn't it? As a kid I've always thought the brick walls, walkways, and skywalks were cool, but now I think it really needs a refresh.

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

We at D'Angelo Concrete and Roadbuilding have the answer: Cover it with concrete! Not only will suburbanites come pouring in to rev engines all day [[for a total of two days) but now it will become a glorious profit center.

Unsightly monuments in the way? We'll appropriate some of the land without the added expense of having to knock them down!

Unsightly city picnickers all over the area? Let us lay down the concrete and those unsightly folks will SCATTER after we bring down half of Royal Oak's crotch rockets to VROOOM VROOOM VROOOM!

Remember: Only concrete, and PLENTY OF IT, will help your outdated, unprofitable rustic oasis in the city become a PROFITABLE place that DRAWS SUBURBANITES into your city.

I'm surprised that thing isn't just covered by graffiti now. Out in LA, they'd envy such a blank canvas of concrete that it would be painted over just hours after the pavement hardens.

**Guideboat** · January-07-11, 08:36 PM

I probably in the tiny minority on this, but I like the little glass building adjoining the Guardian. I like the reflection of things as you drive by.

I'd vote for the CAY Building. Leave the Spirit of Detroit and start over.

**noggin** · January-07-11, 08:44 PM

Don't forget Ford Auditorium. Quickly, please.

**davewindsor** · January-07-11, 09:04 PM

How about knocking down the new Cass Tech for parking and rehabbing the old one while most of it's still left.

**Guideboat** · January-07-11, 09:04 PM

I change my vote. I know it is supposed to be re-used, but the old MGM casino in its current guise is hideous. It is a faux-style abomination..

**JohnnyFreddy** · January-08-11, 07:27 AM

If I may break the rules a tad and pick more than one.
The American[[?) Hotel, just east of the Masonic Temple.
It's got to go!!!!
,,,and,
I agree, the back portion of the DCS.
I saw a link earlier last year on this forum, illustrating several alternatives
to just 'tearing it down'.
The 'Park' I liked especially in San Francisco, where they demolished the
main office area of their ruin, leaving the ornate 'Romanesque' lobby and facade.
They then landscaped, developed for the public use, and uplighted the remaining
structure....and the result was, a stunning park for all to enjoy.
The City Of Detroit could confiscate this land from Malroun, and develop it,
rather than destroy it. I would vote to pass a millage to pay for it, with
matching funds, of course.
From who, you say?
Why, Slows, of course.
My third choice.

DetroitPole · January-08-11, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by muskie1

I do agree, the problem with this nice 19th century park is that it is a urban ghetto war zone. I no longer go on my weekend bike rides there,my truck was stolen on a Sunday morning on the island. I miss watching the hydro plane races from the island but still do from the Detroit shoreline. Last time I was on the island to watch the races somone stole my lawn chairs What I was trying to say about that slab of concrete is that it brings in money from people who would not be going anywhere near the city. After the autocross events people are always talking about where to go eat lunch, have a drink etc. I was lucky enough to be in the middle of a nice urban birthday party shooting last July in the middle of the afternoon after a autocross event there. Will I be back,sure. The island is no longer the gem it was, it is not deserving of the way the people of Detroit treat it. Make it a state or metro park,blow up the bridge and make everyone take a boat or a ferry to get there. As is typical of just about everything and place in Detroit it has been ruined by its inhabitants. They have proven they do not respect gems like this over and over and if money can't save it from the native Detroiters, nothing can.
It is at least a nice use of a horrible slab of cement and helps draw in people.

Not-so thinly-veiled racism.

Belle Isle may not be Central Park but "ghetto war zone"? "not deserving of the way the people of Detroit treat it?" Well it is their - our - park and we pay taxes for it and guess what? You don't.

It is a city park, designed for the residents of the city. You have no God-given right to it. The purpose of the city park is not to draw suburbanites or make a profit but provide a recreational green space for the residents of the city.

So you think only white suburbanites such as yourself are fed up with the state of Belle Isle? What about the 99% of "native Detroiters" who are decent peaceful people who would like to see changes there too? Oh, yeah, it needs to be "saved" from them.

This is the kind of suburban attitude that enables people like Monica Conyers to stick around. A sense of entitlement to what Detroit has and the way it should be and the gall to believe it should actually be denied to the people who live and pay taxes in Detroit.

Could you imagine if Detroiters tried to take such an "interest"[[blowing up bridges among other things) in the state of affairs of the suburbs? There would be a lynch mob.

No one has EVER given me any problems on Belle Isle. I continue to enjoy it as a recreational space. So it serves its purpose.

Oh, and I don't think "Detroit was ruined by its inhabitants" either. I think it was ruined by people who abandoned it by fleeing to the suburbs. I'll leave you with that.

**marcwigle** · January-08-11, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPole

Not-so thinly-veiled racism.

Belle Isle may not be Central Park but "ghetto war zone"? "not deserving of the way the people of Detroit treat it?" Well it is their - our - park and we pay taxes for it and guess what? You don't.

It is a city park, designed for the residents of the city. You have no God-given right to it. The purpose of the city park is not to draw suburbanites or make a profit but provide a recreational green space for the residents of the city.

So you think only white suburbanites such as yourself are fed up with the state of Belle Isle? What about the 99% of "native Detroiters" who are decent peaceful people who would like to see changes there too? Oh, yeah, it needs to be "saved" from them.

This is the kind of suburban attitude that enables people like Monica Conyers to stick around. A sense of entitlement to what Detroit has and the way it should be and the gall to believe it should actually be denied to the people who live and pay taxes in Detroit.

Could you imagine if Detroiters tried to take such an "interest"[[blowing up bridges among other things) in the state of affairs of the suburbs? There would be a lynch mob.

No one has EVER given me any problems on Belle Isle. I continue to enjoy it as a recreational space. So it serves its purpose.

Oh, and I don't think "Detroit was ruined by its inhabitants" either. I think it was ruined by people who abandoned it by fleeing to the suburbs. I'll leave you with that.

I took the g/f and kids [[all of us white from Canada) there a couple of years ago and only saw a lot of people... a LOT of people, most who happened to be of the black variety, all having a good time. Didn't witness any gang-fights, gun fights, muggings, lynchings... the "inhabitants" just wanted to enjoy the park. Like you, I wonder how much racism played a part in Muskie1's post.

muskie1 · January-08-11, 12:25 PM

Detroit Pole, sorry to rub you the wrong way. I think your 99 percent of Detroit people being good is not accurate. I think it is higher. The citizens that are good do not do a very good job of making sure their resources are protected by a city gov. that cares. I still love going to Belle Isle, I just need to be less trusting of my surroundings. No,I was not being a dick, I took 4 kids with me who did not get to see places like this and guess what one was black. The closing of some minor things there like the kids zoo, and aquarium made me sad. On a average I use to go there 2 to 3 times a month. What upsets me about the island is the way it is run. There are constantly groups ot thugs who will just walk in front of your car and dare you not to stop. I have seen a shooting there and endless drug dealings.
Your attitude towards the suburbs makes me think that you do not value the money they spend in Detroit. I can almost guarantee you I spend more of my dolllars in Detroit than half of the citizens who live there do. Detroit has unfortunately out lived its usefulness too many. It reminds me of some of the towns in the U.P. You travel there long enough and you will find amazing virtually empty towns that once thrived. Mining and lumber left so did they. You can not have a viable city when you have no econmic base,you just dwindle away. We had our eggs in one basket with manufacturing and we had a great run. I had a brick thrown off a overpasss one Saturday afternoon on the way back from a play. I always watch the overpass while I approach it and could tell the 3 guuys up there were up to no good and slowed down,it just hit my hood. So I pulled over to call the cops and guess what, they came running down the embankment with other ideas. The suggestion from the police was to come in and make a report to the State Police post. So I am saying if the city can't afford to take care of what it has then the time to do something may have already passed.
I will continue to come to Detroit just like I always did, most times alone, because alot of my friends and family do not want to take the risk. Now pull the Kielbasa out of your butt before a fellow Pole has to dump kapusta on you.

DetroitPole · January-08-11, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by muskie1

Detroit Pole, sorry to rub you the wrong way. I think your 99 percent of Detroit people being good is not accurate. I think it is higher. The citizens that are good do not do a very good job of making sure their resources are protected by a city gov. that cares. I still love going to Belle Isle, I just need to be less trusting of my surroundings. No,I was not being a dick, I took 4 kids with me who did not get to see places like this and guess what one was black. The closing of some minor things there like the kids zoo, and aquarium made me sad. On a average I use to go there 2 to 3 times a month. What upsets me about the island is the way it is run. There are constantly groups ot thugs who will just walk in front of your car and dare you not to stop. I have seen a shooting there and endless drug dealings.
Your attitude towards the suburbs makes me think that you do not value the money they spend in Detroit. I can almost guarantee you I spend more of my dolllars in Detroit than half of the citizens who live there do. Detroit has unfortunately out lived its usefulness too many. It reminds me of some of the towns in the U.P. You travel there long enough and you will find amazing virtually empty towns that once thrived. Mining and lumber left so did they. You can not have a viable city when you have no econmic base,you just dwindle away. We had our eggs in one basket with manufacturing and we had a great run. I had a brick thrown off a overpasss one Saturday afternoon on the way back from a play. I always watch the overpass while I approach it and could tell the 3 guuys up there were up to no good and slowed down,it just hit my hood. So I pulled over to call the cops and guess what, they came running down the embankment with other ideas. The suggestion from the police was to come in and make a report to the State Police post. So I am saying if the city can't afford to take care of what it has then the time to do something may have already passed.
I will continue to come to Detroit just like I always did, most times alone, because alot of my friends and family do not want to take the risk. Now pull the Kielbasa out of your butt before a fellow Pole has to dump kapusta on you.

We may not agree on everything but the kapusta reference was good.