Plan for new police HQ at risk

[kraig]

http://www.freep.com/article/2010111...il-members-say


Uuuuuhhhhh, someone should inform Gary Brown that taxpayers are the ones that pay the bonds.

[Detroitnerd]

This plan was a stinker from the start, just a giveaway to MGM. How much do you think MGM would have got for that building? It wasn't built to last forever, and probably would have fetched less than the half-mil the Silverdome got at auction. But the city cushions the blow for the casino, and now has to spend $55 million to fix it up? Jesus, the crooks running this city need to be thrown in the river. THEY should get soaked every once in a while.

[Gistok]

I think that the Silverdome is a poor analogy to compare the new planned Police HQ to.... just the land alone that the Silverdome is on, is worth more without the Silverdome....

Making any assessment of the property's worth is very difficult in these times... Allen Park spent $25 million for a 800,000 sq. factory/movie studio [[rip-off)... the Dearborn Hyatt was almost sold for $12 million, until the nearby Ritz-Carlton was practically given away for $3 million.

So what is the true value of a the temporary MGM Grand complex?? They sank $220 million into it and the 3000 spot parking structure next door. At that rate $6.3 doesn't seem like such a bad figure... especially with a huge parking structure.... that alone would cost more than $6.3 million to construct.

Let's see... the Farwell Building in Capitol Park sold for over $3 million... that [[now razed) building along Grand River north of the GAR sold for $2.25 million....

What is a fair price in this economy?? I don't really know.... but neither do any of the other armchair property assessors...

As far as something to bitch about... the folks in Allen Park have plenty!! But I think the jury is still out on whether $6.3 million was a giveaway to MGM...

[Detroitnerd]

If you want something to bitch about... go talk to the folks in Allen Park.... but don't complain that somehow $6.3 million was a giveaway to MGM... comparatively it wasn't!

Gosh, Gistok, who would buy the hulking thing?

[Gistok]

Gosh, Gistok, who would buy the hulking thing?

DN, I always thought it would make for an excellent multifloor multiplex movie complex... all they'd need are some stadium seating, projection equipment and screens.... and some metal detectors... the exterior could be left unchanged [[but with new signage)... immediate freeway access could allow Detroiters easy access to a rare novelty... a cinema complex in Detroit with free secured parking!!

[Rocko]

In my opinion, this is fine. It would become just another opportunity for demolitionists Karla Henderson and George Jackson to get their hands on two architectural gems and turn them into parking lots. Since there is/was no plan for the DFD HQ or 1300 Beaubian, they should remain in use until a suitable adaptive use project can come around. No need to demolish another public building with public dollars ala Ford Auditorium style......

[softailrider]

I think that the Silverdome is a poor analogy to compare the new planned Police HQ to.... just the land alone that the Silverdome is on, is worth more without the Silverdome....

Making any assessment of the property's worth is very difficult in these times... Allen Park spent $25 million for a 800,000 sq. factory/movie studio [[rip-off)... the Dearborn Hyatt was almost sold for $12 million, until the nearby Ritz-Carlton was practically given away for $3 million.

So what is the true value of a the temporary MGM Grand complex?? They sank $220 million into it and the 3000 spot parking structure next door. At that rate $6.3 doesn't seem like such a bad figure... especially with a huge parking structure.... that alone would cost more than $6.3 million to construct.

Let's see... the Farwell Building in Capitol Park sold for over $3 million... that [[now razed) building along Grand River north of the GAR sold for $2.25 million....

What is a fair price in this economy?? I don't really know.... but neither do any of the other armchair property assessors...

As far as something to bitch about... the folks in Allen Park have plenty!! But I think the jury is still out on whether $6.3 million was a giveaway to MGM...

The 220 million MGM spent on that building is a moot point, they got that money back very quickly. They transformed it into a casino - a license to steal.

[Gistok]

The 220 million MGM spent on that building is a moot point, they got that money back very quickly. They transformed it into a casino - a license to steal.

Well since it was the former [[very very ugly) Detroit IRS Center prior to being a temporary casino... the license to steal seems to be its' legacy....

Now that it's empty... much improved [[in a whimsical sort of way).... and includes an expensive 3000 vehicle parking structure... does razing it seem sensible??

Not for a minute....

[Hypestyles]

why are city councilmembers planning on going on vacation before the deadline comes up at the end of the year?

[DorianWrites]

why are city councilmembers planning on going on vacation before the deadline comes up at the end of the year?

Best question on the thread. Why, indeed...
Vacation? Come ON!! To city council: You people have to realize that, given the current state of affairs in Detroit, and your responsibility for that state, the excuse of vacation is UNACCEPTABLE. Yeah, it'll be there when you get back, but...

[kraig]

They take a recess this time of year, every year. The mayor and his people know this. The mayor has the authority to make them come back for a special session if he needs them to.