Detroit Gets Bond To Renovate Casino

**begingri** · December-10-10, 09:05 PM

DETROIT -- Detroit Mayor Dave Bing announced Friday the completion of a $100 million bond sale that will finance the renovation of the old MGM Casino for the city's new public safety headquarters.

The consolidated facility will house the police department, fire department, emergency medical services, new crime lab and evidence facility, the mayor said.

Last month the city was not eligible for the bonds needed to renovate the former casino. The state had to approve the city's plan to balance its $331 million deficit, the city council said. If the plan was not approved by Dec. 31, the city could have lost its eligibility for millions of dollars in bonds.

Source: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/26092032/detail.html

**begingri** · December-10-10, 09:06 PM

My question: What happens to the old police headquarters? Is it going to be abandoned, left to decay, and then demolished in 5 years when the city claims it's "structurally unsound" or "too costly to renovate"?

**spiritofdetroit** · December-10-10, 09:20 PM

pretty certain it will be a goner.....

**iheartthed** · December-10-10, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by begingri

My question: What happens to the old police headquarters? Is it going to be abandoned, left to decay, and then demolished in 5 years when the city claims it's "structurally unsound" or "too costly to renovate"?

Sounds about right.

**bibs** · December-10-10, 10:23 PM

Let me see. Albert Kahn designed building with a ton of history associated with it. I think it stands a chance. The real question is how easily can it be adapted to another use and what use would turn a profit. Offices for bail bonds and lawyers serving the new justice center?

**rbdetsport** · December-10-10, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by bibs

Let me see. Albert Kahn designed building with a ton of history associated with it. I think it stands a chance. The real question is how easily can it be adapted to another use and what use would turn a profit. Offices for bail bonds and lawyers serving the new justice center?

The new Justice Center that isn't planned yet? I understand they are trying to approve this, but when is it going to happen? All the red tape that is flying around right now, I just don't see the justice center happening anytime soon. I know this is Albert Kahn designed, but really, I think I could let go. It is in such an insignificant place in downtown Detroit. Most people probably have never even seen it before. I think they might be better off demoing it and building some new loft development or something. Unless they can turn the old police headquarters in to residential, I think it will be a goner.

**mikeg19** · December-11-10, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by bibs

Let me see. Albert Kahn designed building with a ton of history associated with it. I think it stands a chance. The real question is how easily can it be adapted to another use and what use would turn a profit. Offices for bail bonds and lawyers serving the new justice center?

He also designed Cass Tech and, well, I think we all know what's happening there......

**canuck** · December-11-10, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by rbdetsport

The new Justice Center that isn't planned yet? I understand they are trying to approve this, but when is it going to happen? All the red tape that is flying around right now, I just don't see the justice center happening anytime soon. I know this is Albert Kahn designed, but really, I think I could let go. It is in such an insignificant place in downtown Detroit. Most people probably have never even seen it before. I think they might be better off demoing it and building some new loft development or something. Unless they can turn the old police headquarters in to residential, I think it will be a goner.

They could turn it into a condo rehab project. That kind of building is way more attractive to folks who want the older style of architecture fitted with modern amenities.

**Gannon** · December-11-10, 02:44 PM

I hope they left room for a parking department and impound facility.

Both of these functions should NOT be privatized. They can be eyes and ears to potential trouble brewing...and a source of PROFIT directly to the city without the skim off the top that only seems to serve connected individuals who then funnel it back to those they are connected with.

So all city parking enforcement becomes the lowest rung in the police department...and the towing of all vehicles no longer is in the hands of the likes of Boulevard/Trumbull.

That is some BIG money we're losing with both!

And that is a HUGE parking lot they have they can fill.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · December-11-10, 02:50 PM

Albert Kahn was great architect, but you can't keep everything he designed. Sometimes change is good.

**Russix** · December-11-10, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

Albert Kahn was great architect, but you can't keep everything he designed. Sometimes change is good.

Who cares who designed it. the only reason why Greektown survived was it's close proximity to it.

**Gistok** · December-11-10, 08:01 PM

From an artistic perspective Kahn's Italian Renaissance Palazzo style police station was architecturally much nicer than the late Madison-Lenox Hotel which many of you go almost apoplyctic with rage over, when discussing that buildings demise....

So why the nonchalant... almost flippant attitude over this attractive 1923 Kahn design?

...and when did being one block from Greektown... be such an unattractive location??

IF they can gut the building down to the 4 walls [[and load bearing columns), it has a lot of potential.... otherwise Detroit will get just another parking lot... maybe with landscaping...

**begingri** · December-11-10, 11:42 PM

What do you guys think will happen to the current Fire Department headquarters?

**rbdetsport** · December-11-10, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

From an artistic perspective Kahn's Italian Renaissance Palazzo style police station was architecturally much nicer than the late Madison-Lenox Hotel which many of you go almost apoplyctic with rage over, when discussing that buildings demise....

So why the nonchalant... almost flippant attitude over this attractive 1923 Kahn design?

...and when did being one block from Greektown... be such an unattractive location??

IF they can gut the building down to the 4 walls [[and load bearing columns), it has a lot of potential.... otherwise Detroit will get just another parking lot... maybe with landscaping...

For me, I think I have become more accustomed to buildings being demoed. That sounds terrible, but it is the truth. And also, back when the ML was demolished, the rehabilitation of downtown detroit was in full swing so we all had hope for it. And plus the fact that 2 months before the demolition, a group offered up a plan to renovate it in to apartments and a boutique hotel, yet that plan was pushed right to the side so Mr.Ilitch could make some more cashflow with his parking empire for his sports empire.

**Gistok** · December-11-10, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by begingri

What do you guys think will happen to the current Fire Department headquarters?

If you're talking about the building at Larned & Washington Blvd.... back in the early 1990s Denver developer John Madden [[builder of 150 W. Jefferson tower)... wanted to gut the 6 [[or so) story Romanesque style building and save only the outer walls... and build a 40 story "Firehouse Square" office tower within its' shell. Those plans were never implemented.

But that building is a beauty...

**Rocko** · December-12-10, 12:08 AM

I'm writing Bing directly tomorrow by mail looking for answers about the undetermined fate of the Fire HQ and DPD HQ. I know the Fire HQ on Washington Blvd. is in a National Register District, and though that won't save it, it will highlight it's architectural significance more. I think the Fire HQ stands a better change than 1300 Beaubian, but it would be best to save both if possible. Detroit has a remarkable amount of pre WWII downtonw architecture remaining today....yes, change can be good, but once it's gone, it's gone. There's plenty of space to build new things without demolishing all the old. A good adaptive re-use project would be appropriate for both historic structures.

**begingri** · December-12-10, 12:30 AM

"Complaints about costly inefficiencies at the current police headquarters at 1300 Beaubien downtown prompted the city to buy the former MGM Grand Detroit building overlooking the Lodge freeway for $6.3 million during the summer.
This is a historic moment for the city of Detroit," Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. said. "Our present Detroit police headquarters was built in 1922 and has served us well, but as we move forward in the 21st Century, it is only fitting that we have a state-of-the-art facility that meets the needs of our community."

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Now, the city is searching for a developer to buy the current, historic headquarters for another use.

"We're hoping to find someone to develop it," said mayoral spokesman Dan Lijana. "There has been pretty significant interest so far."

Considered a gem by preservationists and architects, the building on Beaubien opened in 1922. It was designed by famed Detroit architect Albert Kahn."

http://www.freep.com/article/2010121...oits-bond-sale

**Rocko** · December-12-10, 01:09 AM

begingri:

Very good! I'm still writing my letter in support of the rehabilitation.

**wolverine** · December-12-10, 02:19 AM

It's unfortunate with Detroit that it's always an issue of "what will go in this place once ____ moves out.

**Gistok** · December-12-10, 03:36 AM

Very true Wolverine....

But you know what is really ironic about the new Police HQ....

There were few buildings in Detroit that were as "butt ugly" as the old IRS Building [[the new one nearby is much nicer).... and yet... it had a $220 million "remodeling" as the MGM Grand temporary casino.

And now [[once the transformation is done)... another $100 million [[or thereabouts) will be spent to transform this same building a 2nd time. On a per square foot basis... I bet no building in Detroit history has received so much $$$ in upgrades.

**CLAUDE G** · December-12-10, 04:19 AM

I still think the Michigan Central Depot would have been more appropiate for a police headquarters. There is plenty of office space on the above floors, and just has the look of what a police headquarters should look like, especially with Rosevelt park infront of it.

The only reason why the casino is a better choice is for the following...

#1 Plenty of Parking
#2 Newer building
#3 Updated Electrical, HVAC Etc.
#4 Centrally located.

The only thing the city has go to do on the outside is to remove all the architectural references that the place used to be a casino on the outside, paint the place, and put up a few signs that say "Police headquarters"

As far as the inside, all that they need to do is sub-divide it out into offices, run electrical, Phone and computer networking.

The Casino that was in there before was a first class operation, so everything was done right to begin with.

As far as the Michigan Central Depot, that just cries Police headquarters when you look at the place. The issues are this...

#1 You got to restore all the Art Deco, which aint cheap
#2 New Electrical, New Plumbing, New Heating and Cooling.
#3 New Windows
#4 New Elevators

Your literally just dealing with a very well built shell of a building, and you got to put everything inside it including windows