Took a walk through Detroit Friday.....

**Doma** · May-10-09, 08:20 PM

So I found myself standing in front of the Book Cadillac just the other day. The lobby was busy and people were coming in and out, it was the first time I have ever visited it in the warm weather. The building looks phenomenal! After peeking in Roast I decided to go grab a coffee at the the WBC coffee shop, it is a top notch place as well with a friendly staff. Gotta love the Book Cadillac!

I asked the woman, what is that crazy looking structure being built across the street?

She told me it was the new bus/transit terminal!

This thing is going to be rather amazing! I can't find any recent pictures online, but it is a site to behold. It looks like some sort of futuristic spaceship with lots of interesting aluminum beams, a must see!

Walked by the Lafayette, man I wish somebody would do something with that building! It would really help tie the Book into Woodward.

Overall Washington Ave. has seen worse days, I'm cautiously optimistic for the future of this premier thoroughfare!

Peeked into the Kresge building, looks like a pretty big restaurant is going in on ground level. The shops are just about renovated and I would imagine it won't be long before this place is lit back up again. I don't care if this turns out to be no better than the Dixieland Flea Market. More retail downtown = awesome!

Also noticed a few minor storefronts either under construction or just opening in the lower Woodward area. Nothing groundbreaking but any progress forward is a step in the right direction.

Downtown is looking better all of the time and has endless potential, when this recession is over look for more major developments.

<<<Begin endless negativity, pessimism, anger and thread crapping below>>>

Retroit · May-10-09, 08:25 PM

And you didn't get mugged?

**texorama** · May-10-09, 08:28 PM

Second on the coffee shop in there--very friendly counter staff, and good free wireless [[although the rigamarole you have to go through to get on is a little weird). Wish it was open later than 3.

stinkbug · May-10-09, 08:34 PM

A car blew up in my neighborhood Friday.

Things are a little different outside the 1 square mile candyland.

**Paris_of_the_Midwest** · May-10-09, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by stinkbug

A car blew up in my neighborhood Friday.

Things are a little different outside the 1 square mile candyland.

If you consider downtown a "candyland," your neighborhood must be pretty bad.

Lorax · May-10-09, 08:50 PM

I love you, Stinkbug.

**Gannon** · May-10-09, 11:53 PM

You're pretty easy.

Falling in love with regards to proximity to explosions is a dangerous path to tread.

**jtf1972** · May-11-09, 12:15 AM

This thread is a wonderous joyful mix of positivity and absurdly delicious humor.

I LIKE IT!

**j to the jeremy** · May-11-09, 10:24 AM

Just remember, stinkbug, every city needs a couple square miles of Candyland to appease the visitors.

**hybridy** · May-11-09, 10:56 AM

took some family to visit the motor bar on a saturday in late april-the furniture looked dingy already. carpets and furniture was all spotted, cushions were half on/off, coffee table was chipped. and this was early afternoon. seems unfortunate that the place isn't even a year old yet and it looks quite mismanaged.

**Doma** · May-12-09, 09:56 PM

<<<Begin endless negativity, pessimism, anger and thread crapping below>>>

Great job team! Detroit has a new product manufactured right here that can easily be exported to other places.....misery!

AWESOME!!!

You know one thing that is sorely missing from this thread, it's unusual that it hasn't happened yet......how about some personal attacks on me [[the author) for having the audacity to post something I am happy about here? C'mon now, don't start slacking on me, get it all out, do your thing now.

<<<Begin senseless personal attacks and insults below>>>

**Trumpeteer** · May-12-09, 10:46 PM

Doma, finally someone who has the balls to call out these pathetic negative posters. Downtown is looking awesome and is definitely going in the right direction. We stayed at the Book in December and had a great time. Can't wait to come back! EVERY downtown has the areas that no one wants to wander into!

**boogiechillen** · May-13-09, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Trumpeteer

Doma, finally someone who has the balls to call out these pathetic negative posters. Downtown is looking awesome and is definitely going in the right direction. We stayed at the Book in December and had a great time. Can't wait to come back! EVERY downtown has the areas that no one wants to wander into!

I agree with Trumpeteer and Doma. Sure there is a lot throughout the city to be cynical about, but the small, vigorous pockets we come across are inspiring. In the same way that blight can spread like cancer, these small, good things we see happening are like germinating seeds of prosperity.

I was travelling around the lower Cass Corridor this morning and wasimpressed with all of the work going on there. Sure you'll still find plenty of destitute people in the area, but to see all this stuff being built and rehabbed gives me hope, and I hope it has the same effect on the destitutes. MSU is building a new facility in that area, a historic home is being rehabilitated near Park and Charlotte, and what seems to be a massive garden is being put in near Peterborro and Second.

Hope springs eternal!

stinkbug · May-13-09, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by Trumpeteer

Doma, finally someone who has the balls to call out these pathetic negative posters. Downtown is looking awesome and is definitely going in the right direction. We stayed at the Book in December and had a great time. Can't wait to come back! EVERY downtown has the areas that no one wants to wander into!

I am not pathetic. Some of us actually live and work in the city and have to put up with insane bullshit every day of our lives. We are the people who keep this city alive, not people who stay in the Book Cadillac in December.
People have been saying "downtown is looking awesome" for 20 years and the city has still been in a downward spiral. Many neighborhoods that were healthy 20 years ago are now total hellholes. Yet nobody cares because they just want to rave about how good downtown looks. You can't have a downtown without a city.
I haven't totally lost hope; don't get me wrong. A few neighborhoods have actually improved over the past few years. If we can weather the current economic crisis, and there is still a trend toward urban living, we might just make it.
Gangland graffiti just appeared around my neighborhood last night. Who cares though, downtown looks great. Maybe I'll just stay in the Book Cadillac.

**Trumpeteer** · May-13-09, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by hybridy

took some family to visit the motor bar on a saturday in late april-the furniture looked dingy already. carpets and furniture was all spotted, cushions were half on/off, coffee table was chipped. and this was early afternoon. seems unfortunate that the place isn't even a year old yet and it looks quite mismanaged.

WOW, the Motor Bar was absolutely flawless in late December, musta been a helluva party since

You sure you weren't in the Book TOWER

lilpup · May-13-09, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Trumpeteer

Originally Posted by hybridy

took some family to visit the motor bar on a saturday in late april-the furniture looked dingy already. carpets and furniture was all spotted, cushions were half on/off, coffee table was chipped. and this was early afternoon. seems unfortunate that the place isn't even a year old yet and it looks quite mismanaged.

WOW, the Motor Bar was absolutely flawless in late December, musta been a helluva party since

You sure you weren't in the Book TOWER

Unfortunately I don't find this hard to believe. While some of it might be a poor choice of materials for heavy usage there is a tendency for nice stuff to not be honored. A blatant example is the brass colored plating on the casino elevators [[at MGM I think it was) that were intentionally scratched/keyed beyond belief soon after the place opened. It takes a real pig or two to do that but the rest of us have to deal with the impressions it leaves.