Roger Penske's presence downtown

**tkelly1986** · July-22-10, 09:31 PM

Roger Penske's has been mentioned in the same breath as other civic leaders and with good reason; he helped bring the Superbowl and is involved with M1. However, why has he not committed his own firm to downtown? Why is Penske Corporation still located in Bloomfield Hills if he's a big advocate of the city? I am not sure how many people actually work at Penske's HQ, but it would still be a nice addition to the cityscape.

**DetroitPlanner** · July-22-10, 09:44 PM

With the 100's of car dealerships he owns, how many are in Detroit?

LodgeDodger · July-22-10, 10:05 PM

I'd imagine doing business in the City of Detroit is expensive. To own a home in Detroit is incredibly expensive. To pull up stakes and move to the city "just because" would be a poor business decision. Be thankful he is a Detroit booster. [[Unlike many religious, civic and business leaders in this town.)

You have to remember, many people who do not live in Detroit are some of its biggest supporters.

**Detroit Stylin** · July-23-10, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by LodgeDodger

I'd imagine doing business in the City of Detroit is expensive. To own a home in Detroit is incredibly expensive. To pull up stakes and move to the city "just because" would be a poor business decision. Be thankful he is a Detroit booster. [[Unlike many religious, civic and business leaders in this town.)

You have to remember, many people who do not live in Detroit are some of its biggest supporters.

Not to mention he got the money and puts it where his mouth is....

**1_of_None** · July-23-10, 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by Detroit Stylin

Not to mention he got the money and puts it where his mouth is....

He sure does..........
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...REE/910299982#

Some of Detroit's most prominent business leaders lent $240,000 to disgraced former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, according to testimony given today in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Kilpatrick testified that Bloomfield Hills-based Penske Corp. founder Roger Penske, Livonia-based Quicken Loans CEO Dan Gilbert, Detroit-based PVS Chemicals CEO Jim Nicholson and Detroit-based Compuware CEO Peter Karmanos lent him the money the day after he left jail.

**Detroit Stylin** · July-23-10, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by 1_of_None

He sure does..........
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...REE/910299982#

Yep except the criminal is now in prison and yet Peske is still doing his thing for the city.

**1KielsonDrive** · July-23-10, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by 1_of_None

He sure does..........
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...REE/910299982#

Jim Nicholson is the person most responsible for putting KK over the top in his election run against Freeman Hendricks. KK was out of money and credibility. Hendricks had a formidable lead and looked to be the next mayor. Nicholson [[a republicrat, rich businessman and party leader), gathered his DAC buddies, money, and a program to buy KK and his election. You can debate all you want to, but KK, and his family, already owned and operated by the McNamara machine, was bought out by rich businessmen. They had plans for the city, including as much privatization as possible. Just shows to go ya;, there's not much difference, nor differences [[philosophical, political and theological), between republicrats and demicans when it comes time to 'elect' someone to do their bidding.

DetroitPole · July-23-10, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by LodgeDodger

I'd imagine doing business in the City of Detroit is expensive. To own a home in Detroit is incredibly expensive. To pull up stakes and move to the city "just because" would be a poor business decision. Be thankful he is a Detroit booster. [[Unlike many religious, civic and business leaders in this town.)

You have to remember, many people who do not live in Detroit are some of its biggest supporters.

Not to nitpick, but I own my home in Detroit and it was incredibly inexpensive and in a good neighborhood. Taxes are high and when I have kids I will have to pay tuitition for them to go to a real school, but to be fair, you can now get a lot of house for you buck in neighborhoods that are quite nice. What I saved in the purchase price more than makes up for in the high taxes. It may be relatively expensive, but not incredibly.

**EastsideAl** · July-23-10, 04:47 AM

It would be nice if Mr. Penske could at least come back down and remove his "presence" from Belle Isle.

LodgeDodger · July-23-10, 06:44 AM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

It would be nice if Mr. Penske could at least come back down and remove his "presence" from Belle Isle.

I quite agree. I was disappointed to hear about his giving money to KK, but he has been a big booster.

Bearinabox, enlightenment done passed you by.

Bearinabox · July-23-10, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by LodgeDodger

Bearinabox, enlightenment done passed you by.

Damn, it would, wouldn't it.

**Searay215** · July-23-10, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

It would be nice if Mr. Penske could at least come back down and remove his "presence" from Belle Isle.

I have heard that Indy Car racing will return to the island next year.

As far as doing business in the D, from a business stanpoint it don't make sense, you have income tax and taxes on your utilities that the burbs don't have. Not much in the way of shopping and dinning. If Detroit wants more businesses to move in they have to change their business model....Maybe I am wrong, and I am sure someone here will point out the errors of my ways....but its just my humble opinion.

**maxx** · July-27-10, 08:05 AM

DetroitPole: The Superbowl and other carnivalesque bullshit isn't going to save this city. We need a safe, livable city and for people to actually reside here again.

And that starts with people coming downtown and having a favorable opinion of Detroit. It certainly isn't all Detroit needs, but Detroit needs to have events just like other more viable cities do to at least give the appearance that there is still civilized life there.