Hudson's Site Building Thread

[dtowncitylover]

I wholeheartedly disagree with this.

First, why the hell would you want terrible box/chain stores everywhere like the suburbs? I understand that they are part of the landscape and they will come, but give me a great retail experience like a Bonobos or John Varvatos any day over Kohls. It's a lot more interesting to walk down Woodward with dozens of unique boutiques than 5 chain stores.

Second, where the hell do you live that malls are packed? Unless it's an outdoor mall like Partridge Creek, indoor malls are dying. Nobody in the younger generation wants to step foot in those places.

Third, this past Sunday wasn't it like 70 degrees out? I was the first taste of decent weather in months around here and I would bet that most people were outside at a park, not inside at a museum or mall or Best Buy.

I'll offer an opinion that's a mix. One, we do need chain stores as much as we need new stores and independent stores. Stores like a City Target offer up the diversity of essentials people need at a low cost that stores like CVS don't have and Amazon can't provide in a quicker time than 2 day shipping. As well, chain stores are recognizable to those visiting downtown. I don't think we need worry about Kohl's coming downtown, they are nearly exclusively a suburban development store. [[Though a Kohl's at Grand River and Greenfield would be neat to see...)

Secondly, and Bham wherever he is, will agree, that malls like Somerset are not dying. Eastland, Westland, yes but not Somerset. And people do go to the malls when its nice out because well it's nice out! I'm not driving in a foot of snow but it hits 50 degrees plus, heck yeah I'm doing all my errands and driving and go places.

What truly needs to change in this region and what I hope the streetcar and RefleX can bring as a test, is the idea that the car needs to stay home in order to go downtown. That's what brings urban pedestrian traffic. Not the singular use of cars, but the diversity of transportation options.

The empty storefronts are indeed waiting new tenets, but we have to remember this is still Detroit. The red tape is still there and while we have a business friendly mayor, retailers are going to take their time because they want to see how these pioneer retailers in downtown are going to play out. BUT, most people didn't think Bonobos was going to open this quickly either...

As for the Hudson Block development, I think it will be the anchor the downtown core needs desperately. I think this is ambitious and awesome, but even a development that half the size but still fills the entire block would be good too. The walk along that block is jarring.