If Detroit Got a Mall, Where Would You Put It?

[canuck]

[QUOTE=Vox;241736]Prosperity via malls has as much chance of success as prosperity via light rail.

Bear with me, I am onto something!

There are probably more innovative ways to lure folks into the city and sticking around other than by building light rail or shopping venues. I would start looking into maybe a whopping budget-style parking tower designed by Frank Gehry or Jean Nouvel or Norman Foster. There has to be something that can draw crowds into the city apart from silly shopping and an odd sports event...
Cheap parking in a 50 story tower with elevators. [[Sao Paulo has some) This would certainly make more sense than a choo-choo train to nowhere and would rake in tourism money. Next to Cobo hall is the destination. People from all over would congregate to worship said structure for its sculptural qualities and not least; its convenience. Never mind the Woodward revival, just think suburban access by automobile to this monument to suburban efficiency. Never mind access to shops; I am talking about the status quo with an added feature: a parking lot of immense proportions. No political involvement is needed, no controversy, no naysaying, a green flag, a checkered flag; go!

[ghettopalmetto]

Prosperity via malls has as much chance of success as prosperity via light rail.

Bear with me, I am onto something!

There are probably more innovative ways to lure folks into the city and sticking around other than by building light rail or shopping venues. I would start looking into maybe a whopping budget-style parking tower designed by Frank Gehry or Jean Nouvel or Norman Foster. There has to be something that can draw crowds into the city apart from silly shopping and an odd sports event...

I had hoped you were joking, but your last sentence in the paragraph indicates you're dead serious about this.

The word "lure" is Code for "trick", "cheat", "bamboozle", "bullshit". Is that REALLY how you want to build a city? By tricking and bribing people into showing up? What are the odds they'll return of their own volition?

You know what's the absolute BEST way to "lure" people to a city? When people WAKE UP THERE EVERY MORNING AND GO TO BED THERE EVERY NIGHT.

[Vox]

I had hoped you were joking, but your last sentence in the paragraph indicates you're dead serious about this.

The word "lure" is Code for "trick", "cheat", "bamboozle", "bullshit". Is that REALLY how you want to build a city? By tricking and bribing people into showing up? What are the odds they'll return of their own volition?

You know what's the absolute BEST way to "lure" people to a city? When people WAKE UP THERE EVERY MORNING AND GO TO BED THERE EVERY NIGHT.

Do you live in Detroit?

[canuck]

I had hoped you were joking, but your last sentence in the paragraph indicates you're dead serious about this.

The word "lure" is Code for "trick", "cheat", "bamboozle", "bullshit". Is that REALLY how you want to build a city? By tricking and bribing people into showing up? What are the odds they'll return of their own volition?

You know what's the absolute BEST way to "lure" people to a city? When people WAKE UP THERE EVERY MORNING AND GO TO BED THERE EVERY NIGHT.

We have an expression in french referring to your last sentence; Métro-boulot-dodo. In short it means a very dull day or week or sequence in a life where you take the train to work and back home to sleep...

That is not very realistic and it doesnt leave much room for the fanciful either. I wouldnt expect that from you Gp. There will always be a bamboozling in attracting people anywhere. There was a lot of it in eleventh century Paris and there is obviously a whole lot of it in places like Vegas. I mean, you need to create an environment that attracts and keeps folks in the downtown so that the cigar store on the corner is as much of a working feature of the city as the bus stop and the convention center. Tourists also have to expect a shopping mall in Detroit. I relate attractions to urban equipment; not just frivolous stuff: but that too! Some people on this thread mention the need for an amusement park and they think it is important to have one nearer Detroit proper. That is legitimate and to me, not unnecessary. The biggest mistake our friend Bloomberg in New York has made in his Dont Fuck with Mr Clean campaign is to slowly dismantle Coney Island. Maybe the Russian mafia is a scary feature of that hood and he is being cautious I dont know. But I think Coney Island is as important as the High Line Park. Maybe Bloomberg has some bad memories of trying to get some action under the boardwalk at sixteen and getting turned down.

[Redleg81]

We have an expression in french referring to your last sentence; Métro-boulot-dodo. In short it means a very dull day or week or sequence in a life where you take the train to work and back home to sleep...

Just speaking for myself, if I worked downtown, I'd welcome napping in a safe, comfy seat on a light rail or commuter train versus contending with the mad rush of automotive idiots, some of whom aren't even insured around here...

[Bham1982]

The biggest mistake our friend Bloomberg in New York has made in his Dont Fuck with Mr Clean campaign is to slowly dismantle Coney Island.

They're substantially growing the amusement portion of Coney Island. I was there last summer and it's much bigger than before.

They have a new Italian-owned amusement park, which is a ton better than the older amusements. They also have a new roller coaster and rides for this year.

There has been a Coney Island "clean-up", but it's basically a transition from seedy and declining to family-friendly and growing. Not a bad change if you ask me.

As for shopping malls, they definitely can be huge economic growth engines.

Look at Novi. It was a nothing hick town before Twelve Oaks. The mall spawned thousands of jobs and huge new tax revenue. Same thing with Great Lakes Crossing and Hall Road corridor.

[ghettopalmetto]

Look at Novi. It was a nothing hick town before Twelve Oaks. The mall spawned thousands of jobs and huge new tax revenue. Same thing with Great Lakes Crossing and Hall Road corridor.

Spawned? Or relocated?

I think you mean the latter.

I've got nothing against "fanciful" or "nice" things, but when a city like Detroit lacks basic functioning equipment like reliable transit service, walkable streets, adequate police and fire protection, and amenities like drug and hardware stores in neighborhoods, constructing shopping malls for hypothetical would-be tourists falls WAY down the priority list.

When was the last time YOU took a vacation to visit a shopping mall?

[Crew]

When was the last time YOU took a vacation to visit a shopping mall?

You have obviously never vacationed with a gay man.

[Bham1982]

Shopping as tourism is pretty common.

Somerset Inn on Big Beaver is almost entirely sustained by vacationing visitors to Somerset.

And a quick glance at the Somerset parking lot will reveal tons of out-of-state plates. Especially tons of Ohio and Ontario, but folks from all over.

Like it or not, Somerset has the best upscale shopping between NYC and Chicago.