  Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1419 Registered: 02-2007 |
Are there other (if there's any left) headquarters or just Corporate offices in SE Michigan that you would prefer to see in Downtown Detroit? Where would you like to see them built or move into and what significance would they play in rejuvenating our CBD. (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) | ||
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus Post Number: 1580 Registered: 06-2006 |
Urbanize: Good topic...There's a ton of companies we'd all LIKE to see downtown...but I wouldn't waste time thinking about the ones who are unlikely or for whom it's not feasible to move any time soon... I submit that a better question is what companies are most likely to consider a move downtown sometime in the next 10 years that City officials should start working to recruit... | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 684 Registered: 01-2006 |
It is a good idea to keep some of these jobs in the suburbs. As much as I want to see companies moving downtown, it is important to see the suburbs thrive as well. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1422 Registered: 02-2007 |
I would, but this one is already posted, So I will not waste the thread space. Ok, so forget the original question, but...... What companies are most likely to consider a move downtown sometime in the next 10 years that City officials should start working to recruit? | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 951 Registered: 10-2003 |
There are no Lithium Ion battery manufacturers in the United States. Right now the Lithium Ion battery is the best battery technology we have and is vital to new car technologies. Detroit should be all over this. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1423 Registered: 02-2007 |
Interesting Johnlodge. If we were to jump all over this, some places in the US will at least look back on Detroit. | ||
Deandub11 Member Username: Deandub11 Post Number: 115 Registered: 05-2006 |
wow we get some speculatory news a couple hours ago and then we immediately start focusing on other headquarters....It's crazy, but I kindof like it | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1425 Registered: 02-2007 |
Well there's nothing wrong with dreaming. You can't make them come true if you don't even imagine them. | ||
Dannaroo Member Username: Dannaroo Post Number: 93 Registered: 05-2006 |
In my dream world, we aren't talking about luring other corporate HQ's or large regional offices out of the burbs and into downtown. Instead, we would be focusing on luring these companies from outside the metro-Detroit region or better yet, from outside of Michigan. | ||
Planner_727 Member Username: Planner_727 Post Number: 117 Registered: 07-2006 |
The future of this global economy is the finance business. Use Quicken to lure Comerica (Texas) and Bank of America (East Coast) to the Downtown Detroit marketplace. International dignitaries can fly into the shimmering new Detroit terminals and hop on the shiny new rail to downtown. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1085 Registered: 04-2006 |
Maybe Chery will put their NA HQ downtown? lol. Detroit might be in a better position today if they had done more to woo in the Japanese automakers... | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1086 Registered: 04-2006 |
Bank of America is not coming to Detroit... and Comerica probably won't exist in a couple years. The city would be better off trying to lure someone like LaSalle Bank since they have so much interest in the area as of late. | ||
Planner_727 Member Username: Planner_727 Post Number: 118 Registered: 07-2006 |
... half meant to be amusing... with Comerica just gone and B of A very close to owning LaSalle :-) | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 952 Registered: 10-2003 |
How about Toyota and Honda move their World HQ's here while we're dreaming. I mean, Japan is only so big. They could use the room for more golf courses and baseball fields. | ||
Bob Member Username: Bob Post Number: 1509 Registered: 11-2003 |
I could see Chery putting its North American Headquarters in Metro Detroit, but my guess would be it would be out in Auburn Hills so it would be close to Chrysler, whom it has a partnership with. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1835 Registered: 10-2003 |
Since you're asking for pie-in-the-sky scenarios, I vote for relocating both Microsoft and Apple HQs to downtown Detroit. Yeah. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 9510 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: WHy should Detroit be the 'better person.' The suburbs have happily sought businesses to leave Detroit and relocate to the suburbs for 50 years and continue to do so. Why should Detroit in its current situation decide to be the noble neighbor? | ||
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field Post Number: 737 Registered: 10-2003 |
We need a LOT more small and mid-sized companies, that are growing, to relocate downtown. That is what will fuel real growth. Huge corporate hq moves are rare, and Detroit has been very fortunate in that it has snagged some true gems. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1456 Registered: 02-2007 |
"WHy should Detroit be the 'better person.' The suburbs have happily sought businesses to leave Detroit and relocate to the suburbs for 50 years and continue to do so. Why should Detroit in its current situation decide to be the noble neighbor?" Thank You Very Much Jt1. We give like a neighbor, we compete like a neighbor. (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 963 Registered: 10-2003 |
"We need a LOT more small and mid-sized companies, that are growing, to relocate downtown. That is what will fuel real growth. Huge corporate hq moves are rare, and Detroit has been very fortunate in that it has snagged some true gems." Hopefully by moving thousands of workers downtown, which is what huge HQ moves do, demand for small and mid-sized business grows. Communters like to go out at lunch or after work. Some people may move to be closer to work, and they will create a demand for retail and services throughout the week. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1457 Registered: 02-2007 |
We can definitely count on Better Made, and possibly Kars and Everfresh for an HQ when they grow and become more corporate based. (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1459 Registered: 02-2007 |
Someone did invest an HQ in the city. Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3174 Registered: 02-2005 |
Dstar, other than some tax revenue, if the suburbs lose major employers, it won't do them much harm. Most of their economic development is predicated on residential development. We need to go back to the days where a person expected to work downtown, and if they chose to live in a burb they were expected to commute. A ton of suburbs did just fine in those days. Most major employers are in places like Canton, Auburn Hills, Warren, etc...and there is very little spin-off activity associated with their presence. Think of a typical office park setup. People drive to work in the morning, go to a cafeteria or perhaps a strip-mall eating establishment at lunch, and then drive home in the evening. The only real local spinoff from having a massive office park is traffic. If we revert back to a 1950 setup, where anyone that mattered was located downtown, it seems that everyone who goes through that daily drive, work, eat, work, drive routine will have much more meaning and excitement in their life. First off, you won't have to drive if you don't want to, because you could always live in/near downtown, or along a transit line (assuming future transit development). You also won't have to drive to a mall or something for lunch, instead, you can WALK with other PEOPLE, perhaps INTERACTING, and strolling through a park, maybe even eating outside. Then, after work, instead of having no other choice that to sit in traffic, you could meet up with someone for dinner, or stick around for a show or a game, leaving your car in your company's lot so you don't have to worry about paying for parking. Wow...a downtown-centered metro lifestyle. Novel idea. Other cities have it. We need to get it. So, anyway, this is a useful thread because many of us, myself include, make the claim that the Hudson's and Monroe blocks will inevitably be development within a reasonable amount of time, regardless of what Rock/Quicken does. So, we need candidates to fill office space, because both of these blocks will be mixed use. Definitly some condos, maybe a hotel, hopefully some standard apartments, definitly first floor retail, but also a bevy of office space. So who will anchor these complexes? Ideas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L ist_of_companies_based_in_Mich igan -Perhaps Borders Books might extend a corporate presence from A2 into a yuppie-laden Detroit? -Flagstar Bank is HQ-ed in Troy. That's pretty lame. I see them possibly moving. -Hungry Howie's is in Madison Heights. They could do a lot better. -Penske, whose HQ is in Bloomfield Hills, could very well open up shop downtown, especially considering the interest he's taken in it. -Moosejaw's online retailing HQ is in Madison Heights...they love yuppies and yuppies love them. -Masco is in Taylor. Of course, while playing musical office chairs is fine if we are talking about net gains for Detroit, what we really want is new companies and an expanding economy, with a focus on Detroit for HQs. Let's hope Techtown plays out as an incubator. Here are some sites other than Hudsons/Monroe which are ripe for high-rises which include office space: -Randolph/Brush/Fort/Lafayette (north of the old County Building) -Madison-Lenox site -Massive empty spot south of Gratiot between St. Antoine and 375. -Empty block at 1st/2nd/Howard Abott next to the Fed Bldg. -A large empty space fronting W. Lafayette/Cass/Washington. (North of the Freep Bldg. which, incidently, needs a tenant). -Too many to even count along and north of Bagley Street. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1090 Registered: 04-2006 |
Isn't it kind of ironic that a manufacturer for subway cars is HQ'd in Metro Detroit yet the region doesn't have its own system? lol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B udd_Company | ||
Nyct Member Username: Nyct Post Number: 60 Registered: 01-2007 |
Ford and Chrysler??? | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1469 Registered: 02-2007 |
Well we already have small companies growing in Detroit. In the next 50 years, once Downtown is fully developed and prepared, these companies would have grown corporate and have relocated their HQ in DD. Hungry Howies is doing real good right now. We must be patient with companies like them, Better Made, Everfresh and Kars. They will have to grow corporate because of how good their products are and how dedicated they are. Taking their dedication, their first choice for a headquarters will be Downtown Detroit , especially Better Made's. (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1094 Registered: 04-2006 |
I wouldn't mind seeing Chrysler go back to Highland Park. I'd rather Ford stayed in Dearborn. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1470 Registered: 02-2007 |
Ok, here we go on the Car HQ thing. They're long gone, they won't help us. Let's just blank them out in this thread. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 965 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yeah, but then what do you do with a giant complex with a chrysler-logo shaped window on top of it? Hmm, perhaps the Pentagon can move a field office there.  | ||
Jdkeepsmiling Member Username: Jdkeepsmiling Post Number: 276 Registered: 01-2006 |
I cannot believe that Detroit di not make a huuuuuuuggee push to get NWA to build a new HQ here coming out of bankruptcy. They would seem to be a prime candidate to move here as we are their largest base of operations. I could also see 5th/3rd moving from Cleveland. What about stealing some small/midsize bio companies for the Techtown area. The idea with them being one or maybe two will grow beyond measure. Think of an Asterand 3 times over. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1472 Registered: 02-2007 |
That's because they're not only better established in Minneapolis, but their Downtown is better established than ours. Same thing with Fifth Third and Cleveland (really). In the next 20 years though, as our downtown grow, I can see them looking at Detroit to get closer to the Market. (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3177 Registered: 02-2005 |
NWA...good idea. As for banks, it seems like Cleveland, Minneapolis, and Cinci all have a couple mid-size regional banks each HQ-ed in their cities. We need the same thing. We had a large bank--Comerica--but we won't talk about that. How many jobs are the keeping at One Detroit anyhow? Flagstar is really the one we should look to when it comes to moving to the city. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1095 Registered: 04-2006 |
"Yeah, but then what do you do with a giant complex with a chrysler-logo shaped window on top of it? " Same thing they're doing with a giant complex that used to house a company that begins with a K...... "Hmm, perhaps the Pentagon can move a field office there." lol... being in the middle of nowhere would certainly make it easy to secure! | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1474 Registered: 02-2007 |
lol, I thought about them Ed, but I wasn't going to mention them since they went bankrupt and moved to the "Anchor of the Midwest" (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 968 Registered: 10-2003 |
 Problem solved! Now Chrysler is free to move downtown. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 997 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote: What alternative universe are you describing? Most of the early suburban residents who commuted to work elsewhere did not go downtown, they went to factory jobs located in the industrial areas along and outside the Grand Blvd. (early 1930's) and later on (late 1930's, 40's and 50's) at factories that were built outside the Detroit City Limits. Don't believe me? Read the "Occupation" and "Industry" information in the 1930 US Census records for residents in suburban Detroit villages and cities. Most suburban residents back then went downtown for entertainment and to do their major shopping, not to work. quote: How can you limit your definition of "spin-off activity" to breakfast/lunch business? When businesses decided for a variety of valid reasons that they needed to locate, expand or relocate to the suburbs, the real "spin-off" was the smaller suppliers who followed them, plus the residential growth they fostered as their employees chose to live near where they worked. The resulting suburban population and income growth begat the suburban commercial growth, which is way more than just a few cafeterias and lunch stands. Your statement that we should "revert back to a 1950 setup, where anyone that mattered was located downtown" shows a stunning level of ignorance, regardless of whether you are talking about city and/or suburban dwellers. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1096 Registered: 04-2006 |
^I don't think he was necessarily speaking about Detroit in particular. | ||
Jdkeepsmiling Member Username: Jdkeepsmiling Post Number: 277 Registered: 01-2006 |
Good idea on Flagstar. That would show their commitment to the area. I also get frustrated when I drive through Southfield and I see all the regional offices of those banks. They should be downtown. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1837 Registered: 10-2003 |
Urbanize, why in the hell would Better Made move from an ideal site that it has had on the eastside since the '30s (with plenty of dock and storage space) to a cramped downtown site? I think many of you play WAY too much Sim City. (P.S. -- Hungry Howie's pizza is the WORST, even worse than Domino's! I don't see that company growing much.) | ||
Crew Member Username: Crew Post Number: 1310 Registered: 02-2004 |
Masco Lear Whirlpool | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1478 Registered: 02-2007 |
Fury13, if that company was to grow Corporate like Frito-Lay (we already know it's a growing company), I'm sure that they would want to be in a Corporate Environment to handle that end of the affairs well away from The ghetto of Harper and Gratiot. I didn't mean their industrial part as well if that's what you were thinking. That's fine at Harper and Gratiot. (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1479 Registered: 02-2007 |
Crew, Whirlpool, Lear, Masco? could your elaborate on your proposal? | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1839 Registered: 10-2003 |
Great suggestions, Crew... although, if Whirlpool located its HQ here, it would really devastate Benton Harbor. | ||
Tkelly1986 Member Username: Tkelly1986 Post Number: 326 Registered: 01-2004 |
Whirlpool will not go be moving any time soon. That is the entire economy of St. Joe/Benton Harbor and they have been there 100 years. In addition, they have tried to be a good will company in the light of racial tension between the two cities by investing more into them. | ||
Crew Member Username: Crew Post Number: 1313 Registered: 02-2004 |
OK, then I'll change it to: Masco Lear TRW Automotive | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1480 Registered: 02-2007 |
Tkelly is right. Just like if someone proposed that the corporate end of Kellogg's moved to Detroit. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 998 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote: My mistake. I guess I should have realized that despite this being a "Discuss Detroit" thread, it really is nothing more than a generic, hypothetical circle jerk over the absurd notion that somehow major employers can be convinced to relocate their headquarters to downtowns for reasons that have nothing to do with their business needs. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1842 Registered: 10-2003 |
C'mon, Mikeg, it's Sim City! | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 972 Registered: 10-2003 |
Come spend some time working out at Telegraph and Nowhere where I work, and you'll know a few reasons why people would want to work in downtowns. Know what's in walking distance for me? More generic office buildings with no food or retail, like the one I'm in. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1097 Registered: 04-2006 |
"My mistake. I guess I should have realized that despite this being a "Discuss Detroit" thread, it really is nothing more than a generic, hypothetical circle jerk over the absurd notion that somehow major employers can be convinced to relocate their headquarters to downtowns for reasons that have nothing to do with their business needs." Now ya got it! Join the fun! | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3181 Registered: 02-2005 |
Oh yeah, Mikeg, I'm just so ignorant that I forgot that most Detroiters/metro Detroiters used to be in manufacturing and thus worked in factories which clearly weren't downtown. The first thing you could do, in this case, to make my statements make sense, would be to insert "Detroit" wherever I said "downtown." Or, you could look at the context-- and I clearly was not talking about industrial jobs-- and acknowledge the fact that downtown was, at that time, THE financial district and preferred corporate HQ location for the region, and had a massive share of the white collar workers in the region. Think of all the doctors offices that were down there, and even more law offices than today. Basically, anyone who could work downtown then indeed did work downtown. As Johnlodge verifies, working in downtown would give much more meaning to someone's day to day existence. Do you agree with this point of mine, or is also part of my alternative universe which my ignorance has allowed me to create? | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1846 Registered: 10-2003 |
I marvel at the statement that working downtown will add "much more meaning" to the lives of everyone who toils in the CBD. I don't know about other folks, but meaning and enlightenment has been added to my life through literature, good music, great art, and interesting conversations with people. Meaning has not been added to my life simply by working downtown. I will say though, that working downtown does make a significant dent in my wallet through parking fees. That's probably about the extent of the impact that working downtown has had on me. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3183 Registered: 02-2005 |
Absolutely, Fury13, and you have such good access to music/art/culture in general in Auburn Hills or Canton. Conversations with people? You have access to a lot more people in a functioning city than in an office park. So would you quit at Rock Financial if your boss told you your office was moving downtown? Clearly the cost to park would be the kicker? And clearly, if you work downtown, it is imperative that you drive a car, because that is the absolute only means to get downtown, and downtown housing is hard to find in any city, let alone Detroit. You may not feel that working/spending time in an urban environment enhances your existance at all, that's fine (although it does captivate many people), but tell me all the redeeming aspects that would come from working on an island in a sea of parking lots in the middle of nowhere? There's no way it beats a city, unless free parking means that much to ya. (Message edited by mackinaw on July 06, 2007) | ||
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field Post Number: 739 Registered: 10-2003 |
Look at Chicago to see what happens when people, businesses and government choose centralization over sprawl. Are there negatives to extreme density and centralization? Yes, but IMO the positives outweigh them by a long shot. When you have to accomodate so many people in one place, you just have to do things differently, and it ends up being more expensive. Companies go out of their way to locate in central Chicago or have some kind of a branch there, just so they can be closer to a huge talent pool. And look at the stuff that city is doing. Constructing towers with world class architecture by world class architects, creating world class urban spaces. Persuing the summer olympics. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1485 Registered: 02-2007 |
That should of been Detroit's Olympics (those darn Riots!) | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1848 Registered: 10-2003 |
"That should of been Detroit's Olympics (those darn Riots!)" "Should of"? Urbanize, what are you trying to say? Your sentence makes no sense... if you are indeed using English. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1849 Registered: 10-2003 |
And Mackinaw, yeah, free parking means THAT much to me. Mind_field, I agree with you about Chicago, but your comparison is not relevant. We're talking about metro Detroit here, the Anti-City, the City That Doesn't Work. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1099 Registered: 04-2006 |
>We're talking about metro Detroit here, the Anti-City, the City That Doesn't Work. No wonder it's dying...? | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1850 Registered: 10-2003 |
It's been dying since 1955. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1487 Registered: 02-2007 |
"That should HAVE been Detroit's Olympics (that darn riot)" "Should of"? Urbanize, what are you trying to say? Your sentence makes no sense... if you are indeed using English." At the time, Detroit was a World-Class City, also Detroit was able to compete with cities like Chicago. With the upcoming Olympics arriving, our turn for an Olympics bid would have come back around (I think you can bid every 20 years). The population was projected to be 5 Million and Detroit was projected to still be a World Class City. So that's what I saying. I'm not trying to start a new discussion in my own thread though. (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1851 Registered: 10-2003 |
Urbanize, I simply do not understand your grammatical usage of English, that's all. Are you 17? (Or should I say, "R U 17?") http://wsu.edu/~brians/errors/couldof.html (Message edited by Fury13 on July 06, 2007) | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1488 Registered: 02-2007 |
Detroit became sick with "The Urban Sprawl Syndrome" in 1955 and in 1967, it started dying from "The White Flight Disease". (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) (Message edited by Urbanize on July 06, 2007) | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1852 Registered: 10-2003 |
http://wsu.edu/~brians/errors/ couldof.html | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3184 Registered: 02-2005 |
So, Fury, you tell us that art/music/literature add meaning to life. I'm assuming that buildings that are works of art, that can only be found in downtowns of great cities, like the Buhl, Guardian, or Penobscot in Detroit, would fall into this category? Surely they have meaning, whereas a new stand-alone complex in the suburbs, or anywhere for that matter, really doesn't do anything. You appear to take that highroad, but then you say that you'd decide where you work/open your business/make your living/etc based on the availibility of free parking. Interesting. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1855 Registered: 10-2003 |
Mackinaw, I've worked downtown since 1998. I've been coming downtown since I was a kid -- for over 40 years. Architecture happens to be one of my great interests and hobbies, and yes, great architecture does enrich the soul. I do enjoy seeing Detroit's architectural wonders when I'm downtown. Does seeing that great architecture downtown every business day of the week enrich my soul enough so that it makes up for the great expense of parking? Almost. | ||
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field Post Number: 740 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm sick of people who state or imply that the city is crap and just throw their hands up in the air and walk away. Yes, Detroit has severe problems. Will there be setbacks in the future? Of course. But giving up is weak. There is a momentum gaining in the city now, and there are people with money, power, and the ability who want to make Detroit a city that DOES work, and the anti(anti-city). Running away solves NOTHING! It must be severely frustrating at times to fight the good fight for Detroit. Change for the better is happening downtown, and hopefully that change will become a regional mindset and not just the trailblazing of a pioneering few. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1856 Registered: 10-2003 |
OK, Mind_field. At my jaded age, I'll become a believer in the great potential of Detroit if you can tell me that: 1) We'll have a real mass transit system in the not-too-distant future (and a real transit system includes light or commuter rail). 2) Our economy will diversify and we won't rely anymore on only one industry (a dying one at that). 3) Racial tensions in Detroit will heal and people of all ethnic backgrounds will live together and share political power. 4) The Detroit Police will patrol neighborhoods more effectively (to the point of actually putting walking "beat cops" on the street) and reduce violent and property crime to levels similar to those in Birmingham or Ann Arbor. 5) The Detroit school system will be committed to real education that exceeds statewide norms, and to preparing every student for graduation and progression to trade schools or colleges. 6) Residents and visitors will be concerned about cleanliness, maintenance and upkeep of public and private property in Detroit. Ordinance and code violators will have to make repairs or pay up. Those six points would be a good place to start for me to become truly optimistic about the future of Detroit. I used to be more optimistic, but have seen too many failures and too little action. Some lip service has been given to the above points over the past 30 years, but lip service does not equal action. It seems that, for action, you have to go to New York or Chicago. (Message edited by Fury13 on July 06, 2007) | ||
Izzadore Member Username: Izzadore Post Number: 45 Registered: 11-2006 |
I'm going to take this into another service sector. Corporate HQ's are a good thing but the Detroit area, and its throngs of retires will be needing Wealth Management companies to polish there nest eggs. These places usually pay extremely well, employ the highly educated and can carry a workforce of thousands that may take up 1/3 of an office tower. There are Wealth management companies around Detroit's suburbs (Like Robert Baird OR William Blair OR Man Group.) Once they have the need to grow they may look downtown too. They may not get the fanfare because they generally like to stay low-key. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3186 Registered: 02-2005 |
That is a good point, and I think that that is a growing industry, Izzadore. Social Security will either change, go away, or just stop paying at some point in the next couple decades. Americans save much less of their income than they should, and only now are a decent amount of people starting to realize the importance of saving. On top of all of this, there will be more elderly people than ever over the next couple decades. Wealth managment is a great industry, and I anticipate that specialty banks that specialize in financial planning will grow. One example is the Private Banking Group (I think that might be its actual name)-- they have the Bank of Ann Arbor, Bank of Grosse Pointe, Bank of ____...I think this is an example of what you want to see grow. One thing we can't forget, too, is that with more business going on downtown, and more desire for people to live and/or work there, a lot of new professional offices (lawyers and doctors) will move down there, and as a collectivity they could amount to thousands of new workers in the next decade or so. ...okay Fury, you're not crazy. | ||
Deteamster Member Username: Deteamster Post Number: 7 Registered: 07-2007 |
Working downtown has enhanced my life at least a little. I work at Asian Village(we're getting ready for the big open). Living in Midtown, I ride my bike to work. When Michigan weather takes a turn for the worse, I take the bus. I never have to drive, put up with traffic, park, nada. I get to eat fresh sushi on the Riverwalk at lunch and dinner. Doesn't that sound nice? It's all about commute, commute, commute to me. I doubt I'm entirely alone. If downtown, the Riverfront, Brush Park, etc. continue to become more desirable places to live, it seems to me people would be morons not to move if their jobs were downtown. Everyone cheers when gas goes under $3.00 a gallon...just wait...a couple years from now they'll be waiting in line for gas under $4.00 a gallon. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1505 Registered: 02-2007 |
That's great Detamster. We should encourage more Bike Commuters too with the Gas Prices. If they did live in Closer Proximity to their Jobs, they could ride their bikes back and forth to work like you and a few others. It would help the environment as well. However, there will be Morons (many) that will just be too stubborn to move downtown or in Midtown. You can't worry about them though. | ||
Jb3 Member Username: Jb3 Post Number: 118 Registered: 06-2007 |
HQ's are great and i welcome them, but Detroit needs to push technology & R&D. Especially in the transportation department. Manufacture is great as well, but for the most part that time has passed. I would encourage fashion companies to come to the D as well. Alot of our good designers end up moving out of town. Oh! how about WB Donor? Not exactly thousands of people, but the young creative types add alot to the atmosphere of a city and they demand innovative housing, restaraunts and retail. I say Detroit should be going after a big advertising firm. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 1102 Registered: 04-2006 |
>It's been dying since 1955. No argument there. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1858 Registered: 10-2003 |
"However, there will be Morons (many) that will just be too stubborn to move downtown or in Midtown. You can't worry about them though." Plenty of "morons" want more than a condo/apartment with no backyard, or a small house on a 30 X 100 lot. Sorry. | ||
Deteamster Member Username: Deteamster Post Number: 9 Registered: 07-2007 |
Ah yes, so they opt for a McMansion at 31 Mile, a convenient 30 minutes from everywhere. Still morons. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1531 Registered: 02-2007 |
lol Deteamster. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3188 Registered: 02-2005 |
Modern suburban living is moronic. Poorly designed, poorly built houses in poorly designed townships where your car is absolutely neccessary at all times, thereby requiring you to have a gasoline pipeline that sends fuel your way and a large chunk of your budget the other way. None of this is moronic at all. | ||
Fury13 Member Username: Fury13 Post Number: 1860 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm not a proponent of "modern suburban living." Believe it or not, I love the idea of having an urban lifestyle (although it won't work for me at this stage of my life). I also believe that inner-ring suburbia (Ferndale, Royal Oak, Dearborn, etc.) provides a great quality of life, as does rural living. No, you won't see me advocating for more exurbs. However, what I feel is paramount is that people should continue to have the freedom of choice to choose their own lifestyle. And remember, for every exurbanite that you call a "moron," there is one of them that sees your city lifestyle as unsafe, cramped, inconvenient, and clamorous. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3190 Registered: 02-2005 |
One of us is in the right though. Somebody is a moron. I know you weren't advocating exurbia. We stretched your statement. | ||
Ray Member Username: Ray Post Number: 918 Registered: 06-2004 |
We should at least have the ad agencies, accounting firms and law firms downtown. I recently spoke to a young guy at one of the major ad agencies with offices in the suburbs. He said that the younger folks were dying to move downtown but that the 55+ year olds found the idea incomprehensible. I think we have a generational gap with the split at about 1960. These guys in their 50s and 60s don't get it. They've never lived in a successful city like Chicago. Their only experience with cities is Detroit and in their narrow minds "City" equals bad. They see no value in being downtown, only cost of parking and a longer commute. Right now, this older generation is firmly in control of the companies based in Southeast Michigan. But the clock is ticking and their use-by dates are expiring. Once this group has been eliminated, the more city-friendly generation behind them will really fuel a downtown revival. | ||
Wazootyman Member Username: Wazootyman Post Number: 228 Registered: 02-2006 |
There are lots of jobs, particularly in R & D that will never be "downtown". Any engineering firm I have worked for has always existed in a single-story sprawled building with easy access to rail/highway transportation. I suppose this is partially because most of these firms also had on-site manufacturing. Mackinaw - I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at. But, I think I see what you're saying...and it's part of a tired argument around here. Why is it assumed that urban living is the "right" way to live, and that suburban living is stupid, irresponsible and boring. Urban living appeals to many - and that's great. But some of us really like living in the 'burbs. You're making a lot of generalizations and assuming that high density is the key to true happiness. My girlfriend, who works for Quicken, is dreading the potential move downtown. It will take a short 5 minute drive within Livonia and make it a lousy 20-30 minute drive, depending on traffic. When and if public transportation comes, it still will be more hassle and expense than her present commute. I assure you that for as many people that will be excited by a move, just as many will be upset by the commute. Oh, and what about the taxes? Sounds like a cut in wages to me. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 1542 Registered: 02-2007 |
"Mackinaw - I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at. But, I think I see what you're saying...and it's part of a tired argument around here. Why is it assumed that urban living is the "right" way to live, and that suburban living is stupid, irresponsible and boring. Urban living appeals to many - and that's great. But some of us really like living in the 'burbs. You're making a lot of generalizations and assuming that high density is the key to true happiness." In other words, many like the simple life of the Bradys and Cleavers compared to the Ricardos and Cunninghams. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 1001 Registered: 12-2005 |
By Jove, I think Ray and his deep-thinking young friend at the ad agency have figured it all out! The only thing standing in the way of downtown Detroit's revival is a bunch of narrow-minded, suburban, 55+ year old rubes. "Eliminate" this group and downtown will flourish! | ||
Deteamster Member Username: Deteamster Post Number: 10 Registered: 07-2007 |
I agree with you Fury 13. I grew up in an inner-ring suburb. I'm no hippie, but I think its just becoming apparent we need to reassess the way we live as Americans. Before, bigger was better. A yard and a big house for a family are still what I'm shooting for. But nobody needs 4000 square feet. And several acres makes sense in the country...but not in the "suburbs" and spending an hour a day driving to work. | ||
Ffdfd Member Username: Ffdfd Post Number: 104 Registered: 09-2006 |
quote: OK, we get it. When Mackinaw grow up he wants to live in a city. Maybe even Detroit. My only worry is that having an insufferable know-it-all move in is going to exacerbate flight. | ||
Jb3 Member Username: Jb3 Post Number: 130 Registered: 06-2007 |
Johnlodge, that was a good one. This is my favorite though.  | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 3355 Registered: 10-2004 |
quote: In essence, QL may just extort some extra dough--incentives--from the real taxpayers in Detroit (those not beholding to special interests). Then QL could pay its employees extra in order to compensate. Thus, QL would serve as an intermediary tax collector when the real taxpayers either pay more taxes down the line or Detroit's already huge bonded debt increases and the debt service costs to the taxpayers increases. Free lunches for some cost others... | ||
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field Post Number: 745 Registered: 10-2003 |
This is the kind of business that we need to try and attract downtown. And many more like it! | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1903 Registered: 12-2003 |
Somewhat off topic, but still of interest: http://www.metromodemedia.com/ innovationnews/ParkingCarma%20 0026.aspx | ||
Tkelly1986 Member Username: Tkelly1986 Post Number: 343 Registered: 01-2004 |
Sounds like a good addition....we need to attract the big and small..And a company from out of state is ideal. With QL, it would be great if they can attract business from out of state to come down town with them, something like their old partner Intuit Inc or another Palo Alto type firm (tech firms galore out there) | ||
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field Post Number: 746 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jsmyers, that post isn't off topic at all. It couldn't be more ON topic. Hopefully, parkingKarma chooses Detroit for their corporate headquarters. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 1090 Registered: 10-2003 |
Poor Flint. | ||
Optima Member Username: Optima Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2006 |
What enticements, other than the much overused tax abatements, can/should Detroit offer to potential investors or those contemplating business relocation? (Message edited by optima on July 13, 2007) |
