 
Southwestmap
Member
Username: Southwestmap
Post Number: 876
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 3:37 pm: |    |
This morning as I drove to work on Fort St. I noticed that the Free Press entrance to the Detroit Newspapers Building was filthy. Papers and debris and food strewn. Does no one pick up on weekends? Also, the Post office is always pretty bad. I think a main post office building should be a showplace - but Detroit's is shabby and dirty. I have a power washer and I use it. Why can't the Post office?
Recently I went in to the Comerica Bank on Fort to tell the manager that someone had dropped red slime on the sidewalk days previously and maybe Comerica should clean it up. He said he would get right on it, but a week later it was still there.
Any others belong in the easily-remedied (water and elbow grease)Hall of Shame? Does Penske has to do all the heavy lifting? |
Thejesus
Member
Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 1832
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 3:42 pm: | |
Not exactly the same thing, but it wouldn't have taken much to do something about the graffiti on the 1225 building... they could have just painted over it since the building is vacant anyway...
I know they're probably just going to wait until the renovation starts though |
Danindc
Member
Username: Danindc
Post Number: 3000
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 3:44 pm: | |
This is really sad, and indicative of a greater level of apathy. Every morning here in DC (and sometimes in the afternoon), tenants are always out on the sidewalks with a garden hose to spray the walks down and pick up trash. It doesn't matter if it's a small shopkeeper, restaurant owner, or custodial staff of a large office buildings--people keep the sidewalks and entries clean.
This is another instance where a downtown BID would be beneficial. But I suppose that's too easy of a solution. |
Iheartthed
Member
Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 1365
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 3:45 pm: | |
Don't they pay a fee to have Penske's team (or somebody) clean it? If you go to Times Square or some other heavy traffic district in NYC there are usually workers out there doing constant maintenance around the clock... and overnight they usually power wash the sidewalks. The business owners in the district pay a fee for that.
(Message edited by iheartthed on August 13, 2007) |
Spiritofdetroit
Member
Username: Spiritofdetroit
Post Number: 558
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 3:48 pm: | |
thejesus,the graffiti on 1225 have been taken care of and a new banner announcing the project is draped over the building |
Southwestmap
Member
Username: Southwestmap
Post Number: 877
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 3:50 pm: | |
I think that Penske's group wouldn't have to do so much if the owners did more on their own. I believe that soem businesses are contributing to Penske's effort, but money would go a lot farther if the owners were more proactive. A cleaner city is pretty important to our future.
By the way, I have worked downtown for 20 years and I've never seen sidewalks being powerwashed until Penske got on the job. |
Thejesus
Member
Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 1833
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 3:50 pm: | |
^well that's good....sure seems like it was there for a very long time though... |
Lilpup
Member
Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 2584
Registered: 06-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 3:54 pm: | |
hosing down sidewalks has never been a tradition in Detroit like it is in other cities
not to mention it's a MAJOR waste of water
sweep and be done with it |
Southwestmap
Member
Username: Southwestmap
Post Number: 879
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 4:00 pm: | |
I actually have a water broom. I understand that they are mandated in California and other arid regions. I think they are actually an efficient use of water for cleaning. And, the homeless urinate all around downtown. Sweeping is not a good choice. |
Iheartthed
Member
Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 1366
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 4:02 pm: | |
Plus sweeping does nothing to gum that has been walked over 10,000 times on a 90 degree day... |
Southwestmap
Member
Username: Southwestmap
Post Number: 880
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 4:11 pm: | |
I once had a next door neighbor who hosed down her porch and sidewalks and gutter very early in the morning on hot days. I carry on the tradition because it was so refreshing to step outside, and see the fresh clean street and feel the cool ions. She was from the south, so maybe she learned this at home. She is why I bought my Watermiser Broom, sending all the way to California for it.
I just wish the downtown landlords would try to be more supportive of Penske's grand dream. |
Detroitrulez
Member
Username: Detroitrulez
Post Number: 335
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 4:15 pm: | |
I stepped in what appeared to be human feces on the sidewalk near that burned out AAA building. How do I know it was human feces? Dogs don't eat corn.
In any event, a BID would certainly help get these reluctant property owners in line to keep their property and surrounding environs in better shape, that's for sure. Bring back the BID, particularly on Bagley and nearby streets radiating off of Grand Circus Parque. |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 5080
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 4:16 pm: | |
Keeping Detroit clean is worth the waste of water... around here it's not as though it's in short supply!  |
Mind_field
Member
Username: Mind_field
Post Number: 763
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 4:32 pm: | |
^you can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink (or however it goes, lol).
And this is the last year for Penske's clean downtown program, isn't it? I hope downtown doens't turn into a landfill again. |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 1708
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 4:36 pm: | |
The program was supposed to be a catalyst for a BID program. From Next Detroit's web site:
"The Clean Downtown initiative will build toward the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID). A BID allows property owners to assess themselves for services and amenities that they select and manage. A BID helps enhance regular city services." |
Detroitrulez
Member
Username: Detroitrulez
Post Number: 341
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 3:42 pm: | |
BUMP! Hose down those sidewalks, Detroit building owners. And that goes for you too, St. Anthony of Bagley. |
Detroitrulez
Member
Username: Detroitrulez
Post Number: 343
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 4:18 pm: | |
3rdWorldCity--I seem to recall you saying you were a property owner downtown. If so, do you power wash your sidewalks or do you wait for Roger Penske to come and do it? |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 5098
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 4:27 pm: | |
LMAO.... as usual, Detroitrulez is stepping into other peoples shit again...
Detroitrulez, when you bring your smartass tone to this forum, I wouldn't expect too many replies or respect. The only thing you can expect (as in the case of where you stepped).. is Karma...
(Message edited by Gistok on August 14, 2007) |
Detroitrulez
Member
Username: Detroitrulez
Post Number: 344
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 4:43 pm: | |
yeah, well if I spy a couple of 1x2 yellow and red plastic bricks studding the surface of scattered sidewalk piles after Saturday's theater tour I'll know who to blame. |
Dialh4hipster
Member
Username: Dialh4hipster
Post Number: 2133
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 4:53 pm: | |
You know what would do a LOT to improve the trash on the street situation downtown? If people who come down to Tigers games and other events from the suburbs wouldn't treat Detroit like their garbage can.
GUARANTEED the next morning after a game day there is trash all over the place downtown. Plastic cups, beer bottles, takeout food containers, the occasional lost clothing ... The club situation is similar, although usually it's only a million trashy fliers for other club nights littering the streets.
It wouldn't bother me quite as much if people from the suburbs weren't always complaining about how Detroit is such a dirty city. |
Rocket_city
Member
Username: Rocket_city
Post Number: 352
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - 5:11 pm: | |
I think it has a lot to do with attitude.
This morning as I was out walking past the Church's Chicken at Woodward and Forest, I witnessed a massive flock of seagulls and other birds in the sky and on the ground. Something was up, so I looked onto the property and someone in the back of the parking lot was completely emptying the dumpster of all of its contents...particularly the food and just dumping it on the ground.
I didn't go and confront the person, but this really pissed me off as the employees of the restaurant just sat inside looking at all the spaztic birds. It may seem petty, but it's also kind of a cleanliness issue that I don't want in my neighborhood.
So upon arriving at my apartment a few blocks away, low and behold there were a bunch of birds in the parking lot fighting over a biscuit. More angered, I picked up the trashed food and slammed it into the dumpster.
Downtown should have a new motto: Higher standards...lower tolerance.
What the hell was the point in emptying the dumpster in the first place? Maybe eventually all that crap will work its way down Woodward and settle north of Campus Martius. |
Eric_c
Member
Username: Eric_c
Post Number: 1021
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - 7:23 am: | |
My pet peeve is all the trash that appears outside the nightclubs. Owners should insist that the sidewalks are swept before the door is locked for the night. |
Southwestmap
Member
Username: Southwestmap
Post Number: 888
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - 9:38 am: | |
El Rancho Mexican Restaurant is a nice oasis - bright and clean. However, one evening, eating late, we watched a waitress sweep the entire floor of the restaurant, sweeping the little lobby last and then open the door on West Vernor and sweep the entire pile of debris onto the street. I continue to be amazed at this. I mean to write a note about it someday.
Maybe the owner of El Rancho is contributing to the West Vernor cleaning fund (which is very effective) but he has to do his own part too. |