Discuss Detroit » Archives - July 2007 » Possible new Convention Center in Pontiac at Silverdome site « Previous Next »
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Wilus1mj
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Username: Wilus1mj

Post Number: 226
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 4:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Interesting development plan for Silverdome site...certainly better than another soccer dome, race track, or casino.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/a pps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2007 1024/REG/71024005/1016/FREE
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Charlottepaul
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Username: Charlottepaul

Post Number: 1849
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 4:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

"The company plans to build a convention and conference center on the site along with a mixed-use research office and industrial park and a retail development. The site would be a phased development with 100,000 square feet developed at a time, according to bid documents released by the city."

Does seem like one of the better proposals
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Livernoisyard
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Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 4455
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 4:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The northerly shift of the center of gravity for metro Detroit's businesses might help Pontiac and the Silverdome. But unless there are adequate jobs for the nearly 5 million here, such developments would tend to be risky when consumers' disposable income declines or if people realize that they cannot sell their homes for what they want and flee the area anyway.
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Detroitrise
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Username: Detroitrise

Post Number: 346
Registered: 09-2007
Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 4:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

And people say SE Michigan would fall to pieces without Detroit (or something like that). Apparently SE Michigan feels differently about that. They would just shift the center of Gravity to Oakland County, as LY stated.

(Message edited by Detroitrise on October 24, 2007)
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Perfectgentleman
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Username: Perfectgentleman

Post Number: 4287
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 4:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Actually I read that the city of Pontiac was pretty underwhelmed with most of the proposals. Apparently many of them lacked requested information and many did not include the 100 grand deposit.
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Lowell
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Username: Lowell

Post Number: 4269
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 4:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sounds like a daft idea to me because there is nothing there, relatively speaking, compared to Cobo for big events -- no hotels, night life, casinos, Windsor, restaurants, etc. People coming to conventions are looking for a party.

For the size considered, it would face stiff competition from the Novi Rock Financial Showplace for smaller events.
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Livernoisyard
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Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 4457
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 4:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Conventions have lost their appeal some time ago. Too many cities were competing against others for convention centers, and then the buyer's remorse set it while those centers kept costing them money year after year...
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Yaktown
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Username: Yaktown

Post Number: 246
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 11:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lowell, there are plenty of hotels in the Opdyke corridor ranging from the Marriot Centrepoint all the way to the new Holiday Inn Express at Great lakes Crossing. As for nightlife, downtown Pontiac is just 5 minutes away. Casinos? Not everyone goes but hey, the Silverdome is right by I-75. In 30 minutes any willing gambler can be rolling dice. There are also plenty of restaurants in that area. In the last 7 years it has exploded in growth. It would be nice to also see some restaurants on that site, hopefully someone can figure out how to do that. I agree with your assessment concerning the Rock in Novi though. How many convention centers does the OC need?

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