Discuss Detroit » Archives - January 2008 » Stripping at Free Press Building « Previous Next »
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Rhymeswithrawk
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Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 1211
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 7:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, I suppose it was only a matter of time, but someone broke a window on the Cass side of the Free Press Building at 321 W. Lafayette on Thursday. My friend encountered a scrapper entering the building last night. I drove by today to see if the entrance had been secured; it had not. Worse, if you look where the window was broken, you can see that scum has already started ripping pipe out of the walls.
The building had not been scourged by scavengers since the Freep left in July 1998. (Farbman Group bought it in 2001 and done nothing with it.)
But here is the saddest part: I have called Farbman several times, as have several friends, over the past few days, and it has done NOTHING to secure the building. And it wasn't like we left voice mail messages; we reached Farbman's security personnel.
This is the kind of neglect that just sickens me. The Freep Building was still in remarkable shape. The offices of John S. Knight and Neal Shine still looking like the day they left them. Now, because the Farbman security people I talked to told me that "they were not responsible for that building," who knows if this building will be saved.
I am disgusted with Farbman's response but I can't say that I am surprised. Yet another Detroit landmark soon to be demolished by neglect.
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Lilpup
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Username: Lilpup

Post Number: 4366
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 7:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Who did they say was responsible for the building security?
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Paulmcall
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Username: Paulmcall

Post Number: 1059
Registered: 05-2004
Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 7:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'm surprised there hasn't been a rise in vigilantism in the city. Sad to say, what else can stem to tide in property theft?
Unless you have armed guards, nothing can be protected and safe in the city.
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Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 1219
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 8:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'd board the damn thing up myself if I could fit plywood in my car.
Lilpup, the woman told me her security department was in charge of only buildings in use and that I had to call the Southfield offices for those not in use. Of course, this is Memorial Day weekend, so I wasn't able to get a hold of anyone. I left voice mails for the three highest-level executives anyway.
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Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 1221
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 12:59 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Drove by the Freep Building on my way home. Thank God, it's been boarded up. Of course, it's probably only a matter of time before some crackhead rips the board off. Still, better than nothing.
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Wood
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Username: Wood

Post Number: 60
Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 1:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

and it's only a matter of time before a suburban "urban explorer" goes in with his $800 DSLR and a tripod to photograph everything in its pristine condition and post them to his flickr stream so that every other suburban "urban explorer" will try to get in themselves, making it easier and more tempting for the scrappers and the vandals and the graffiti taggers.

(Message edited by wood on May 25, 2008)
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Paulmcall
Member
Username: Paulmcall

Post Number: 1061
Registered: 05-2004
Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 1:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Leave it there for years unattended yeah sure it will happen. That's a piss poor excuse for excusing what's going on now.
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Mortgageking
Member
Username: Mortgageking

Post Number: 71
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 2:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Phew....

I thought this thread was going to be about Susan Ager taking it all off.
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Downriviera
Member
Username: Downriviera

Post Number: 507
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 2:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mortageking,

lmao, touche.
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Dannyv
Member
Username: Dannyv

Post Number: 217
Registered: 08-2007
Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 5:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

snare hit, cymbal crash
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Sean_of_detroit
Member
Username: Sean_of_detroit

Post Number: 478
Registered: 03-2008
Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 6:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mortgageking,

LOL!
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Retroit
Member
Username: Retroit

Post Number: 135
Registered: 04-2008
Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 8:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

http://www.costar.com/costarco nnect/MasterPage/Main.aspx?Sit eID=21160&Checksum=32698

Looks like you can lease the entire building for $2,895,100 a year. Wonder if they'll come down on the rates any now that there's no water service?

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