  Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2008 |
Hey everyone. I'm new here. I'm looking to move to Detroit soon. Does anyone know if the Leland Hotel still rents apartment units? I know they used to because a friend of mine was living there but that was some time ago. | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 1535 Registered: 11-2005 |
It does, but why would you want to live there? In this market, you can find much better and cleaner places for cheap. | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2008 |
wow has it gotten that bad? I remember it being decent last time i was there about 5-6 years ago. That's too bad coz i really love the building. | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 1538 Registered: 11-2005 |
Here ya go: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hot el_Review-g42139-d89998-Review s-The_Leland-Detroit_Michigan. html http://travel.yahoo.com/p-revi ews-357672-prod-hotel-action-r ead-ratings_and_reviews-i;_ylt=AukDMab9swhvWoo6DBjSJVni phQB A taste of the hotel part of the Leland: "This Hotel was the worst I have ever experianced. Air conditioner didn't work, No hot water pressure in shower,Sleeping on the floor would have been softer than the bed. TV went out. Hallways smelled like urine, People smoking in the elevators, Throwing up outside the main doors. There was a Rave party going on." "There were "stains" all over the futon.. i have no idea (well maybe a little) of what they were... the bathrooms are worse than a KOA campground.." | ||
401don Member Username: 401don Post Number: 871 Registered: 11-2007 |
However the architectural details are really quite impressive.  | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2008 |
Yeah i was just looking at some of the reviews of the hotel. I used to frequent the city Club Several times i ended up staying over night in the hotel and i never experienced any of that. I remember the elevators were iffy and the stairs seemed a little less than safe but the rooms always seemed okay. If they have let i tgo that bad then that's really too bad. It has alot of history. It's sad to see they're letting it go so downhill. Do you know anything about the John R apartments over by comerica Park? I was interested in there also but i saw a thread on here with a link to another thread about the Detroit leasing company but the thread ws no longer available so i couldn't see what it said. | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 1539 Registered: 11-2005 |
Dae won, how much are you looking to spend? | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2008 |
Well probably no more than 600. I might end up having to be on disalblity so i would only be able to work part time. So yeah the cheaper the better *LOL*. Plus the Joh R Apartments included utilities which sounded like a bonus. I also see the fyfe apartments have a studio that looks okay. | ||
Cycledetroit Member Username: Cycledetroit Post Number: 63 Registered: 09-2008 |
Dae won, the detroit leasing company is hit or miss. You really need to look at a couple units, some are nice, some are really bad. Also.. you can bargain with them.. when we were looking they started at 700 and when we left they were down to 550 and that included utilities. The location of the John R apartments is great for what you pay. You might also want to check Hamtramck, you can rent a whole house for 600.00. If you want to be downtown, and you dont have dogs, there are a lot of options around 800 and up. We just found a great 2bedroom in Corktown for under 800, and we couldnt be happier. We were looking for the last 2 months, if you have any questions we can probably answer them(we looked at most of the rentals available downtown). You can email me at cycledetroit at gmail.com GOODLUCK | ||
Cycledetroit Member Username: Cycledetroit Post Number: 64 Registered: 09-2008 |
Our flat in hamtramck is 450/month, we are moving out dec. 15th. email me if you are interested, we can send you pics. | ||
Alley Member Username: Alley Post Number: 805 Registered: 02-2008 |
You can find much better--Leland is not very clean, and tons of sketchy (at best) people live or hang there. I definitely wouldn't recommend it! | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2008 |
i probably WAS one of those sketchy people when i hung out at the club every weekend *LOL* | ||
Legsdiamond Member Username: Legsdiamond Post Number: 56 Registered: 01-2005 |
I'm looking for some pics of the Leland. I seem to remember on post on Detroitblog, but a search proved unsuccessful. Anyone have any pics or a link? Thanks. | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2008 |
they gouged me one time on new years eve. i had locked my keys in my car and didn't realize it till we were leaving *LOL* ... it was 3m on new years and getting anyone to come open my door was hopeless so we were stuck. They got me for 175 i thin. still it was better than being out in the cold i guess *LOL* | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 750 Registered: 11-2003 |
A friend of mine is looking for a place and as of last week The Leland has a waiting list for apartments. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 2278 Registered: 03-2008 |
Have any of you guys known anyone who has lived there, or are you just reading reviews (which are usually negative either way). We were considering the Leeland for our temp place (one month), before our friends offered to help. It's not as bad as people say, but isn't good either. I'd like the above posters to point out the better places for cheaper in the Central Business District (CBD), because I couldn't really find any. It's the best size for the price (you can not get a cheaper one bedroom with full kitchen and walk-in closet in the CBD). I emphasize CBD. Go just across the freeway, and you will find much cheaper one bedrooms. Last I checked, it was $465 a month (month by month, all utilities and parking included) for a reasonably large one bedroom in the Leeland. That is about the price of a tiny studio at Fyfe, Park, or Town. PS: I'm guessing all of those buildings would not turn you down for bad credit. Although, I don't know everything that has changed since the mortgage crisis hit. (Message edited by Sean_of_Detroit on November 23, 2008) | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 1542 Registered: 11-2005 |
How much is the Trolley Plaza (or whatever it is the kids are calling it these days)? Town Apartments? | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 2280 Registered: 03-2008 |
Prices change quickly in this market, but this will give you an idea of the buildings in the CBD. Consider it a sliding scale from cheapest to most expensive (quality is relative to the renter's needs). 1. Leeland Building 2. Town Apartments 3. Park Apartments 4. Fyfe Apartments 5. New Cadillac Square 6. Claridge House 7. Washington Square (formally Trolley Plaza) 8. Riverfront Towers 9. Millender Center 10. Woodward Center 11. Merchant's Row There are also more than three senior living buildings, and various for sale condos. Beyond that, there are also random lofts on Harmony Park, Woodward, Greektown, and Bricktown. See if you can get a copy of the "Metro Times", or contact a search site or leasing agent for help. | ||
Alley Member Username: Alley Post Number: 809 Registered: 02-2008 |
Yes, SOD, I know/knew people that live/lived there. I'm not in the habit of talking out of my ass based on other people's opinions. The clubbers are fine and dandy, it's some of the scary residents that concern me. | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 2283 Registered: 03-2008 |
Alley, that wasn't personal. We just know very little about each other, that's all. Besides, you didn't post the 3rd party reviews. It seems like every Detroit apartment building has bad reviews. Most people who go and post reviews, only do it if they have a bad experience. Although, some buildings have been working on changing this. Usually by either changing their names, conducting surveys, or giving incentives to every resident that posts (good or bad). I really respect your comments. I was just adding my 2 cents (which is either less or equal to everyone else's, but never more). I also agree that there are valid reason it is so cheap. However, it is a great place for low income young people to enter the Downtown job and apartment latter. Those cheaper places sometimes make you pay for parking; and the lack of transit often requires owning a car. The shady characters are there because there is more supply than demand for this type of housing in the CBD. The Leeland also serves as a nice safety net for a number of people (demand will rise). It just seems like it is what it is, you know? PS: This type of place is needed, but I am not defending Leeland's management practices. (Message edited by Sean_of_Detroit on November 24, 2008) | ||
Flyingj Member Username: Flyingj Post Number: 361 Registered: 08-2006 |
John R Apartments. the Hotel Yorba is a better song, homemade Samurai songs or not; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =NXmF3an6kYI | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2008 |
I don't know if i would really be interested in a luxury place anyway. "Luxury" really isn't my thing...Long as i have a roof over my head and it's not crumbling down i'm happy *LOL*...Sketchy people don't really bother me anyway...I grew up in Warrendale so unsavory characters don't bother me long as they don't give me too much crap and i'm not getting shot at every day...I dunno maye i'm just odd *LOL* | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 2151 Registered: 08-2007 |
Dae Won, you sure do laugh-out-loud LOL a lot. Are you Kwame perchance? Looking for a little place for youz and your ladiez? SOD, I think the problem regular folks have with the Leland, it that is promotes itself as a regular hotel and not a hostel or flophouse or junkie detox center. Imagine being Mr. Tighty-Whities from DesMoines and booking a room there. Mr. TW thinks he's getting a hotel, instead he gets vomit in the hallways, real-life vampires banging on his door at 4AM, mold on his pillow and no refund when he complains. Now imagine some poor sap who books a room for his family. The Leland's no place for 4 year olds. | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2008 |
ooo was Kwame n LOL'er? hehe...I'm sure most people have some other choice words for him hah... Okay now at the risk of sounding ignorant...what's "SOD"? You know you would think most normal vacationing people like that would choose the holiday inn just down the road *LOL*...just steps away from Tubby's...MMMMM tasty hehe... and people can vomit all they want long as it's not on my doorknob *LOL* ... But yeah it has it's pluses like being cheap and right in the city and AT the city club...not to mention the convenience of something that passes for a diner right in the lobby that's open all night...the pluses for me are better than the minuses...i can deal with a few junkies and soe less than pristine conditions...but hey nothing is ever perfect :-) | ||
Eastsideal Member Username: Eastsideal Post Number: 74 Registered: 10-2007 |
The Leland was operating for a time under the Ramada name, so it naturally got a fair amount of guests from the "tighty-whities" crowd of folks who booked it on Travelocity or somewhere and expected good 'ol American style no-surprises accommodations. We had clients who booked in there unknowingly, and after the stories we got back from the first terrified group we steered people away from it. Believe me, business travelers and folks in to see a Tigers game or visit the casinos are not expecting an urban travelogue type of experience. In any event, for the money they were charging for hotel rooms people really should have gotten better accommodations. We used to read the hilariously awful reviews of it on the travel sites for fun. But Detroit really had very few nice places to stay for a while there (Ren Cen, Atheneum, not much else). The Ponch turned into a low maintenance nightmare (one of our clients even got a room with a sink that wasn't connected to the drain - management response: "We'll try to send someone up to look at it on Monday. There's an ice bucket in your room, use that") and don't even get me started on the St. Regis. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 7545 Registered: 08-2004 |
The Leland Hotel opened in 1927, and was built by Rapp & Rapp, the famous Chicago architects who designed movie palaces... such as the nearby Michigan Theatre/Building, the Chicago Theatre, and the Royal Oak Music Theatre/Building. The Leland was designed in an Italian Renaissance style, and its' public spaces are still in good condition. | ||
Evelyn Member Username: Evelyn Post Number: 352 Registered: 02-2005 |
I lived in the Ramada (before it became the Leland) for three years. The rent was cheap, but the landlords were jerks. If something broke, you had to fix it yourself. This became a problem when my bathroom ceiling collapsed. Living there had its moments, and it was great being so close to downtown, but eventually the decent people started to move out, due to the general chaos of the place, and the lazy maintenance guys. Also, the landlords had power/control issues- if they were in a bad mood, they'd put notes under everyone's door, reminding us that we didn't have leases, and therefore could be evicted with no notice. If you don't mind weirdness, I'd say go for it. But if shoveling wet plaster out of your bathtub isn't your idea of a good time, I'd say keep looking. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 1541 Registered: 11-2003 |
Doesn't Michael Higgins still own the Leland? Higgins has for decades owned the perpetually "will soon be renovated" David Broderick Tower, for those of you who don't know. | ||
1kielsondrive Member Username: 1kielsondrive Post Number: 598 Registered: 08-2008 |
I wouldn't stay in a Higgins property if he paid me. He ranks up there with the worst landlords/property owners in Detroit. Take others advice from here and seek another place to live. | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2008 |
Well i hadn't relly "decided" on the Leland...It was just in the running...cycledetroit recommend also the Cadillac Square Apartments...I took alook at the site and the place looks clean and it said paid utilities so i'll check them out too and see what the prices are actually like...Hs anyone hd any experience with Cadillac Square Apartments? (Message edited by dae_won on November 25, 2008) | ||
Ashdetroit Member Username: Ashdetroit Post Number: 35 Registered: 08-2008 |
Dae_won, would you consider living north of downtown? In Midtown, the Phoenix apartments are older, but clean and well-kept--I live a few streets away and almost moved there. I think they rent from 385-585. They also own a building called the Rinaldo on Willis. There are a lot of nice buildings around here for your price. | ||
Dustin89 Member Username: Dustin89 Post Number: 269 Registered: 07-2006 |
I have to say that I appreciate the threads that often pop up on DYes regarding apartment-hunting...as someone who plans to move to Detroit within the next few years, I find the wide variety of comments posted here helpful. Combined with physical, on-site experiences, other reviews, and word-of-mouth, DYes definitely helps to give an idea of where the legit places to live are. I'm always interested to hear about little apartment buildings I had never heard of, especially in Midtown, that tenants are very happy with. I guess the moral of the story is that there are deals to be had & "best-kept secrets" all over the place. | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2008 |
Thanks Ash...I'll e around the area tomorrow looking for places to apply for a job at so i'll probably check them out. They do look nice on their web sites. One of them said it had a little private courtyard with a grill. That was very appealing to me since i'm an avid griller in the summer time *LOL* I think i'm leaning a little more towards the cadillac square apartments though at the moment coz there's a restaurant and a convenience store right in the lobby and it's walking distance to campus martius...and not too far from a people mover station..nd not to mention the price with paid utilities *LOL* ... I would still like to look at more though before deciding for sure... | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2008 |
Hi Dustin. Yeah these guys on here are great. Willing to help and lots of info :-) | ||
Ocean2026 Member Username: Ocean2026 Post Number: 36 Registered: 11-2008 |
Well if the poster Rhymes is correct and the halls all smell like urine- save some bucks and get a room without a bathroom. When in Rome... LOL | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 16 Registered: 11-2008 |
haha yeah bathrooms are over rated anyways :-) | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 2363 Registered: 03-2008 |
Dae_won, so how's the search going? Gnome, yeah... agreed. However, it's very different when you're looking for an apartment. The fact that the Leland doesn't really advertise much means that most people have heard of it through word of mouth. | ||
Dae_won Member Username: Dae_won Post Number: 18 Registered: 11-2008 |
Hey there Sean...The search is going well and i have it down to 3 choices...(In no particular order although i AM leaning towards Cadillac Square apts) The Leland...John R apartments and cadillac square apartments...but i was hoping to have found a job by now so that's turning out to be a problem *LOL* |
