Discuss Detroit » Archives - July 2008 » Detroit Semi Finalist - 2012-13 National Trust Convention « Previous Next »
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Gistok
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Username: Gistok

Post Number: 7104
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2008 - 5:25 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I got a call this morning from the President of Preservation Wayne. It looks like the Detroit Convention & Visitors Bureau along with help from Preservation Wayne, will be giving the site designation committee for The National Trust For Historic Preservation a tour of historic buildings (theatres/hotels/etc.) in downtown Detroit.

This is for determining the location of the 2012-13 National Trust For Historic Preservation Conference at Cobo Center.

I'll be giving a tour to the dignitaries on Tuesday at the Filmore (State) Theatre, with others giving tours of all the other downtown theatres and other historic buildings. 2 of the sites will be the Book-Cadillac, and the Fort-Shelby Hotels, which are hoped for as convention hotels. Other sites include the Detroit Club and the DAC.

Detroit has been narrowed down to one of 2 finalists, the other being Indianapolis.

Kudos to the Detroit Convention & Visitors Bureau and Preservation Wayne (and others) in trying to snag this important group of visitors.

Something tells me that Detroit's historic movie palaces (Indianapolis only has 1 major downtown movie palace) and the Book Cadillac will help tip the decision in our favor, but lets keep our fingers crossed!

Who knows, maybe even the United Artists Building/Theatre (shown as a derelect building with painted windows on the cover of one of their recent National Trust Magazine covers) may be restored by 2012 (or part of a Quicken complex)!

Gistok

(Message edited by Gistok on July 07, 2008)
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Rhymeswithrawk
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Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 1297
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2008 - 5:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Neato!
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Digitalvision
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Username: Digitalvision

Post Number: 955
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2008 - 11:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

DMCVB has been busting their tails to bring stuff in even in a tight economy and with bad press, and they've been successful for the most part.

Kudos to them, kudos to all.
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Hudkina
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Username: Hudkina

Post Number: 239
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 - 12:05 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

This is exactly the type of "tourism" the city was hoping for. Nobody was expecting to compete with the likes of Las Vegas with the casinos and other downtown developments, but we can compete with the likes of Indianapolis or San Antonio.
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Charlottepaul
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Username: Charlottepaul

Post Number: 2596
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 - 6:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Finally! Some good marketing to the right group is the best answer for tourism in Detroit. Cheers!
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Novine
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Username: Novine

Post Number: 584
Registered: 07-2007
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 6:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Novi just voted to demolish the city-owned farm house and barns that were on the National Register. City officials claimed that they didn't have the money to pay to restore the buildings. The demolition plan was crafted by McKenna and Associates out of Northville who recommended that tearing everything down and building a replica farmhouse and "village green" for $3 million was a better use of the property. That's Novi for you!
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Charlottepaul
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Username: Charlottepaul

Post Number: 2597
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 7:25 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah, it sure would be nice in 95% of demo cases for bldgs on a historic registry, if they had to go through some sort of extra process. If a board of national historians had to review their permits, for example.
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Gistok
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Username: Gistok

Post Number: 7111
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2008 - 1:42 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well the tour took place this morning, and my tour of the Filmore was between the visits to the Fox Theatre and Guardian Building. LiveNation also supplied a representative to explain how they operate their theatres.

The National Trust folks thought that the Filmore would make the perfect place to hold an entertainment bash (with dance floor) for the last night of their convention!

They were also extremely impressed with the Fox (who wouldn't be?)... and I told them that visiting their next stop (the Guardian Building)... it is arguably America's premier Art Deco bank building, and the lobby is like "Art Deco on LSD". :-)
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Sean_of_detroit
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Username: Sean_of_detroit

Post Number: 1055
Registered: 03-2008
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2008 - 2:50 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Gistok... AWESOME!

2012? Do you think there will still be abandoned buildings in the CBD in 2012? Anything without a plan by then, probably should really take a serious look at demolition, or forever remain a ruin. :-)

Hey, Gistok did you ever hear back about that thing? I still haven't gotten around to taking that tour, I'll try to give them a call soon.
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Rugbyman
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Username: Rugbyman

Post Number: 352
Registered: 06-2005
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2008 - 7:09 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

So can someone tell me why the State marquee says "Welcome 2020 Selection Committee"? I thought this was a 2012 operation.
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Plymouthres
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Username: Plymouthres

Post Number: 664
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Wednesday, July 09, 2008 - 8:50 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The SHPO is responsible for meteing out the preservation issues of structures in this state. In the cases cited, they have failed to do so.

Just like Fort Wayne. They are still arguing who has ownership of it rather than doing anything to adequately maintain the place while the issues are sorted out.

My experience is that the powers that be have had ample opportunity to protect and fund these structures, not only at Fort wayne, but throughout the town, and have failed to protect what are clearly significantly important structures. As these structures sit, empty and exposed to the elements for 20 years, they finally deteriorate to the point that privateers make stronger arguments(money) than preservationists.

In the end, they fall into the hands of the land grabbers, who continue to perpetuate their demise for personal gain.

These issues really should start at the top,but are often left to grassroots organizations to sort out.

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