  Esteban Member Username: Esteban Post Number: 91 Registered: 10-2003 |
Dear BI Aquarium friends, It is the intention of the present Detroit City administration to destroy the Belle Isle Aquarium. (Read the Detroit News article below.) When the administration closed it in 2005, there were few voices and no organization to come to the Aquarium's aid. Over the past three years, the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium have patiently organized and networked to counter threats to the Aquarium. To this end, you have to play your part. Please contact the Detroit City Council and the Mayor's Office and let them know in no uncertain terms that you strongly object to this proposal and demand that the institution be returned to its original function, that the Belle Isle Aquarium be reopened. Article: David Josar / The Detroit News DETROIT -- The Kilpatrick administration is moving ahead with plans to convert the shuttered Belle Isle Zoo and the Belle Isle Aquarium into new attractions that could feature gift shops, a carousel and X Games-like amenities with zip-lines and skateboard parks. Several members of the City Council want both facilities, which were closed in 2005 due to the city's fiscal crisis, to reopen but are starting to realize their dream may not mesh with the financial realities of the city and the desires of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. "We never should have closed," Councilwoman JoAnn Watson said Thursday morning. The aquarium, which had been the oldest operating aquarium when it was shuttered, had 4,000 species of fish that were dispersed to a variety of caretakers. The building was designed by Albert Kahn and had 110,000 visitors the year it closed. City planning director Marcell Todd said the cost, not citing a dollar figure, of reopening the facility have increased substantially because of deterioration of equipment that has occurred since the shutdown. The zoo and aquarium have been turned over to the Recreation Department. Interim Recreation Department Director Lawrence C. Hemingway said the department is looking at several plans for the facilities that include X Games-like activities. "The city doesn't' have anything like that," he said. The city has earmarked $1.5 million for renovations but the expenditure hasn't been forwarded to the council for final approval. The council will revisit the issue in September when the members return from their summer recess. You can reach David Josar at (313) 222-2073 or djosar@detnews.com Original article: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20080724/M ETRO/807240460/1409/METRO | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 3037 Registered: 09-2007 |
15 hours too late. https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/5/148701.html?1217030205 | ||
Esteban Member Username: Esteban Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks Detroitrise, I did do a search using "Aquarium" but nothing turned up. I shall use said thread. Once again, thanx! | ||
Reddog289 Member Username: Reddog289 Post Number: 478 Registered: 08-2007 |
King Kwame wants, King Kwame gets if not then his HIP HOP posse does it for him. | ||
Scooter2k7 Member Username: Scooter2k7 Post Number: 113 Registered: 10-2007 |
Go ahead tear it down, its ONLY history. Why does this city has such as disrespect for our city's glorious past? Nevermind the fact that Detroit has some of the most beautiful and inspiring architecture in the country! Tear it all down! I swear, this city would let the RenCen sit vacant! | ||
Mthouston Member Username: Mthouston Post Number: 1386 Registered: 01-2006 |
Tearing the Aquarium down would be a shame. Another nail in the coffin for Detroit. Have a look. http://www.360michigan.net/aqu arium.html | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 1261 Registered: 03-2008 |
Would the aquarium work as a occasional restaurant? Like for charity dinners, weddings, and such? Is it big enough? How much was admission when it was open? Edit: I'm talking about a one or two time charity gala type thing, not a four star aquarium themed restaurant, or anything like that. (Message edited by sean_of_detroit on July 26, 2008) | ||
Richard_bak Member Username: Richard_bak Post Number: 134 Registered: 04-2008 |
I'm wondering if Sarah Earley or Roger Penske could weigh in on this, use their influence and track record on the island to stop yet one more local landmark from disappearing. Didn't Albert Kahn design the aquarium? I know he did several bldgs. on Belle Isle. This city is beyond pathetic when it comes to preserving its past. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 5173 Registered: 02-2005 |
Where did you get "destroy" from that news? "Convert" doesn't make me think that it's going to be destroyed. | ||
Richard_bak Member Username: Richard_bak Post Number: 135 Registered: 04-2008 |
You're right. Convert doesn't necessarily mean destroy. Depends on the extent of the conversion. Guess a few of us are wary of past talk of converting some buildings that wound up being lost. | ||
Mama_jackson Member Username: Mama_jackson Post Number: 386 Registered: 06-2006 |
Yeah, they closed this beautiful building. It could be considered a teaching facility. But was closed in 2005 to supply money for the mayor's lavish lifestyle and whoring around. Smart, kk and klounsil, real smart. The up side of this is: it shouldn't take too much cash to rework everything to reopen, as long as the building itself is sound. (Message edited by mama_jackson on July 26, 2008) | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 1017 Registered: 10-2003 |
I can see the Belle Isle Aquarium as a seafood restaurant where you can pick a live fish from the tanks and have it prepared for you.  | ||
Buyamerican Member Username: Buyamerican Post Number: 669 Registered: 02-2007 |
Today's administration has no sense of Detroit history, it's not theirs. People who have lived in Detroit and their ancestors who were in Detroit in the 20's, 30's, 40's appreciate it. The administration doesn't appreciate it nor do they care to save it. So many of our fine mansions and buildings have been neglected or destroyed already, the legacy that was Detroit is no longer visible. What a shame, and shame on the past administration for 40 years or more for letting Detroit's history dissolve before our very eyes. | ||
Gambling_man Member Username: Gambling_man Post Number: 1100 Registered: 11-2003 |
Ed, most fish is no good when it is slaughtered and immediately cooked. You need to wait until rigor-mortis sets in........ | ||
Angry_dad Member Username: Angry_dad Post Number: 220 Registered: 02-2006 |
You know that somebody will propose and find a way to fund Joe Louis Arena being converted into an aquarium. That is after the Gordie Howe Hockeytown 30,000 seat arena is built nearby Comerica Park in the Kilpatrick sportszone district. Booby Ferguson construction is already preparing the garranteed low bid. Of course it would make more sense to renovate the Belle Isle site but that will soon be sold. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 1505 Registered: 01-2007 |
Buyamerican, amen to that^. |
