  Crment Member Username: Crment Post Number: 49 Registered: 12-2003 |
Drove by today and the place is empty. | ||
Wormbookie Member Username: Wormbookie Post Number: 31 Registered: 05-2008 |
Awww, really? I had my wedding reception there when it was under different management. I think that was two owners ago. The food there was phenomenal and overlooked, IMO. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 1995 Registered: 11-2003 |
Empty as in nothing inside? They've changed owners and the only way to tell if it is closed is to go by there tonight. They normally don't open until after 4PM. They have an event scheduled tonight. If you drive by you won't see much on the "restaurant" side since they use that for the DJ and dancing etc. | ||
Crment Member Username: Crment Post Number: 50 Registered: 12-2003 |
Nothing inside. | ||
Melody Member Username: Melody Post Number: 266 Registered: 11-2007 |
In related news, the Belmont in Hamtramck has new bar stools! ;) | ||
Higgs1634 Member Username: Higgs1634 Post Number: 627 Registered: 10-2005 |
|quote{Rhino in Harmonie Park Closed} Don't you mean "Paradise Valley Entertainment District" a.k.a. Africatown? Didn't you get BR Collins' press release? The Harmonie Park moniker was a vestige of the slavemaster patriarchy. | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1386 Registered: 10-2003 |
yes...that's certainly helping business in the area.... | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 1663 Registered: 07-2007 |
It's Kwame's fault. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 1996 Registered: 11-2003 |
Just got off the phone with a promoter I work with and he said they are closed but he didn't know why. | ||
Raptor56 Member Username: Raptor56 Post Number: 414 Registered: 05-2007 |
other related/unrelated news. Jacoby's is under new management, and seems to be getting back on track again. The book shelf is back and food was reminiscent of a few years ago before the joint was sold. service improved as well. Although they are still keeping up with their trademark: always out of at least 3 beers on tap. | ||
Treelock Member Username: Treelock Post Number: 335 Registered: 03-2005 |
I was in Harmonie Pa — er, Paradise Valley Entertainment District the other day, recalling fond memories of working at Intermezzo and Centre Street Pub when it first opened and was actually a cool place. Then I thought about how stupid it is that they are renaming the neighborhood and how it will likely have no effect on the place's fortunes. Honestly I can't figure out why that place hasn't taken off. | ||
Raptor56 Member Username: Raptor56 Post Number: 418 Registered: 05-2007 |
What's the current big deal about naming the area Harmonie Park? I think it sounds kind of trendy. | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 1676 Registered: 07-2007 |
It already is HP, because of the music/theater district area. Some folks and council members want an African town, like Greektown etc. Problem is investors willing to take a gamble. | ||
Kingofdetroit Member Username: Kingofdetroit Post Number: 118 Registered: 10-2006 |
Leave it Harmonie Park IMHO. Harmonie is a great word and less daunting than "Paradise Valley" or whatever. How about opening Centre Street again or whatever it's called now. Or is it open? Sometimes bars are open and sometimes they're closed. No rhyme or reason... | ||
Wash_man Member Username: Wash_man Post Number: 863 Registered: 05-2006 |
Paradise Valley sounds like a retirement home or a funeral home. | ||
Melody Member Username: Melody Post Number: 267 Registered: 11-2007 |
The owners were evicted, sadly. I think there is more behind this and once they are ready to talk you'll hear more about it. | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 1682 Registered: 07-2007 |
Owed on water, rent, electric bills, etc. He tried to sell it for a few years now, business was so so but expenses are high. There are a few other restaurant / clubs on hanging on the verge also. | ||
Melody Member Username: Melody Post Number: 268 Registered: 11-2007 |
Lefty2 how do you know? Who's he? Just wondering. Several people own the Rhino. | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1964 Registered: 11-2003 |
Do any of the owners look like City Council? If not, then perhaps that explains how they wouldnt fit into PVED/AT. | ||
Beatsworking Member Username: Beatsworking Post Number: 120 Registered: 08-2004 |
That's not it East_D | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 1690 Registered: 07-2007 |
I know someone who knows someone. - Detroit’s Downtown Development Authority on Thursday 07_24 approved a $968,000 contract with Detroit-based Caasti Contracting Services Inc. for improvements in the Paradise Valley Cultural and Entertainment District, also known as Harmonie Park. Kresge Foundation,to back the project with a $600,000 grant. Look at this Crain's article people. http://www.crainsdetroit.com/a rticle/20080810/SUB/774764465 or this rendering pdf. http://www.crainsdetroit.com/a ssets/PDF/CD51300724.PDF It is the DDA's attempt to redevelop the area. They need to upgrade the area in order for business people to invest big bucks I guess. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 2762 Registered: 07-2004 |
Given KK's propensity to get his friends involved in city developments, is it possible that the owners were evicted so that a Kwame friend like Art Blackwell (who owns Arturro's in Southfield) can open up a downtown club? Very interesting how the Rhino closes right around the time Paradise Valley breaks ground. I know I'm being anti-Kilpatrick, but given his track record involving friends and family (Bobby Ferguson), I can't help but be suspicious. Can't wait to see who takes over the property from the city, and to see if the new owners have some close ties to the mayor. | ||
Amgasper01 Member Username: Amgasper01 Post Number: 65 Registered: 02-2008 |
Thanks for the links, Lefty! Regardless of the whole "African Town" controversy, you'd have to be a moron to not support this plan. There's a ton of proposed infill, and not a single parking structure planned! However, I doubt the whole plan will take shape. | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 626 Registered: 11-2003 |
Here we go with the parking again. We wouldn't want people to walk one block from the Opera House now would we? | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 2768 Registered: 07-2004 |
I've seen the plans. Rjlj, I would like to know where the visitors staying at the Hilton Garden Inn are going to park their cars if no new parking structures are planned for this development? A multi-story parking structure next to the Hilton and behind the Music Hall is definitely needed for both venues. Ground floor retail could be put in this structure but personally I don't think it's needed. There are enough vacant buildings on the eastside of Brush Street that having more space for retail would be counterproductive. The plans also talk about ground floor retail along Randolph with apartments above. Personally, some sweet Brownstones/townhomes would be what I would like to see along that stretch of the Paradise Valley development. There's already enough vacant space in the area to house more retail( old Dell Pryor gallery and ground floor of Opera House parking garage. Also, the Rhino and the temporary art gallery next to Lola's). One area in the plans that I will be amazed to see converted to anything more than the parking lot that it is, is the Madison-Lenox surface parking lot. I just can't see Mike Illitch given this land up to the city. The revenue for mostly Tigers parking will be something I see Illitch not willing to give up any time soon. | ||
Waymooreland Member Username: Waymooreland Post Number: 90 Registered: 11-2007 |
"Paradise Valley sounds like a retirement home or a funeral home." Funny that you mention that, as the retirement village in Brush Park actually is called "Brush Park Manor Paradise Valley." | ||
Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 1115 Registered: 11-2003 |
Royce - that's what, five, retail spaces? There should be the garages built because people don't like to walk - and there needs to be much more there to create a true destination. If one is going to go through the trouble of creating this, do it right. It's pathetic that downtown Royal Oak has much more retail density than almost the entire CBD of Detroit except for one block of Greektown. Time for Detroit to catch up, and do the spirit of the development proud. If they keep the rents reasonable, the spaces will fill. Oh, and there should be 2-3 hours of free parking, or this isn't going to work. I want mass transit as much as the next guy, but this is a car-centric town, and you must accommodate for it if you want the retail business. I know quite a few people who've come downtown to shop once - but didn't again because they won't pay $8 -$20 for parking. And you can't expect newbies to know what garages get validation where and how to work the system. That's too much of a barrier to entry. (Message edited by digitalvision on August 18, 2008) (Message edited by digitalvision on August 18, 2008) | ||
1kielsondrive Member Username: 1kielsondrive Post Number: 13 Registered: 08-2008 |
Digitalvision, you hit the mackerel on the head. I can remember when you could get multiple tickets for parking downtown when there was no other cars in sight for blocks. Pete Waldmeier used to harangue the DPD and parking enforcement for their rush hour ticket 'sweeps'. His point, which was absolutely correct, was: 'where's the rush hour?' For all of his crankiness, he was right on. 1KD | ||
Craig Member Username: Craig Post Number: 975 Registered: 02-2007 |
Back to the Jacoby's thread-jack: after-meeting agency-bender there this afternoon. Beer and food were excellent - like the old-timers used to talk about. Paradise-what? | ||
1kielsondrive Member Username: 1kielsondrive Post Number: 48 Registered: 08-2008 |
The first casualty of the 'Paradise Valley'. Detroit has f@*k#d up Harmony Park so many times you'd think they'd just give up. They always manage to go into places like 'Chinatown' and 'Trappers Alley' and push or kick everyone out or worse yet, 'Demolition by Neglect'. They need to figure out how to provide police and other essential city services. Detroit could try civilised council meetings, treating citizens and businesses in a friendly, helpful, businesslike manner or BUTT OUT. 1KD Thanks to Bob McKeown for 'Demolition By Neglect' | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 3056 Registered: 07-2004 |
Honestly, I wish I had brighter things to say about Harmonie Park, but everybody I've talked to has pretty much told me the same thing. They loved it, lived there, worked there, and partied there. Then, the big movers said: "Oh, look at that little place with artists and restaurants. It's starting to get hip and interesting. Let's get together, buy it all, kick them all out and make some MONEY!" Sigh. | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 1878 Registered: 07-2007 |
I say let the market decide what should go there and keep the Council and other public agencies grubby paws out of it. The DDA already lost a lot of money on loan subsidies that haven't panned out. If the free market won't pay for it then why waste precious tax money on it. ps Is Lola's business doing better now there's less competition? (Message edited by lefty2 on August 25, 2008) | ||
Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 1167 Registered: 11-2003 |
Wouldn't that be nice, Lefty2? Dirty little secret, though - very little of the revitalization is being funded by private money, which is scary. There's not the actual demand now in the CBD unless it's subsidized or seriously tax-abated to make the numbers work. It's leveraged through the pension system or other governmental or quasi-governmental arms. They're trying to create a market using taxpayer dollars as the investment fund. | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 1879 Registered: 07-2007 |
Oh, now I get it, the politicians use our tax money to build or do projects so they can say, "hey look what I did with your money, vote for me". | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 1349 Registered: 09-2004 |
Lola's was packed Saturday night. |
