 
Soulhawk
Member
Username: Soulhawk
Post Number: 148
Registered: 04-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 7:12 pm: |    |
There are all types of souviners to be had in the rubble pile, including many post cards and blank order pads in the back near the alley. |
Lodgedodger
Member
Username: Lodgedodger
Post Number: 1647
Registered: 05-2008
| | Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 9:39 pm: | |
Thanks, Jcole.
I wondered if there might be "stuff" in the rubble. Honk if you guys see an old white woman poking around back there...
;-) |
Buckster1986
Member
Username: Buckster1986
Post Number: 17
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 10:25 pm: | |
Thanks Otter. |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1764
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 10:37 pm: | |
Soulhawk, the goodies weren't destroyed by the rain? |
Michiman
Member
Username: Michiman
Post Number: 3
Registered: 02-2009
| | Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 10:53 pm: | |
I didn't say this particular building was. Just referring to the fact that any old building no matter what is torn down without much thought as to significance. Instead of keeping many of the old buildings with style, Detroit tears them down and goes with the cookie cutter new buildings. |
Buckster1986
Member
Username: Buckster1986
Post Number: 18
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Monday, March 09, 2009 - 11:52 pm: | |
Went there tonight to take a peak. Neat stuff flying around in the alley. A little damp. |
Bearinabox
Member
Username: Bearinabox
Post Number: 1294
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 7:18 am: | |
quote:Instead of keeping many of the old buildings with style, Detroit tears them down and goes with the cookie cutter new buildings. If by "cookie-cutter new buildings" you mean gravel lots with chain-link fences around them... |
Otter
Member
Username: Otter
Post Number: 670
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 11:45 am: | |
You mean "cookie-cutter gravel lots" 
Didn't think to nab a brick or anything, tho if I'd known there might be interesting bits in the rubble as mentioned above I might have stopped to poke around. A Chin Tiki postcard would look nice on the bulletin board o' miscellany.
O. |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1767
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 11:49 am: | |
There are plenty of bricks to choose from. |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1779
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 6:56 pm: | |
Nice post on the C.T. here:
http://davechowillustrations.b logspot.com/ |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1780
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 6:58 pm: | |
SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ilitch spokeswoman Karen Cullen said Tuesday that for the “immediate future,” the site will be used to provide parking for various venues and events in the area.
God I love that family! |
Raptor56
Member
Username: Raptor56
Post Number: 797
Registered: 05-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 9:16 pm: | |
OK... So Illitch buys up all the property at three different locations (behind Fox, Masonic Temple area, Motor City Casino area). They eventually pick one of the three choices for Joe Louis II. What happens to the other 2 areas that have been leveled? Is there some other grandiose plan(s) for the other areas? Do they sit vacant forever? I'm trying to figure out the return on investment for Big Mike. |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1783
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 9:30 pm: | |
"Do they sit vacant forever?"
Well, vacant unless there's a game going on and Ilitch is charging $20 a car to park there. The guy is more of a parking mogul these days than a pizza mogul. |
Texorama
Member
Username: Texorama
Post Number: 367
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 11:02 pm: | |
http://freep.com/article/20090 310/ENT08/303100002/Cass+Avenu e+s+exotic+Chin+Tiki+is+no+mor e |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1786
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 11:56 pm: | |
Ha. So I went over to the Tiki after work tonight and parked in the alley. Got out and grabbed a couple of bricks and some leis and put 'em in my trunk. Then an Olympia hard ass comes screaming down the alley in a white SUV, gets out and starts yelling that I'm trespassing, stealing, yada, yada and threatens to call the cops if I don't put everything back. Apparently - get this - they're going to sell all of rubble, even that soggy paper. I deemed it not worth it and complied, putting my finds neatly on a serving tray I found in the piles. Guess Ilitch's goons are watching the sites, so if you're going to take stuff BE QUICK. |
Wilus1mj
Member
Username: Wilus1mj
Post Number: 305
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 12:56 am: | |
Doesn't the city have any zoning laws on parking lots?? Can you just put one anywhere you want?? |
Gsgeorge
Member
Username: Gsgeorge
Post Number: 754
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 2:18 am: | |
City? Zoning Laws? Where do you think this is, Chicago? The city's services are a joke and zoning rules are never enforced. These guys can do whatever they want if they have money. So long as it doesn't involve community input or consideration of historic value -- too much red tape & blah-blah-blahing. Just knock 'em down and see the dollars start rolling in. That's how it's been for years and years -- and we let it go. It's only after these things are gone that people start saying "Well what about our history? What about zoning laws? What about community input? What about insane & greedy slum lords?"
I'm sorry to be so negative, but this is almost as much OUR fault as it is Illitch's. Same old same old in Detroit, and the people here just say "well that's the way it is" instead of trying to change it. And then they complain after the fact, when it is too late. |
Gsgeorge
Member
Username: Gsgeorge
Post Number: 755
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 2:27 am: | |
PS - Wilus1mj, don't mean to pick on you personally, as it was a reasonable question in any other situation, just using your comment as a general example. |
Big_baby_jebus
Member
Username: Big_baby_jebus
Post Number: 106
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 11:52 am: | |
Can't believe no one posted this yet...
http://www.freep.com/article/2 0090311/ENT08/903110406
Very fluffy reporting. I would have at least gotten a quote from Illich as to why he is having the taxpayers of Detroit pay for demolition to a building he bought just three year ago. |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1791
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 12:03 pm: | |
"Can't believe no one posted this yet... "
Someone did. Scroll up four or five posts.
Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 11:02
http://freep.com/article/20090 310/ENT08/303100002/Cass+Avenu e+s+exotic+Chin+Tiki+is+no+mor e |
Noodles
Member
Username: Noodles
Post Number: 16
Registered: 02-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 12:23 pm: | |
quote:Ha. So I went over to the Tiki after work tonight and parked in the alley. Got out and grabbed a couple of bricks and some leis and put 'em in my trunk. Then an Olympia hard ass comes screaming down the alley in a white SUV, gets out and starts yelling that I'm trespassing, stealing, yada, yada and threatens to call the cops if I don't put everything back. Apparently - get this - they're going to sell all of rubble, even that soggy paper. I deemed it not worth it and complied, putting my finds neatly on a serving tray I found in the piles. Guess Ilitch's goons are watching the sites, so if you're going to take stuff BE QUICK.
So you're pissed that a Detroit property owner is securing his property and shooing people away from a potentially dangerous area? |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1795
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 12:49 pm: | |
No, I'm not pissed at all. Surprised, sure. But I'm not pissed. What makes you think I'm pissed, Noodles? I don't think he had to be such a hard ass about it, but that's all. |
Big_baby_jebus
Member
Username: Big_baby_jebus
Post Number: 107
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 1:06 pm: | |
oopps...deff didn't see that. My bad.
Either way the reporter should have pressed Illich Holding Co. for a quote. |
Heedus
Member
Username: Heedus
Post Number: 13
Registered: 06-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 1:20 pm: | |
Speaking of land near Motor City, does anyone know what is going on in that large parcel at the corner of MLK and the Lodge? I know that they've been clearing it, but it looks like there's been increased activity over the past few days. Thanks! |
Detroitchef
Member
Username: Detroitchef
Post Number: 141
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 1:43 pm: | |
Chinatown in Detroit was about three blocks over in the Cass Corridor. If you go down Second, you can see some of the chinese characters on the tops of the buildings. I don't think it lasted past the 40's or 50's, and wasn't anything other than a gimmicky attempt. |
Noodles
Member
Username: Noodles
Post Number: 17
Registered: 02-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 1:47 pm: | |
quote:I don't think he had to be such a hard ass about it, but that's all.
The security guy there doesn't know who you are or what you're doing (which, from your description, was trespassing and stealing).
The fact that Ilitch has security there guarding the property against people who aren't bright enough to keep a distance is something that should be commended.
quote:so if you're going to take stuff BE QUICK.
Also, does the owner of this board support those who encourage others to trespass and steal other people's property? |
Sciencefair
Member
Username: Sciencefair
Post Number: 151
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 2:36 pm: | |
There seems to be a unique code of ethics involved with building demolition in Detroit. Slumlords will let their buildings sit and rot, essentially demolition by neglect, until the building inevitably collapses or is torn down. In instances like this or the Donovan Building, the public interest in the history and artifacts contained within the building seem to outweigh the interest of the owner.
Maybe it's a hidden resentment expressed through larceny, but it makes me personally feel like if the owner doesn't care enough to take care of his or her property, why should said owner mind if I help myself to some artifacts. In the case of Chin Tiki, most of the stuff leftover is garbage mixed in with some salvagable building materials, and whatever value someone like me sees in this pile is obviously not seen by the owner.
Before the Donovan building fell, I "saved" stacks of papers, tapes, records, etc. that otherwise would have ended up in the ground. Was it stealing? Technically yes, but was anyone hurt by it? I don't condone scrapping or stripping building materials, but once a building is no more, taking a momento can be closure. I saved some pieces of the Sanders building facade once it had been demolished. They could have used those concrete ornaments to make gravel, but I doubt it would have made much of a difference. They look a lot better in my house. |
Fury13
Member
Username: Fury13
Post Number: 2101
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 2:58 pm: | |
"Chinatown in Detroit was about three blocks over in the Cass Corridor. If you go down Second, you can see some of the chinese characters on the tops of the buildings. I don't think it lasted past the 40's or 50's, and wasn't anything other than a gimmicky attempt."
If I remember correctly, there was some semblance of a mini-Chinatown there at Cass and Peterboro well into the '70s. As has been noted on this forum before, that was the second Chinatown. It was an attempt to relocate the historic, original, demolished Chinatown (which was centered on Third near Michigan, and was removed for the Lodge Freeway). The relocation was artificial in feel and didn't take. |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1796
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 3:42 pm: | |
"Was it stealing? Technically yes, but was anyone hurt by it? I don't condone scrapping or stripping building materials, but once a building is no more, taking a momento can be closure. "
My point exactly. The bricks? OK, maybe you can sell and reuse those. The water-logged Chin Tiki sales receipts and postcards? It's more garbage digging than stealing. I understand the safety liabilities involved, but theft? That's a bit much. |
Bearinabox
Member
Username: Bearinabox
Post Number: 1303
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 4:11 pm: | |
quote: As has been noted on this forum before, that was the second Chinatown. It was an attempt to relocate the historic, original, demolished Chinatown (which was centered on Third near Michigan, and was removed for the Lodge Freeway). Third itself wasn't consumed by the Lodge. It's still there. It was redeveloped into an eight-lane boulevard (adequate accommodation for the three cars that drive along it every hour) lined with parking structures on one side and fenced-off private parking lots on the other. Much better than having a functioning urban neighborhood there. Mid-century planners were fucking geniuses. |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1797
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 4:23 pm: | |
That's where it was? But 3rd and Michigan is, like, three or four blocks from the Lodge... |
Jackpot
Member
Username: Jackpot
Post Number: 45
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 4:33 pm: | |
heedus,
that parcel where the jeffries low rise projects were is the site of the new hockey arena. bet on it! |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1798
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 4:57 pm: | |
An arena for Ilitch's hockey team next to Ilitch's casino? Makes sense to me. |
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 6213
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 4:58 pm: | |
quote:Also, does the owner of this board support those who encourage others to trespass and steal other people's property?
Noodles... I'm not the owner, but have been on this board long enough (10 years) to know what the owner has said in the past...
No illegal activity can be actively planned while posting on this board.
However, if someone has independently done something illegal, such as tagged a building, urban explorations, taking bricks and momentos of demo work... etc., and posted about it here later... there is nothing the owner (who does not have law enforcement powers)... will do about it.
There are plenty of "pit bull" posters on this forum who will verbally "maul" the transgressors, depending on the incident.
Things such as independent urban exploration (especially when it includes photography) or taking bricks from a demo job are generally considered benign, and generally acceptable on this forum.
But if you mention that you just tagged a building... prepare for some nasty rebukings!! 
And as far as calling "taking a few bricks" stealing... one can make a similar claim for a millionaire using public (our) money for the demo work that caused the rubbish pile that people have been picking thru in the first place.
Some here would just call it get a "return" on some of their ill advised taxpayer spending.
Is taking a brick or two considered stealing? Yes... we are stealing it from a landfill.
Just ask the folks who wanted the Ilitch owned ornate arch of the historic Madison-Lenox Hotel as it building was being pounded to rubble... the answer was NO!... and the arch sits today smashed and smoldering in some landfill.
(Message edited by Gistok on March 11, 2009) |
Softailrider
Member
Username: Softailrider
Post Number: 294
Registered: 02-2007
| | Posted on Friday, March 13, 2009 - 10:04 pm: | |
I went over there today (3-13) and took two bricks. There was a couple guys who worked for the demolition company that were directing traffic there. They said take whatever I wanted. I remember having dinner there 6 or 7 times, I thought the food was excellent. I liked it way better then Chung's up the street. |
Gthomas
Member
Username: Gthomas
Post Number: 176
Registered: 09-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 15, 2009 - 4:37 pm: | |
Hope the arena structure looks nothing like the current one. I hate the close in aluminium siding and ZERO landscaping with no character. Learn from Ford Field, it sit along the tree line streets. It builds a parking structure and most importantly incorporated offices spce in a renovated warehouse.....SMART! Not surrounding by ugly surface parking lot and demolishing of all historic structure to build comerica park. There should be a structure on the parking lot on woodward across from the fox theater. Mike does not understand the importance of a dense fabric of our city grid which he killed. There will be no solid foot traffic in that area due to his horrible plans for a super bock development. He killed the potential of foot traffic in all of his development area.
The area between their casino and grand circus park and woodawrd is Horrible! No type of landscaping, no right a way for pedestrian.. More focus on vehicle traffic and parking lots?....what the hell! Hopefully the M-1 Rail would create a more dense area within his stadium district.
I really hate his poor urban planning or vision he has for that area. I guess money speaks louder than what we want....I guess. |
Gthomas
Member
Username: Gthomas
Post Number: 177
Registered: 09-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 15, 2009 - 9:22 pm: | |
Oh and the crumbling cass tech building right along wit the carlton building. Grand river is horrible .....I notice that all major entryway, road and avenues into downtown is vacant or has no type of development. Look at it this way......you invite me to your home for dinner and I pulled up to your house and on my to the door and there's garbage everywhere, no landscaping and crumbling walls. What do u think about before u enter the house, if you decide to go inside? First impression is a lasting impression.....
I strongly believe Illitches destroyed that image along the entryway where I-75 runs across north of downtown. We should have some sort of a Gateway project at Woodward, Grandriver, Michigan, Gratiot, and Jefferson. |
Detroit313
Member
Username: Detroit313
Post Number: 798
Registered: 02-2006
| | Posted on Monday, March 16, 2009 - 12:50 am: | |
Whats going on with Detroit city planning???
They are terrible! I know the Illiches have invested lots in Copa, but the city needs to put its foot down when that family levels a building for a surface lot!
Enough is enough!
<313> |
Smogboy
Member
Username: Smogboy
Post Number: 6812
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 16, 2009 - 2:17 am: | |
Personally I had high hopes that the Ilitches would've had some foresight to see that the Chin Tiki building was salvageable somehow and with a bit of financial investment, turned it into another destination to go to after their sporting events. What's sad now is that once the events are done with, there really aren't enough reasons to linger in that area. The Chin Tiki would've been a unique destination that people of a previous generation would've loved and it would've been a cool new hip place for the younger set to go check out.
Now it's too late. Heritage and history can't be built or bought. |
Gthomas
Member
Username: Gthomas
Post Number: 180
Registered: 09-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 16, 2009 - 2:31 am: | |
Detroiters never has a voice, only billionaires and retarded city council member controls detroit. Not the citizens.... |
3rdworldcity
Member
Username: 3rdworldcity
Post Number: 1360
Registered: 01-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 16, 2009 - 7:56 pm: | |
Gthomas: You've got it all wrong. Why should you (or me) or anyone else have a say in what happened to the Chin Tiki? If you wanted a say, you should have bought it way back when you had a chance. He that that has the gold makes the rules. |
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