  Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 1843 Registered: 11-2005 |
There is a lot of talk going around that Ilitch has bought the Hotel Eddystone north of 75. No word on whether the Park Avenue Hotel is his now, too. Anyone heard anything? Anyone else smell hockey arena? (Message edited by rhymeswithrawk on March 25, 2009) | ||
Doma Member Username: Doma Post Number: 28 Registered: 05-2008 |
It has to be true.  Either a new stadium or retail (like a mall) type area. Something good will come of all this! | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6278 Registered: 08-2004 |
The Eddystone is on the National Register of Historic Places... which while not a guarantee that it's safe from demolition, it does provide some protection. Won't the Detroit Historic Commission have a say on what's done with it? | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1777 Registered: 05-2005 |
jesus, how big is this stadium going to be? | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 2445 Registered: 10-2003 |
Well they were doing a bunch of work on the Eddystone...patching it up and filling in large gaps last winter. Maybe it was just to keep the nimrod urban explorers out though. | ||
Gdub Member Username: Gdub Post Number: 291 Registered: 10-2003 |
" On July 15, 2005; Michigan Governor Jennifer Grandholm announced that a developer had purchased the Eddystone and would convert it into 60 upscale condos with retail stores on the ground floor, using the name, The Carlton. The developer intended to put up about 6.4 million dollars, obtain about $641,000 in brownfield tax credits and another $400,000 or so in city and state tax credits or abatements. The governor’s announcement called for a spring, 2006 opening of the remodeled Eddystone. This would be a valuable addition to the reviving Cass Corridor and would add to the growing population of prosperous people who live near downtown of Midtown Detroit. So far as I can tell, the developer, as of the end of 2008, had yet to begin the redevelopment endeavor. It is possible that private funding for converting the Eddystone into condos is no longer available. There has also been speculation that at some point in the future, Michael Illitch and his collaborators will build a new arena for his successful Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Illitch and his collaborators own much property in this area, including the vacant land between the Eddystone and Woodward, lots that are now used when the Detroit Tigers draw large crowds. Reminiscent of Lew Tuller’s purchase of land at Grand Circus Park around 1900, it is possible that the developers of the Eddystone are waiting to see if there property could be sold for a substantial amount." http://www.detroit1701.org/Edd ystone%20Hotel.html | ||
Jasoncw Member Username: Jasoncw Post Number: 517 Registered: 07-2005 |
That area is a lot bigger than it needs to be for a new Joe. If it were part of a bigger mixed use development that would be cool. Whatever happens it would be sad to see the Eddystone demolished, it's a nice building. | ||
Danindc Member Username: Danindc Post Number: 4653 Registered: 10-2003 |
Doma, what does the red box on your map delineate? Are those all Ilitch-controlled properties? That area is about 8 times the required footprint for a hockey arena. Parking lots, anyone? | ||
Doma Member Username: Doma Post Number: 29 Registered: 05-2008 |
I was just highlighting the general area, if you look at the other stadiums in the area is really not that far off. Or course, this type of stadium houses far less people than either of the others across the street. | ||
Jerrytimes Member Username: Jerrytimes Post Number: 182 Registered: 04-2007 |
The new arena needs good parking. That's why all this space would be used if it is for that. The Joe and Detroit in general is one of the worst cities for parking. | ||
Detmsp Member Username: Detmsp Post Number: 87 Registered: 08-2008 |
one of the things i loved about maple leaf gardens was that there were no parking lots near it. you were walking around downtown... you turn a corner... holy crap there's the arena! http://www.google.com/maps?f=q &source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=m aple+leaf+gardens&sll=37.0625, -95.677068&sspn=50.51141,114.2 57812&ie=UTF8&ll=43.662256,-79 .380206&spn=0.002841,0.006974& t=h&z=18 it blended in right into the city. wish that could happen with wings new arena, but it'll never happen | ||
Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 1408 Registered: 11-2003 |
It's bigger than it needs to be but I'm sure there's going to be plenty of surface parking around it, which would account for the size. That's the way the suburbanites like it, and the Illitches are going to give their customers (which are mostly NOT Detroit residents) what they want. Note how much surface parking is around Comerica Park, and then you'll see it's the perfect size. | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 1886 Registered: 11-2005 |
"The Eddystone is on the National Register of Historic Places... which while not a guarantee that it's safe from demolition, it does provide some protection. " SORTA. National Register status means only that federal money cannot be used to demolish it. State, city or the owner's money can. I'll fight to save the Lafayette Building, but the Lee Plaza, Eddystone and Hotel Park Ave., well, you have to know when to pick your battles. | ||
Danindc Member Username: Danindc Post Number: 4654 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: You're being facetious, right Jerrytimes? | ||
Emu_steve Member Username: Emu_steve Post Number: 758 Registered: 11-2006 |
Detmsp: "one of the things i loved about maple leaf gardens was that there were no parking lots near it. you were walking around downtown... you turn a corner... holy crap there's the arena! " Sounds much like Washington. HOWEVER, cities, like people, are all different. Toronto and D.C. are both VERY different then Detroit. One would be CRAZY to drive to the Verizon Center for a hockey or basketball game. One would be EXPECTED to take the subway. That scenario doesn't describe Detroit. I'm sure this is also true in a city like NYC with the Madison Square Garden. | ||
Gdub Member Username: Gdub Post Number: 292 Registered: 10-2003 |
If you look at United Center in Chicago, it's not far from downtown at all, but it is definitely surrounded by sea of parking lots. It's not difficult to get to with public transportation, but the nearest el stop is several blocks away. People pack onto buses after games/shows just to get back downtown to transfer to trains or other buses. Everyone else drives and parks. Having it in a desolate area works fine for that area--it wasn't exactly prime real estate when built. If the situation were different in Detroit, it wouldn't be so easy. If the property were more valuable (and more fully occupied) around the south end of Cass Ilitch wouldn't be able to buy it all up. The best one can hope for is the area becoming more valuable after a new stadium arrives and newer structures going up as a result. Which, I would guess, would be like a decade from now. | ||
Baselinepunk Member Username: Baselinepunk Post Number: 148 Registered: 03-2007 |
"That area is a lot bigger than it needs to be for a new Joe." I don't think it's gonna be a new "Joe". I'm smelling a "Little Caesar's Arena", the "Hot and Ready Center" or the "Pizza-Pizza Place" (nicknamed "3 P in tha D"). (Message edited by Baselinepunk on March 29, 2009) | ||
Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 1410 Registered: 11-2003 |
Danindc - the problem is perceived, not real. Which therefore means it is a problem, from a business standpoint. As a for instance of public stupidity and hysteria, there hasn't been any actual evidence since 1958 linking children receiving unwrapped candy at Halloween from strangers and them getting sick; but we're whipped up into hysteria over it every year because it's sexy and it makes the police agencies look like they're being concerned and doing something. All the cases that started that urban legend were members of the child's own family tainting the candy. So just because it's common belief doesn't mean it's true; but it still has to be dealt with. | ||
Vivadetroit Member Username: Vivadetroit Post Number: 195 Registered: 04-2008 |
The people who own the Carlton Lofts (John R & Edmund) are the same people who bought the Eddystone. When I went to see the Carlton lofts in July, I asked the man who was showing the building what they planned to do over at the Eddystone. He said "Sell it to Mike Ilitch" and basically inferred that he planned to make some nice money off the deal. Nice... | ||
Sean_of_detroit Member Username: Sean_of_detroit Post Number: 2342 Registered: 03-2008 |
Little Caesarland Amusement Park!  | ||
Genesyxx Member Username: Genesyxx Post Number: 622 Registered: 02-2004 |
Could this have anything to do with their recent stake in the Masonic Temple? | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 963 Registered: 10-2003 |
highly unlikely. ilitch is nowhere near owning the majority of the lots required for a stadium in the area surrounding the eddystone. |
