  Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 440 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 69.246.5.196 |
Here are pics of progress for those of ya'll who can't make it home for the holidays. I'll warn you though, I'm no photographer ...     What's the plan for this building? It's the one directly north of Kales.  I gotta say, I'm pretty impressed with this place   The UA building with most of the windows cleaned off  It looks as though a deck is being installed on the Como's building  Make note of the fact that the old facade has been removed from this building.  Anyone have any idea what's going on here?   Mark England  This is the site of "Mercado" located North of the Ambassador bridge.  New MGM Grand Parking Deck  New MGM casino site  National Theater rennovation  Fancy new Opera house garage   Make note of the SBXL logo on the side of the Ren CEN  Mexican town welcome center located next to Mercado  The David Whitney buildings' ground level retail being worked on. | ||
Dmb Member Username: Dmb Post Number: 175 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.61.245.34 |
I was downtown at the Lions game last Sunday and I was walking down Broadway, and I must say that the Opera House garage might be the best looking parking garage I have ever seen. They really did a wonderful job, especially when you compare it to the old monstrosity. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1104 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 68.248.6.217 |
That nice tall photo of One Kennedy made my day. I just got back in town and haven't been able to go down there yet. | ||
Detroitduo Member Username: Detroitduo Post Number: 400 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 68.255.243.195 |
I will tell you... Since being home since last Friday, I have taken many drives and walks around downtown and midtown. I am absolutely impressed. Not ONLY does, downtown look amazing, but I am seeing people walking around everywhere! Last night (Wednesday) there were SOOO many people at Campus Martius. it was GREAT! Like I said in another Thread, Detroit will positively SHINE for the Superbowl. I just hope the people in the region get an attitude adjustment.... | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 2844 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Am I the only one that thinks that the UA Office Building actually looked better and had more of a purpose with the art in the windows? Now, it REALLY looks empty and forbodding. | ||
Nellonfury Member Username: Nellonfury Post Number: 56 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 68.43.156.135 |
Keep it up Detroit!!! Our downtown is starting to look beautiful every day!!!! | ||
Jasoncw Member Username: Jasoncw Post Number: 72 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 67.149.141.170 |
Thanks for the pictures, I love seeing them. The city is looking good, even in the winter (in my opinion, things look better in the summer when everything is green). | ||
Busterwmu Member Username: Busterwmu Post Number: 178 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 67.102.76.132 |
I took a quick downtown walking tour in the cold this past Monday. Things looked great in the winter sun! They've just completed a wonderful plaster resortation to the enterance of a building just south of the David Whitney on Woodward, it looks marvelous. Most of the photos Tetsua took were of the redevelopment I saw ongoing as well. Lower Woodward is great, especially the blocks between Campus Martius and Grand Circus. | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 557 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.21.62.206 |
Yay Detroit! | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 291 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 141.151.182.11 |
Good work Tetsua | ||
Ghetto_butterfly Member Username: Ghetto_butterfly Post Number: 562 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 68.60.139.186 |
I used to be able to zip through downtown on my way home, but now I have to wait for traffic to move, for people to cross the streets, forced to take detours because of street closures due to some "event" ... *sigh* /sarcastic, but happy to see all that's going on. Thanks for the pictures. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 285 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 71.10.63.140 |
I actually think the UA looks somewhat better now...i didnt think i would have they cleaned off the gorund floor that was boarded up and FULL of graffiti?? Walking by that building, it gets disgusting and takes away from all the good going on down other streetfronts | ||
Antonyj11 Member Username: Antonyj11 Post Number: 59 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 69.211.18.179 |
Great pics. Thanks for the update. One Kennedy square seems to be rising quite fast and I didn't even know there was work being done on the National Theater. | ||
Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 441 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 69.246.5.196 |
 I fogot to post this one located on Michigan ave. Does anyone have the details on this? I believe it's a loft development  Also, what's this one just north of the Kales? | ||
Bluehorseshoe Member Username: Bluehorseshoe Post Number: 333 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.137.221.125 |
What building is that in the second photo of the original post? | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 2847 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
The 1003 Woodward Parking Structure, a parking structure for the office workers, and future residents of the 1001 Woodward Avenue. | ||
Evelethcdenver Member Username: Evelethcdenver Post Number: 74 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 209.180.254.19 |
Thanks for the pics. Love seeing the city from time to time. Keep up the great work Detroit. | ||
Melissa Member Username: Melissa Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 24.126.160.135 |
Thanks for the pics! I am so proud of the progress that is taking place in Detroit, (sniff) makes me all choked up inside. | ||
Adamjab19 Member Username: Adamjab19 Post Number: 590 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.47.170.119 |
The Michigan Ave. loft developement is the Grinnell Lofts. Here is the link: http://www.grinnellplace.com/ | ||
Bibs Member Username: Bibs Post Number: 430 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 152.163.100.195 |
I noticed that debris is being removed from the basement of the Statler Hotel site. I wonder if they will leave the basement intact and use for the next project. I'm optimistic. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 1661 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.6.154 |
The One Kennedy Square building doesn't look as bad as I thought. But it's too bad they're putting up that slope on top. I kinda like it the way it is without it. It shows the Dime Building off better behind it. | ||
Futurecity Member Username: Futurecity Post Number: 202 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.212.209.195 |
I disagree about One Kennedy Square. The joke-i-tects that pooped that crap heap out must have thought they were designing just another dog for Big Beaver's "Crap Pile Mile" instead of the most signifcant urban site in Michigan. I am sure that with all the fine architectural gems within a block or two of the site - many designed by true giants of their field, the joke-i-tects must have thought "Why even try? Let's just design something that looks like total shit." And so they did. | ||
Mike Member Username: Mike Post Number: 534 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.41.109.36 |
its not that bad, just not nice. looks nicer than the cheese grater next to it. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 698 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
I think with a few very minor design changes the One Kennedy Square building could become an attraction.  | ||
Bobj Member Username: Bobj Post Number: 293 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.40.89.238 |
Excellent pictures!! It is truly amazing to see all the development in Downtown Detroit, especially for those of us who have been hanging around Downtown for 20 + years, it is really unbelievable to see the development. | ||
Dodgemain Member Username: Dodgemain Post Number: 72 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 68.41.191.58 |
That's great PSIP | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1378 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 68.255.246.171 |
Futurecity, One Kennedy Square looks a lot like a building being built on Telegraph between 8 Mile and 9 Mile roads. Same coke bottle colored windows. BTW, I think that they ought to take down the "Madiso" Theater marque. Being so close to the People Mover takes away from its effectiveness as a marque displaying upcoming events. You won't be able to see all of the wording on it from a distance. Also, since the theater has been torn down, why fool people into thinking that there's a theater there when there isn't? | ||
Chris_rohn Member Username: Chris_rohn Post Number: 153 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 71.144.84.66 |
Neumann Smith are the architects of One Kennedy Square. They have a few high profile projects across the country, notably the Corvette museum and the Pine Knob pavilion. However, most of their bread & butter comes from bland spec office building projects in the suburbs, which explains their inspiration in this case. IMHO, it looks better than the cheese grater next door. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1105 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 68.248.4.107 |
Agreed...at least the sight-line is such that you can still see the full length of the Penobscot from the park, including its entrance, begging those who are interested to walk over to Griswold and enjoy the splendor of the Buhl-Ford-Penobscot-Dime, etc. collection of buidlings. You can also still see the top of the Dime, which grabs your attention. Any photos of what the Griswold St. entrance to One Kennedy looks like? | ||
Adamjab19 Member Username: Adamjab19 Post Number: 591 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.47.170.119 |
I don't think the Kennedy Square looks that bad. It's kind of cool when you walk or drive by it. Hasn't there been a discussion and conclusion that building a building with materials like Penobscot or the Gaurdian would just be way out of any sort of price range? Maybe I'm wrong on that. Also if CM is our new center of the city I think the shorter buildings around provide some nice views of the taller buildings on the outside of CM. Detroit is a small CBD so to have a bunch tall buildings all in a row would just be a mess instead of the nice funnel effect that occurs now. I mean look at other citties you either have the tallest buildings in the center or at one end of town or another. Well Detroit has the smaller ones on the inside and they extend out. Also not to be complacent, but I think Detroit has and does have enough "gems" and to build a new one would just take away from that. Glass and steel is a nice minimalist approach for the lack of a better term. If we had a couple square miles more then yeah build up in up.... BTW that bank one building has a hideous facade. Reminds me of a parking garage! | ||
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field Post Number: 451 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 209.240.205.61 |
when is the CVS in the 1003 Woodward parking garage going to open? That garage turned out very nice, I like the exterior lighting on it too. 1KS is a bland building, although I greatly appreciate all the new tenants and life that it will infuse into Campus Martius. It reminds me of the 5 story Michigan Heritage Bank building on the west side of Beck Rd. north of I-96 in boom-town Wixom. I just think buildings that are new and have glass facades can be so much more interesting, a lot of Hong Kong skyscrapers are glass, recently built and very intricate, unlikely to be even remotely duplicated in other cities. (Message edited by Mind field on December 23, 2005) | ||
Caseyc Member Username: Caseyc Post Number: 566 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 206.18.111.5 |
wow...Grinnell Lofts are finally getting off the ground???that project was in Petkoski-Limbo for at least 5 years.... | ||
Rbdetsport Member Username: Rbdetsport Post Number: 39 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 68.60.133.115 |
Are they going to redo the streetscape in front of the 1003 Parking garage? | ||
Jasoncw Member Username: Jasoncw Post Number: 76 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 67.149.141.170 |
At least Bank 1 (does the building even have a name?)is a normal color. This building is a funny color, especially when it's right next to those other buildings. I do like how the slanted top accents the Penobscot Building, but that's all I like about that design feature. That building must have taken 10 minutes to design, and I bet anyone here could come up with a better idea in 5. I don't think it would be too expensive to have the first 2 floors made out of stone, since they're mostly windows anyway. Compuware did it for pretty far up, and it's nice walking by it. Hopefully something better will go across the park. All the other developements around town are looking great. | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 801 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.212.54.81 |
That is Cliff Bells.   (Message edited by toolbox on December 23, 2005) | ||
Tetsua Member Username: Tetsua Post Number: 442 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 69.246.5.196 |
What's the story behind Cliff Bell's? | ||
Chris_rohn Member Username: Chris_rohn Post Number: 155 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 71.144.84.66 |
One Kennedy Square does have white marble at the ground level. I think it's the architect's nod to the cheese grater. | ||
Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander Post Number: 1425 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 68.42.168.234 |
I walked around the Detroit for almost 2 hours because it was so nice outside. By the river they are currently ripping up concrete for the next phase of the river walk and Rivard Plaza. The GM garage is almost complete and there looks like there will be a good amount of retail in it. There is a new bar or restaurant but probably combo of the two called Currents, it looks very nice inside and is about 85% done. They are moving along with the BCBS parking garage. Mosaic is offering Brunch on Sundays starting at 10:30. Anyone been there for it? There is a sporting goods store near Brush and Madison I never noticed it before. There is a cool scrolling marquee on the bridge attaching Ford Field to the new parking garage. Chelios place is looking really nice probably about 70% done. Proof looks very nice inside but will have a small dance floor for you folks that will want to shake your ass. It looks about 90% complete. They are flying along on all the development on Woodward Ave. For all you inspiring actors there is a casting call at 1441 Woodward which is located in the second phase of Merchant’s Row. Not sure for what but there were people play fighting when I look in side. I purposely left out an update on the lovely surface lot where the ML use to be. I didn’t want folks around here throwing their computer. | ||
Boshna Member Username: Boshna Post Number: 100 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 68.60.137.62 |
Gotta love that Broderick Tower website. . . | ||
Shark Member Username: Shark Post Number: 165 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.255.114.126 |
I love the "Welcome to the All-Star Game" poster that is still up in the window of the Tower's former bar. | ||
Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander Post Number: 1426 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 68.42.168.234 |
Boshna I agree very detailed. | ||
Bucho Member Username: Bucho Post Number: 336 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 71.37.36.155 |
Thank you so much, that really made my day. I miss Detroit  How about some Brush Park Pics? | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 1666 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.105.157 |
The former NBD, former First Chicago NBD, soon to be former BancOne, soon to be J.P. Morgan/Chase Building a.k.a. Cheese Grater... used to have an awesome money museum in the NBD lobby. Everything from $20 gold pieces to $10,000 bills, the paper & coinage was worth millions. It was a stunning museum, which they moved to the Ren Cen about 20 years ago, and then liquidated about 10 years ago for Shareholder value (hah!). As a numismatist and part time philatelist (no we don't have to register with the state when we move like sex offenders  ) it was the most impressive collection I've ever seen. Another forgotten... literally a lost treasure... downtown (the museum). (Message edited by gistok on December 23, 2005) | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 602 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.41 |
Damn, I forgot about the money museum. It was the only Salmon P. Chase note, that I've ever seen in person, and I'd forgotten that it was in the cheese-grater. (Good memory Gistok.) | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 1671 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 207.69.136.202 |
Yep, they had Salmon P. Chase ($10,000), James Madison ($5,000), Grover Cleveland ($1,000) and William McKinley ($500) bank notes. Unfortunately they never had a Woodrow Wilson ($100,000), which were never allowed outside the Federal Reserve Banks. Boy with inflation, you would think that they would re-introduce the Cleveland and McKinley notes. IIRC the last time these bills were printed was 1946, although one can still find used $500 and $1000 bank notes for about $600 and $1150 respectively from certain coin/paper money hobby retailers. (Message edited by gistok on December 23, 2005) | ||
Wolverine Member Username: Wolverine Post Number: 85 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 24.231.201.120 |
My sister came back from LA and I took her downtown to see the progress. It was nice for her to see all the renovations and activity going on in Campus Martius. I was really suprised to see the paint come off the windows on the UA building, considering I rarely hear people say negative things about it. | ||
Fnemecek Member Username: Fnemecek Post Number: 1410 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 69.212.211.83 |
My theory, for whatever it's worth, is that the paint removal was largely motivated by "Preservation" magazine putting those windows on their front cover a couple of months ago. | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 267 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.136.144.196 |
It was great walking around there this week downtown looks better than I've ever seen it. BTW what's the deal with former A&M Coney I building next door to Wright-Kay building. Has anyone seen any workers at this place it looks the same as it did 5 months ago? | ||
Llyn Member Username: Llyn Post Number: 1327 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 68.61.197.206 |
I've noticed some changes to it. I think they still don't have windows in yet - at least the last time I was by there - but I think they did redo the window sill, so far. Can't see a lot of the building for the plywood. | ||
623kraw Member Username: 623kraw Post Number: 727 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.224.200 |
Nice shots Tetsua. They had to put up something that made the cheese grater building look good. The biggest mistake happened 45 years ago...  | ||
Skulker Member Username: Skulker Post Number: 3328 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.236.144.52 |
Petkoski is no longer the owner or developer. | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 929 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 70.145.43.248 |
For convenience, here's a link to the Broderick Tower Lofts website, as listed on the billboard on the building in the pic above. Click here for a wealth of information: http://www.brodericktower.com/ (Ok, at least the construction manager and architect seem reputable... hopefully something will happen.) | ||
Andrew69 Member Username: Andrew69 Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 24.180.123.212 |
I wonder when they plan on actually putting something on their website considering that I think it has existed for at least a month now! | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 2876 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
I'm sure that a website is the least of their worries, at this moment, and probably shouldn't take up any of their money and time until they are absolutely sure they can get this structure up and running. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 763 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
Speaking of the Money Museum c1977  |
