  Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander Post Number: 1621 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 150.198.150.244 |
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060221/BUS INESS06/602210397/1002/BUSINES S | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1447 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.187.234 |
"Asian House," what a great and original name for a restaurant! | ||
Genesyxx Member Username: Genesyxx Post Number: 436 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 209.69.165.10 |
And here I thought it would be just another big-ass parking structure. Oh wait... IT IS JUST A BIG ASS PARKING STRUCTURE. Nevertheless, it'd be good to have a little mix of the asian culture on the riverfront. | ||
Blondy Member Username: Blondy Post Number: 970 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.212.173.138 |
bump, talk more about this. Asian food in detroit is a good thing. | ||
Chris_rohn Member Username: Chris_rohn Post Number: 196 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 68.73.197.27 |
Lucky Dragon! Yum. | ||
Cafe Member Username: Cafe Post Number: 1173 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 84.162.72.88 |
I always like me asian food handled through bullet proof glass. That is my memory of China one...just down the street from my house. | ||
Cafe Member Username: Cafe Post Number: 1174 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 84.162.72.88 |
I always like me asian food handled through bullet proof glass. That is my memory of China one...just down the street from my house. | ||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 2745 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 136.181.195.65 |
"I always like me asian food..." Celebrating "Talk Like a Pirate Day" early? | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 5544 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1179 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.238.170.31 |
Shiver me timbers! Maybe they could complete the whole pirate/Asian theme with a Chinese Junk moored at the seawall. Seriously though, it's great to see this coming to Detroit and the riverfront in particular. Who in Detroit ever knew you could do so much with a parking garage? This sort of thing (having useful things in parking garages other than parking) is done often in other cities and it's about time Detroit got around to it. Hopefully it will serve as an example to other would-be parking ramp owners that you don't have to be a blight on the surrounding area as a parking garage. | ||
Alexei289 Member Username: Alexei289 Post Number: 1040 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.61.183.223 |
Well... Its best to park our Newly made Geelee motors vehicals next to those who made the product... | ||
Mpow Member Username: Mpow Post Number: 174 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 200.65.7.48 |
I-d like to see more convenient stores, small ones on upper levels in parking structures downtown. Really makes sense. | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1185 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.238.170.31 |
I think the article did a bad job of describing the development. Only the banquet space will be on the upper level. The rest of the restaurants and stores will be on the ground level, creating a nice pedestrian environment in what would have otherwise been a ped. dead zone. | ||
Wilus1mj Member Username: Wilus1mj Post Number: 41 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 216.111.89.3 |
Why do they persist on building parking garages on the River....at least their trying to hide their ugliness. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1469 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 70.236.187.104 |
Drove passed that parking garage. There are no doors opening to the sidewalk. Therefore, there won't be a lot of pedestrian traffic outside. It will be in an inner walkway. Oh why, oh why, are there no doors? Even if the businesses will be set back and there is an inner walkway, it would seem logical that at least one doorway would be present on Atwater. Typical Detroit style of thinking. You want to get more people to experience the riverfront, but you close them off in a parking garage. Where is Skulker to explain this one? I've got to hear the rationale for this one. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 3734 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.84.82 |
A new psuedo chinatown in Detroit. I hope it works. | ||
Ganib_ganabs Member Username: Ganib_ganabs Post Number: 44 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.41.123.242 |
Any pictures for the vehicular declined? My pirate ship wont fit under the Ambassador Bridge... | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 978 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.1.1.33 |
Royce -- it's hard to tell for sure, but the rendering on the freep page implies that there will be a pedestrian entrance facing the river, under the giant glass thingy. Maybe the entrance(s) just haven't been completed yet? I agree that there should be additional retail entrances on the first floor facing the river, since there should be substantial pedestrian activity there (being a "river walk" and all). | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 980 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.73.207.58 |
Still, this is great news all around, regardless of the aesthetics. Downtown could definitely use more Asian food variety such as Vietnamese and Korean. And a market would be fantastic!! Anyone else notice that there seem to be a million Thai restaurants around downtown all of a sudden? There are 5 of them now within a mile of the CBD. (2 Sala Thais, Bahn Thai, Orchid Thai, Bangkok Crossing) Not complaining, but it seems odd. (Message edited by Dougw on February 22, 2006) | ||
Erikd Member Username: Erikd Post Number: 530 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.242.214.106 |
Royce, You constantly complain about new projects during the construction phase. For once, could you wait until the project is completed before you start ranting about how shitty it is? During construction of C-Mart. you complained about how poorly it was planned. During the Broadway reconstruction, you complained about how bad it was planned, and bitched about the loss of curbside parking that was never lost. Now you are complaining about the Asian Village project.
Once again, you are wrong. There will be doors opening to the sidewalk and street. We have plenty of valid things to bitch about in Detroit. For Pete's sake, stop bitching about the projects that are being done well. | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4692 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 141.213.175.233 |
Erik, but it's all about the 25 seconds one has to spend waiting at the CM stoplights... geez. I think the ZOG is getting to you. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1475 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 70.236.187.104 |
Well, Erikd, how are they going to cut doorways into what appears to be a permanent glass wall? Have you seen what I'm talking about? What do you know that I don't? Most construction projects that I've seen usually have doorways put into place at the same time that the wall is put up. They usually don't go back later and knock holes into the walls to make room for the doorways. Yeah, I'm quick to criticize new projects because I'm tired of seeing nearly every project in Detroit being done without the consideration of the people who have to navigate through this town. That includes me. The Washington Boulevard Mall was a bad idea. After 25 years smarter heads prevailed and it was returned to its original splendor, and I love it. Well, it didn't take me 25 years to figure out that the mall was a bad idea. I knew it was messed up from day one. The Renaissance Center was built as an enclosed fortress, and should have included some residential units. Now it is a much more open and inviting place(the berms are gone and the Wintergarden has opened up the back) and the RiverEast project will make up for the lack of residential units. I bitched about all the traffic stops around Campus Martius Park, but have you noticed that there aren't as many traffic lights stopping traffic now. The Michigan Avenue and the Monroe Avenue traffic lights are flashing red lights, and the traffic light that was at Cadillac Square has been completely eliminated. The time it takes to get from the Michigan Avenue side to the Monroe Avenue side is no longer than a regular traffic light stop. I guess someone heard my complaints along with dozens of other commuters. I will concede that my complaints about putting an island along Broadway was premature. They did a great job. Now, if I see something looking like it's not going to be done correctly I going to complain because nine times out of ten it can't be rectified for years to come. However, in the future, Erikd, I will attempt to wait until a project is finished before I express my dissatifaction with it. | ||
Sknutson Member Username: Sknutson Post Number: 434 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 67.114.23.202 |
That is SUCH a midwestern comment. Pangborn is Korean; his partner is Korean; the article mentions Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese take-out foods and a Pacific Island themed place......I see no mention of Chinese in the article. | ||
Ganib_ganabs Member Username: Ganib_ganabs Post Number: 45 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.41.123.242 |
In the picture in the link above it sure looks like their are storefront cutouts at teh bottom of the parking structure to me... | ||
Jltyler Member Username: Jltyler Post Number: 236 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 69.212.34.58 |
So what's the difference between this and African Village? | ||
Quickdrawmcgraw Member Username: Quickdrawmcgraw Post Number: 49 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 63.77.247.130 |
Asian Village is one-stop shop and African Village is supposed to be a destination with benefits for those who qualify. | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 8132 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.202.130 |
Nothing...they are both gross, fake and uninspiring. | ||
Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander Post Number: 1636 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 150.198.150.244 |
One was being created by a governmental entity, which more then likely would have failed because of it. The other is being built by a business man and not created by a governmental entity. | ||
Skulker Member Username: Skulker Post Number: 3591 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.103.104.93 |
Sorta like "Woodward Breakfast House and Grill with His and Hers Bathrooms, Warm Coffee and Six Busboys on Every Shift"? Because thousands of GM employees currently park on massive surface lots. Now they can park in the garage and the parking lots can be used for this... http://www.modeldmedia.com/dev elopmentnews/rivereast.aspx Last I saw, there were plenty of openings for pedestrian access from Atwater. I haven't been past in 2-3 weeks though. | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1446 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
The are shut off because the traffic isn't great enough. Rest assured that they will get turned back on if (probably when) they are warranted. For all I know, they are already on during certain hours of the day, just now when I'm around. | ||
Restoretheroar Member Username: Restoretheroar Post Number: 668 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 192.193.221.142 |
my question is, has Royce ever left his car? I don't think I have heard a comment about him walking around a project. Not a critique, just curious. | ||
Skulker Member Username: Skulker Post Number: 3594 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.103.104.93 |
Yes, but it took him 53 seconds to cross a park. Now he is scarred for life. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1479 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 70.236.187.104 |
Restoretheroar, the next time you want to ask something about me, just ask me. I'm the most reliable source that can tell you about me. Now, to answer your question. Yes, I get out of my car. I walk around downtown all the time. If the project is accessible I'll walk over to it and go through it with a fine tooth comb. However, there are times when getting out of the car is not feasible, especially when it is very cold. So, when that happens I observe things from my car. And the fact is, some things don't need a close-up view to see that they are not done right. For example, why is there a concrete wall on the south side of Atwater in front of this new parking structure? It was there before the structure was built, but you can't see the river while driving, unless you're in an SUV. I don't drive an SUV. Why not an iron fence? Just makes it easier for all of us to view the river. | ||
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field Post Number: 500 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 209.240.205.61 |
Royce, I think you should move to that town called Perfect....you know the one in the Walgreens commercials. Oops, my bad don't move there, you wouldn't have anything to complain about, then what would you do with your time? | ||
Ericdfan Member Username: Ericdfan Post Number: 112 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.41.117.60 |
Millenium Park in Chicago has a beautiful Oriental inspired zen garden complete with boardwalk and running water, I think somthing like this would look equally as beatuiful in Detroit.. | ||
Tomoh Member Username: Tomoh Post Number: 86 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.40.205.183 |
Dougw, I noticed that too, that there are now at least 5 Thai restaurants in or near downtown, with the just opened Bangkok Crossing (very good) and the re-opened Sala Thai off Lafayette. But not a single Chinese restaurant in the CBD with a street fronting presence? Personally, I can't wait until I can get a bowl of pho downtown. I think the only similarity between this and African Town are that the names begin with continents. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1509 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.212.214.242 |
Still no rebuttal from you, Erikd. Have you seen the development first hand? What do you think? | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1009 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.74.30.120 |
Just saw your post, Tomoh. I tried Bangkok Crossing recently and I agree it was quite good... better than Bahn Thai/Orchid Thai IMO. Some bi bim bop downtown would be good, too. For Chinese I usually go to the newer one on East Jefferson near the Farmer Jack, which is OK. | ||
Gumby Member Username: Gumby Post Number: 919 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 204.39.224.44 |
Don't they mean Atwater? Atwood (stadium at least)is up here in Flint. | ||
Erikd Member Username: Erikd Post Number: 547 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.242.214.106 |
Royce, The doors open to the sidewalk at the ends of the retail strip. You don't have to go through the garage to get inside. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1513 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.212.214.242 |
Erikd, exactly. | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 924 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
I drove past this place tonight and thought to myself...why in the hell would they designe this place like this. I almost got out to see if the glass would magically transform into doors or something. This storefront was poorly designed and it does nothing to help promote any foot traffic in the area. This design is stooopid!!! | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1516 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.212.214.242 |
Exactly, Broken_main. Exactly. | ||
Erikd Member Username: Erikd Post Number: 548 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.242.214.106 |
Royce, you keep saying that there are no doors opening to sidewalk on Atwater...
You are wrong. There are 2 doors that open to the sidewalk on Atwater. | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 500 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.169.65 |
Can anyone think of ANY reason (besides stupidity) that they would come up with a design like this. They have to have some idiotic reason. ????????????????????????? later - naturalsister | ||
Erikd Member Username: Erikd Post Number: 551 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.242.214.106 |
Royce and Naturalsister, Let's wait to see the project finished before we call it a stupid, idiotic, poorly-designed failure. As a long-time downtown resident, I am also frustrated by the poor planning and lack of vision in many city projects, but I think that GM and the Pangborn group deserve the benefit of the doubt. GM has spent a half-billion dollars to transform the RenCen and surrounding Jefferson/riverfront area from an imposing fortress, surrounded by a sea of parking lots, into a public-friendly destination with retail and a beautiful riverfront, built for all to enjoy. Dominic Pangborn was one of the first retailers to move into the new Wintergarden, and he is now filling the first River East development with an entire block of retail. GM and Pangborn have both committed alot to Detroit, and their projects have been top-notch. I am confident that this new development will be a nice addition to the downtown/riverfront area. These people didn't invest all that money to build a cheap, half-assed strip mall on the riverfront. | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 930 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.222.11.226 |
Erikd, I am going to take this wait and see approach to see if this design is beneficial for the patrons and pedestrian. When it opens i will test it out myself and then judge. Still in my own opinion, unless they have Star Trek-like Transporter to get inside, it just won't work. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. | ||
Huggybear Member Username: Huggybear Post Number: 175 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 69.218.157.100 |
It would be my bet that the problem is Atwater traffic. There is no direct entrance to the Ren Cen from Jefferson anymore (Renaissance Drive is a one-way feeding into Jefferson), and your two approaches are Atwater to the west (Jefferson to Bates to) or some combination of east riverfront streets to Atwater (or Woodbridge). By my rough guess (based on workers in the building), Atwater is handling at least 5,000 cars owned by the people who work in the building - and these cars are coming in on Atwater in the morning and leaving via it each evening. Plus there are cars, taxis, Metrocars, and tour buses that don't belong to the office workers. If you are around Atwater behind the Renaissance Center during rush hour or any big event, you'll understand the problem with doors on that street. Having doors on Atwater invites people to stop their cars to load or unload people, which chokes the traffic coming into the complex. Then you get people driving on the wrong side of the street to get around the choke point, and then you can imagine the result. It will only get worse when one of the things in there is a supermarket, where the loaders/unloaders will be struggling with bags and bags of stuff. If that complex ends up with no doors off Atwater, you can't just chalk it up to some collossal f-up. If you have day-to-day familiarity with that area, it seems completely rational. And come on - people bring cars to supermarkets (and they would be parking in the garage). And at present, there is no reason pedestrians would wander across Jefferson, through a raft of parking garages and down to Atwater to see what is going on. When the River East stuff gets built and there is a walkable area, then it would be time to revisit entries off Atwater. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1522 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.212.214.242 |
Huggybear, I can see your point. However, it only forces me to ask this question, "If GM was aware of the traffic on Atwater, why not build the parking deck further back so that a parking lane or two could be added to alleviate any traffic congestion problems?" | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 504 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 64.148.228.76 |
Detroit NEEDS crowds and gridlock and a few more choking points like all the other CITIES THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY IN. later - naturalsister | ||
Huggybear Member Username: Huggybear Post Number: 177 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 68.252.13.150 |
Royce, good question - I'm not sure that adding parking lanes would be better, since you would then have people either trying to parallel park or diagonally park. This would itself cause some disruption. The best place to put a pedestrian entrance might be on St. Antoine, where you would have a natural connection to the rest of River East. That way you could do your other shopping down the street on the pedestrian friendly section, walk back to the garage, do your grocieries and finally leave with your car. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1528 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.212.214.242 |
Where are you, Skulker, to explain away this one? |
