  Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1004 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.136.142.0 |
ferry and beaubien. I kinda like the unit on the corner   | ||
Mpow Member Username: Mpow Post Number: 184 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 200.65.7.90 |
yeah, I love saw horses.. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3530 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Very, very nice! This is exactly the way I want to see Detroit going in terms of attached housing. I like how they play off of the popular Tudor Style of architecture in the newer parts of the city. | ||
Iddude313 Member Username: Iddude313 Post Number: 22 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 70.227.13.218 |
i recall seeing that area as an empty lot from my ccs dorm. looks much better now! | ||
Dialh4hipster Member Username: Dialh4hipster Post Number: 1569 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 75.6.238.160 |
It gets very Grosse Pointe-y on the left over there. | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 467 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.237.10.39 |
That's ok....Grosse Pointe is very Indian Village-y if you think about it.... | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1081 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.73.55.190 |
Not bad at all, really. Also nice to see three stories in this area rather than the usual two-story low-density condo crap. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 2304 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
The official ribbon cutting ceremony for the place is April 20th. It's so nice to see something somewhat unique for the units, even if it's just the color or slight architectural trim as opposed to cookie cutter condos going up in the area. | ||
Eric Member Username: Eric Post Number: 426 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.136.144.196 |
I like it nice to see some attention to design. Far better than the bland mess the Hubell Group has been throwning up in the area | ||
Detroit313 Member Username: Detroit313 Post Number: 39 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 12.45.2.184 |
That is beautiful. 313 | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 3980 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.173.162 |
Now that some great gentrification of the "Nouveau Riche" condos. In the area where most low-imcome families used to live, work and play. All of them left and the rich-folks reclaim the east side and making it ethnically diverse once again. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1005 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.136.142.0 |
actually danny, about 6-7 years ago, most of that area in question was empty lots. Those lots now being filled with MIXED income housing. | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 565 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123 |
Awesome. More. I want to see more that! | ||
Udmphikapbob Member Username: Udmphikapbob Post Number: 127 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 206.81.45.34 |
my design was better 5 years ago before my idiot boss lost us the project... | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 566 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123 |
Can you post pictures of that project? Although, what's there looks pretty good, I'm always curious about what could have been. | ||
Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander Post Number: 1737 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 150.198.150.244 |
I'm picturing a big frat house. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 201 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.105 |
Hey, no vinyl siding--very nice. build more. | ||
Swingline Member Username: Swingline Post Number: 458 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 172.132.52.122 |
Exactly, 56packman! It's hard to overstate the importance of materials when it comes to compatible infill development. The cost pressures are certainly very difficult for developers doing projects in Detroit. But vinyl siding or the concrete block with the cast stone face almost always detract from infill development. The worst though is EFIS. | ||
Sknutson Member Username: Sknutson Post Number: 521 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 67.114.23.202 |
Beautiful! Their website says that after the first ten are sold, they will build another 38. I sure hope so. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1008 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.136.142.0 |
they have a sign up at the corner of st. antoine and frederick douglass for phase 2 (its another empty lot) the must be scrambing for that ribbon cutting, its been buy over there the last few weeks....even working sundays! | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1587 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 69.215.242.201 |
The design for the majority of them looks nice, but the all white condo doesn't fit with the rest. | ||
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin Post Number: 2631 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.202.227.12 |
They cannot get out of the suburban mentality.... | ||
Sknutson Member Username: Sknutson Post Number: 523 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 67.114.23.202 |
What is the exterior surface of the white corner unit? | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3544 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
I would suspect it is EIFS. Detroit Stylin, are you really complaining about this project being too suburban? It is easily one of the best infill projects to date in terms of material and styling, far better than the Brush Park toy houses. | ||
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin Post Number: 2633 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.202.227.12 |
no I just have an issue with vinyl siding... Don't even start LMichigan seems like you have issues with a decrepit neighborhood being turned into a casino... | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 702 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.76.202.10 |
It hadn't occured to me that they were even done covering it yet. Is that the final finish? The white on the end like that? Maybe we're missing something without a close-up. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 1998 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.81.192 |
Maybe some nice English Ivy is planned for the corner unit.... | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 206 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 24.208.234.52 |
The end unit looks like driveit/stucco "the walls must weather the stain before the Ivy grows" | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 207 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 24.208.234.52 |
swingline--it also important to have a developer and architect who isn't on a head trip to "insert" some half-assed "modern" (read: what I just saw in my industry mag and am copying) into a neighborhood that has a common style. We went through enough of that in the 60's and 70's. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1009 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.136.142.0 |
I think the corner one came out white because of the bright sunshine...Its grey stucco over styrofoam block (EIFS?) that is, assumingly, supposed to resemble the the limestone/marble blocks used on buidings elsewhere in the immediate vicinity | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3549 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
BTW, EIFS stands for "exterior insulation and finish systems." Here's a little diagram showing the basic concept of such facades:  It's advantages are that it is energy efficient, and most importantly, to developers, it's cheap. The disadvantage, it also looks cheap. BTW, another name for EIFS is Synthetic Stucco. | ||
Mccarch Member Username: Mccarch Post Number: 67 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 70.236.164.179 |
Another name for EIFS is Bondo for buildings. | ||
Jfried Member Username: Jfried Post Number: 807 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.190 |
the problems with eifs isn't just that it looks cheap, it's that it deteriorates rapidly. it's hard to believe they would use such a cheap material after spending so much on the other finishes. | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 572 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123 |
Model ready, open house planned for Centurion Place's 8 luxury units http://www.modeldmedia.com/dev elopmentnews/centurian41.aspx This is the web site for the developer. http://www.nailahllc.com/ | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1012 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 198.208.159.20 |
!!! | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 573 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123 |
Yeah, the prices are disturbing. A friend of mine, a single accountant at GMAC a few years out of college, was complaining about the price of homes in the downtown area. He honestly felt that they were price prohibitive for people like him who want to live downtown but still have enough income left over after their mortgage payment to enjoy bars, shows, concerts and shopping downtown. | ||
Track75 Member Username: Track75 Post Number: 2305 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 12.75.22.9 |
So someone a few years out of college expects to be able to afford a home downtown and a bunch of disposable income for entertainment, shopping and nightclubs? Welcome to the real world, naive GMAC accountant. Detroit is still a huge bargain compared to virtually any other major city. Consider us lucky to be able to buy nice places like the Centurion for only $200/ft2. Plop that down in Chicago, Boston, SF, DC, or NYC and you'll be paying $700K - $1 million. If things take off in Detroit, the young college grads will have to do what they do in other cities, live in a "transitional" neighborhood with a roommate or three, or live an hour out and commute in to visit their friends in their high-rent flophouse. Places like that in major cities aren't for recent college grads, they're generally for successful professionals in their peak earning years. Even recently minted top MBAs and lawyers in other cities struggle to find a nice spacious place they can afford on their $130K salary. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1013 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 198.208.159.20 |
I have one word concerning the price of those units in relation to their location: "incinerator" its 5 blocks away, is anyone with that kind of buying power going to be able to overlook that reasonably signifigant detail of the neighborhood? For their sakes, I hope there is a sstrong westerly breeze the day of the open house | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 893 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.184.29.148 |
Like the idiots that bought the condos in downtown Royal Oak and complain about the tains and the noises and smells that the resturants and bars bring. Dumb Fucks! That's the reason you bought that place, to be close to the action. | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 574 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123 |
Track75: True. I don't disagree with what you're saying. My friend's POV is that Detroit doesn't nearly have as many amenities as Chi or NYC but has the undesirable high crime, insurance rates, taxes, etc., etc. But he does see the potential and likes it. The real draw for him is being able to walk or take the people mover to work, the bar, the riverwalk, you know the yuppie urban lifestyle. If he could find a place in the high 100s with floorplans he liked he'd take it in a second. His point is, and I agree with on this, is that the downtown Detroit area should be more affordable for young professionals with limited but solid middle-class incomes. These are the people who will be at the top of their income brackets someday soon. These are the people who want to spend their disposable income at places like Borders or Slows or Ben & Jerry's or Cliff Bells. They're a key part to helping make the downtown area a vibrant place. A yuppie shouldn't have to mortgage his social life away for this. | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 575 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123 |
Isn't the incinerator going away in a few years anyways? I think I remember the mayor saying the city will switch garbage services to a more landfill/recycling based system instead of the burn it all system we have today. | ||
Jsmyers Member Username: Jsmyers Post Number: 1616 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 209.131.7.68 |
The incinerator might be going away. The mayor has made statements commiting to that, but nothing is decided yet. There are a lot of condos in virtually all price ranges. This developer has aimed for the top of the market. Don't let that lead you to believe that all developments are like this one. For example: http://www.modeldmedia.com/dev elopmentnews/ninethird38.aspx http://www.modeldmedia.com/dev elopmentnews/cantownloft.aspx And these are also near the top of the market. | ||
Track75 Member Username: Track75 Post Number: 2306 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 12.75.22.9 |
E_Hemingway, it would be nice if downtown were more affordable for young singles and couples since that demographic does add a lot to the vibrancy of a downtown with all their dining, drinking and debauchery  . But if I had to rate it, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being very affordable and 10 being very unaffordable I'd put downtown Detroit at a 2. Of course a generic condo in a generic suburb is a cheaper alternative but to have a true big-city urban experience, Detroit is still a screaming bargain, warts and all. In fact, it's a bargain compared to downtown Birmingham and RO. I don't know how large a place your friend is looking for but high $100's ($180K-$190K) at $200 - $250/ft2 means a 750 ft2 - 850 ft2 one-bedroom. There may not be much right downtown on the market in that size range, particularly newly built, but that is a livable size. In some other markets high 100's is a 20% down payment on a well-located 1-bedroom. High 100's will do fine for less "prime" but still nice areas of the city. Enjoy the relative affordability while it lasts. If Michigan can get past the auto-related economic doldrums we will see a stronger resurgence downtown that will price many Detroit-lovers out of the downtown market. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3658 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Housing should be viewed as an appreciating asset. Given correct economic conditions, the inflation will reward the home buyer. Sadly, for several generations now, Detroit has not enjoyed such prosperity nor demand. The sticker shock of new housing costs should not dissuade a buyer with a real time plan to live there for a long time. Over time,. you'll pencil out ok. Try not to get leveraged so badly that you have limited cashflow. Better to have a bigger downpayment. These Tudoresque auto mogul vestigial references are wonderful to see. Since the 1920s, every working car-shop John has wanted to live in a Tudor mansion like the bosses. It is nice to see the comeback. Secure parking is THE key. jjaba, VIVA de-troit. | ||
Sknutson Member Username: Sknutson Post Number: 526 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 67.114.23.202 |
Move to SF and get a crappy condo for $650+ per sq foot. | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 576 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 68.42.176.123 |
No joke. My little sister lives on Russian Hill. Her rent is off the charts. I have no idea how she can afford it. Isn't the average house price out there something like $700,000? | ||
Sknutson Member Username: Sknutson Post Number: 528 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 67.114.23.202 |
$700,000? Well, if you want a starter home..... | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1017 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 69.136.142.0 |
bunch of people down there for the open house, even horse drawn carraige rides around the neighborhood (wtf?). | ||
Rfban Member Username: Rfban Post Number: 8 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 69.136.141.133 |
"Centurion Place, is holding an open house from 4-6 p.m Thursday, April 20. The open house will feature, beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres from Twingo’s, a display of artwork from the CCS Community Artists, and performances from local musicians." |
