  Lvnthed Member Username: Lvnthed Post Number: 108 Registered: 03-2007 |
Pic's Please | ||
Mattric43 Member Username: Mattric43 Post Number: 129 Registered: 03-2006 |
Which side is the tower going to be on? I was always under the impression that it was going to be at the east end, closest to 375. Am I wrong on this? | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1098 Registered: 10-2003 |
you are. the hotel tower will be on the west end, along st. antoine. | ||
Mattric43 Member Username: Mattric43 Post Number: 131 Registered: 03-2006 |
Total mind blower. I kinda thought that would have made more sense. I just could have sworn I heard it was going to be on the east side. Hmm Whatever. Thanks Rsa for clearing that up. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1099 Registered: 10-2003 |
you're welcome. i think the way they're building it makes more sense; locate the cars closer to the expressway and parking lots and the hotel closer to the casino, views, and strip of shops and restaurants. the perspective of the rendering above is taken from the southwest corner of monroe and st. antoine. in reality, st. anne's church would be to the right and hella's would be to the left (both partially obscuring the lower levels). | ||
Wolverine Member Username: Wolverine Post Number: 305 Registered: 04-2004 |
Because of the parking structure setback, I wonder if in the future they can create a ring of perimeter retail around it. Granted, they wouldn't be very deep, just 50 feet, but it would nice. | ||
Mattric43 Member Username: Mattric43 Post Number: 132 Registered: 03-2006 |
That does make more sense. | ||
Genesyxx Member Username: Genesyxx Post Number: 706 Registered: 02-2004 |
Nothing like looking out of your hotel suite and seeing a detention center staring you in the face. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5342 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wolverine, what setback are you talking about? | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1100 Registered: 10-2003 |
they are going to be constructing retail along monroe street (i believe the setback you're talking about). it's in the code for new parking structures. it's just a different method of construction, so i assume it will be built later... i love the irony; casino built between a jail and a church. | ||
Scs100 Member Username: Scs100 Post Number: 810 Registered: 12-2006 |
Church- Going there to repent for gambling Jail- Robbing someone/disorderly conduct at the casino | ||
Gambling_man Member Username: Gambling_man Post Number: 992 Registered: 11-2003 |
There will be very little "setback" from Monroe street in regards to the garage..... | ||
Gambling_man Member Username: Gambling_man Post Number: 993 Registered: 11-2003 |
In response to some earlier posts, if you put the hotel on the eastern portion of the garage, how would you get to the lobby with all of the cars zooming in from the freeway off-ramp? Where would you valet park and unload luggage, kids, etc.? From a visibility perspective, closer to the expressway is better, but functionally it doesn't work on that site. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5345 Registered: 10-2003 |
Gambling Man, Out of curiosity, will there be any signage or exterior lighting at the back of the garage to serve as a beacon? | ||
Gambling_man Member Username: Gambling_man Post Number: 995 Registered: 11-2003 |
Lmichigan, yes there will be. That being said, if you are coming south on I-75, take a look at the tower crane....you can see it from a long way off, and the hotel should be about 80 feet higher than the crane. Should become a nice addition to the skyline. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5354 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oh, it will be. It will be taller than the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tower, next door, and we all know how prominent that building can look on the skyline coming from the north or east. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 831 Registered: 02-2007 |
"Oh, it will be. It will be taller than the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tower, next door, and we all know how prominent that building can look on the skyline coming from the north or east." Seeing all the Low-Density development that is on that portion of downtown, any High Rise or even Tower will definitely be welcomed. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 832 Registered: 02-2007 |
That's a bit unrealistic tall. Officially the tallest building in Detroit will be a Casino huh? Not the best type of building you would want to label the tallest, but it is a start. | ||
Scs100 Member Username: Scs100 Post Number: 842 Registered: 12-2006 |
Huh? I thought the Ren Cen Marriott tower was the tallest. Isn't Comerica Tower also taller? | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 834 Registered: 02-2007 |
Gambling_Man stated that the Tower could be 80 feet taller that the Crane. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 2689 Registered: 02-2005 |
How would that make it taller than the Ren Cen or most of the other downtown buildings? It's tall, but not that tall. It's height will really cast a shadow over the police/jail campus to its north, considering that for much of the year the sun is in the southern sky in MI. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 2690 Registered: 02-2005 |
If you go by the 343' number cited above. That would make it just a bit taller than the First National Building at Cadillac and Woodward. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 838 Registered: 02-2007 |
If that's the case, it will not be a tower, but a low to mid leve High-Rise. Those other buildings (Ren Cen, Comerica, Penobscot) compared to buildings in other cities are only mid to hid level high rises unfortunately. It would be nice to get an actual tower in downtown. | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 785 Registered: 10-2006 |
According to http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/c i/bu/sk/?id=101037 Detroit has 173 high-rise buildings. I guess in theory Detroit doesn't have any building higher than a high-rise? | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 841 Registered: 02-2007 |
You do the Math -Penobscot Building (Detroit): 172 m 565 ft -Key Tower (Cleveland): 289 m 947 ft Also, this is quoted from Emporis "- This is the tallest building between Chicago and New York City. " for Key Tower. (Message edited by Urbanize on April 14, 2007) (Message edited by Urbanize on April 14, 2007) | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4122 Registered: 08-2004 |
Urbanize... I believe you are stuck on semantics. Your methodology for determining "high-rise" is not a moving yard stick every time something taller gets built. Just because there are some 947 footers out there in other cities does not somehow make this new building a "mid-rise". Otherwise that new 200 story building planned for Chicago (the "Big Screw") would make Cleveland's 947 foot Kew Tower seem mid-rise. At 30 stories the Greektown Hotel will be a high-rise tower. The Broderick Tower is 34 stories, the Book Tower is 36 stories, and the Cadillac Tower is 40 stories. They may not be 947 foot high-rises, but they are all still "high-rise". (Message edited by Gistok on April 14, 2007) | ||
Spiritofdetroit Member Username: Spiritofdetroit Post Number: 390 Registered: 11-2006 |
urbanize, some of your posts are unbelievably ridiculous | ||
French777 Member Username: French777 Post Number: 163 Registered: 10-2006 |
any new photo's | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 1209 Registered: 06-2005 |
I will attempt to get some new pics this weekend. Also my Father-in-law , who works for Kewadin is coming down this weekend. I will try to get some info from him as well. | ||
Flybydon Member Username: Flybydon Post Number: 113 Registered: 01-2005 |
As of 4-29-2007  | ||
Keystone Member Username: Keystone Post Number: 246 Registered: 10-2003 |
Great pic Don. I think I saw you circling yesterday? Around 10 am? | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 131 Registered: 12-2006 |
When the MGM Grand did their hiring for their new casino, they hired 1,000 new employees. Would it be safe to assume that the other two casinos will need around 1,000 employees each as well? If so, 3,000 jobs on top of the tax revenue generated seems pretty good. Sure they aren't the best paying jobs, but a lower paying job is better than NO job, right? | ||
Flybydon Member Username: Flybydon Post Number: 114 Registered: 01-2005 |
Keystone, Yep about the right time. MotorCity sure has an unusual designed roof.  | ||
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger Post Number: 244 Registered: 05-2006 |
There is one thing I don’t understand about Greektown’s design. Are the rooms below the 10th floor on the east side of the building going to have a view of the inside of the parking deck or are they just not going to have windows at all? I realize that some of this could be used for service areas but it seems like a lot of space to be filled with windowless rooms. | ||
Bobj Member Username: Bobj Post Number: 2021 Registered: 11-2003 |
I heard the jobs pay OK, but have superior benefits - true?? | ||
Toog05 Member Username: Toog05 Post Number: 138 Registered: 03-2006 |
Ram, I imagine that they will have a hallway on the eastside of the hotel, I don't think they will have people looking out at a garage. The windows of the hotel tower will probably face north, south, and west. That's my best guess. | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 132 Registered: 12-2006 |
Bobj, so they are like State employee jobs? | ||
Spiritofdetroit Member Username: Spiritofdetroit Post Number: 434 Registered: 11-2006 |
While most of the jobs are lower paying (although all well above minimum wage) there are lots of higher-level jobs as well. The rates they were offering for executive chefs were more than reasonable as well, from what I saw. | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 134 Registered: 12-2006 |
That's good news, Spirit. In the current state of things, any jobs are good jobs, but it is good to hear that Detroit could get up to 3,000 decent to VERY well paying jobs in the near future. Add this to the new job creation that is being announced on sites like Metromodemedia.com and all of a sudden the job losses in the area don't seem AS bad. | ||
Planner_727 Member Username: Planner_727 Post Number: 104 Registered: 07-2006 |
Hopefully not a dual post, but I have been marvelling at the Motor City hotel roof since I first saw it taking shape. It is a large space... almost like an auditorium with 2-4 floors tall open room. I'd be willing to be it will be a sweet tower-top club, restaurant, theater, or some combo of those. Imagine the view of MGM, CoPa, and Downtown from up there! | ||
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger Post Number: 250 Registered: 05-2006 |
What’s the latest on construction of the actual casino expansion? I would think this would be a priority. After all, that’s the goose that lays the golden eggs. Are they still planning on building over Lafayette Blvd.? It’s too bad they couldn’t come to some agreement ($$$) with St. Mary’s for the parking lot east of St. Antoine Street. I think that would work much better than their over-the-street plan. | ||
Emu_steve Member Username: Emu_steve Post Number: 299 Registered: 11-2006 |
Quote: " It’s too bad they couldn’t come to some agreement ($$$) with St. Mary’s for the parking lot east of St. Antoine Street. I think that would work much better than their over-the-street plan." I believe in a thread, maybe this one, it was stated that the Greek Church owns the parking in that block. | ||
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger Post Number: 251 Registered: 05-2006 |
I was under the impression that the Greek Church owned the lot along Monroe St. and St. Mary’s owned the lot along Lafayette Blvd. I could be wrong. | ||
Flybydon Member Username: Flybydon Post Number: 130 Registered: 01-2005 |
May 28, 2007  Working the deck cement smooth.  | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5574 Registered: 10-2003 |
I can't believe how huge that parking garage is. It looks to be as tall if not taller than the high-rise jail tower, next door. I imagine the top of the garage will rarely ever be used. lol They should have just turned the top floor into an observation deck and elevated park.  | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 1072 Registered: 10-2006 |
I'm sure that they had plenty of calculations (or maybe even a zoning ordinance) that told them how many parking spaces they needed. Whenever I have tried to park in the existing Greektown garage it has always been almost full. Even once I drove around and around and around each level to the top (I think ten levels) and then had to go back down as it was full. Plus hotels usually require 1.1 spaces per room, plus 10 spaces per 1,000 SF of restaurant, plus 1 space for every three seats in any conference center facilities, etc. So one can see how that would quickly add up. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5578 Registered: 10-2003 |
Neither of Greektown's current garages is anything close to 10 floors. After you get so high, the top is simply rarely used. | ||
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul Post Number: 1079 Registered: 10-2006 |
"in the existing Greektown garage" I meant the existing Greektown CASINO garage... | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5579 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yes, I realized that. | ||
Keystone Member Username: Keystone Post Number: 248 Registered: 10-2003 |
Any guesses as to why the construction of the northeast corner is separate from the rest of the building? | ||
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus Post Number: 1334 Registered: 06-2006 |
has anyone seen signs of the supposed ground floor retail that was to go there? I drove by on Thursday and it didn't look like there was any retail space being incorporated into the parking garage structure...can't image that there will be any unless they plan a separate, attached building similar to what they did with the Detroit Opera House parking garage... | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 9268 Registered: 10-2003 |
It may not be apparent until it is finished. When the 1001 deck was going up it was hard to see how a CVS would have the space but there is actually space for that and Salad Creations. I would guess the building would call for specific infrastruture for the businesses but the final roughing in wouldn't take shape until the deck is done. Just a guess on my part but I do remember looking at the 1001 deck and wondering how any retail could fit into that. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5584 Registered: 10-2003 |
I sent an email to Rossetti about this, and though Rich & Associates is the architect for the garage, they told me that the retail will be built adjacent to the parking garage on the Monroe side of it, I believe. So, it will be much like the retail at the Opera House garage. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 2883 Registered: 02-2005 |
I hope the build upwards about three stories or so that you can't notice the garage as much from the street. Thanks for getting that info, Lmich. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5585 Registered: 10-2003 |
The amount of retail space is tiny. Depending on what Planning Commission agenda one reads it will either be between 2,000 to 6,000 square feet of space, so I seriously doubt it will detract from the giant garage, which rises 140 or so feet to its top deck and 160 or so feet to the top of the elevator tower. This garage is a beast as you well know, and I doubt even the hotel tower is going to be able to bring it into a good scale with its surroundings. The garage is simply too big, IMO. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5596 Registered: 10-2003 |
I've been asked to delete my post. Apparently, I misrepresented Greektown's plans. (Message edited by lmichigan on June 06, 2007) | ||
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger Post Number: 293 Registered: 05-2006 |
quote: Why am I not surprised? I have never seen such cheap casino operators. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 2891 Registered: 02-2005 |
This is not good. If you don't look UP, that part of Greektown won't look too much different...just a parking garage along that whole block. I was under the impression that street-level retail would basically add a block to the Greektown district. | ||
Rocket_city Member Username: Rocket_city Post Number: 286 Registered: 04-2006 |
I took some photos on June 1. http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070020.jpg http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070021.jpg http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070023.jpg http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070024.jpg http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070026.jpg http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070027.jpg http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070028.jpg http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070029.jpg http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070030.jpg http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070031.jpg http://downtownmotown.8k.com/D etroitDevelopment/2007_0601Det Dev06_01_070034.jpg I call it, "BEAST"! | ||
Detroit313 Member Username: Detroit313 Post Number: 349 Registered: 02-2006 |
So much parking. Some of the first angles make it look like Detroit is very dense. Thanks for the shots Rock city <313> | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 2893 Registered: 02-2005 |
I don't think there are enough cars in the city to fill that structure. What's with that gap between the two sections of the structure? | ||
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger Post Number: 295 Registered: 05-2006 |
I believe that section will contain the ramps, it probably will be more difficult to construct and it might require additional city inspections. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5597 Registered: 10-2003 |
It's nothing, they simply haven't built that section, yet. That's the section that will include the ramp. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 2894 Registered: 02-2005 |
That makes sense. What a behemoth. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 2239 Registered: 07-2004 |
If there is to be no retail on the ground level of this parking deck, according to Lmichigan, then that is a slap in the face to all of us who were led to believe that there would be ground-floor retail in this structure. Can Greektown Casino go back on their word when the artist rendering showed ground floor retail? If it's true it SUCKS. Retail on that block would give that section of Greektown some much needed life. One of the biggest complaints that I had with the old parking deck was that it did not have retail. Again, if it's true that there will be no retail, then we have seen another blown opportunity to make Detroit a more walkable city. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5600 Registered: 10-2003 |
Just a correction, this isn't according to me, but Gambling_man. I don't remember any renderings for this particular incarnation of the permanent facility even showing enough detail that would indicate retail was supposed to be in the garage. They had reported, all along, that the garage would have retail, but the only thing that matters is what the city approved. The last mention I could find in the planning commission agendas showed that it was approved with retail space on the ground floor, but I'm not sure if they were legally bound by any deal to include retail in the garage. | ||
Wilus1mj Member Username: Wilus1mj Post Number: 196 Registered: 05-2005 |
Greektown is in a race to build their casino and already behind MGM & MotorCity...having retail in their garage would slow things down | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5601 Registered: 10-2003 |
2,000 to 6,000 square feet of space, which is what they were planning, would not slow them down enough to matter. That's a poor excuse. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4481 Registered: 08-2004 |
Retail on the ground floor of that complex would have to be all on Monroe. But then you have the side of St. Mary's across the street. One certainly wonders just how well retail would do there. The street just north of Monroe (can't remember the name) has to be one of the least pedestrian friendly streets in downtown. With a Juvenile Justice System complex sprawling along the north side, and the wall of a huge parking structure for Greektown Casino on the south side (no retail on that side), that block has to be pretty much a "no man's land" as far as streetscape and pedestrians goes... | ||
Ramcharger Member Username: Ramcharger Post Number: 297 Registered: 05-2006 |
 As we all know, renderings don't mean much. The height of the garage appears to be at least two floors shorter in this rendering than what is currently being built. I don't think that having retail on only one side of the street would have mattered much. Most of Greektown's retail is on the north side of Monroe already. Other than the casino, there are only three restaurants on the south side. Having retail that far east on Monroe might have given the Greek Church the impetus to build its own parking structure with ground floor retail on the surface lot they own on the south side of Monroe. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1142 Registered: 10-2003 |
it's a zoning requirement that all new parking structure must have ground floor retail. this was instituted about 2 years ago. so it makes me doubt very highly that they just "took it out". if there is no retail going in then that means 1.) they never included it in the first place and had to apply for a variance to the city building department or 2.) applied for building permits with it attached and are now excluding it (which is illegal). there is no provision to "swap" retail space from the ground floor to another lot altogether. the intention of the requirement is to improve the streetscape and make buildings more useable than for just parking. my inclination is that people are just panicking because they can't tell from the construction how it's going to be integrated. | ||
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus Post Number: 1352 Registered: 06-2006 |
LM: You said the retail will be on the parking lot on Monroe and St. Antoine, but that parking lot is where the garage is going...so does that mean the retail structure will sit between the garage and Monroe? It looks like there is a large enough space there to do something like this, and I can't see where else they would do...and if so, then this will still add another retail block to Monroe, just like we were expecting, right? | ||
Cgunn Member Username: Cgunn Post Number: 55 Registered: 01-2004 |
RSA I hope what you are saying is true. But how did MGM get away without building ground floor retail, or is there ground floor retail? | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1143 Registered: 10-2003 |
the requirement for retail on the ground floor is only within the CBD. i believe the city considers where the new MGM is still within the boundaries. which would mean they probably received a variance from the building department when they applied for construction permits. it was granted probably based on the fact that the garage is not on any main thoroughfare and that they are already providing quite a bit of retail/occupiable space adjoining the parking garage. i do not know if there is a square footage addendum to the requirement (eg: if you provide retail in an additional building how much space you must provide in relation to the size/number of spaces in the garage). | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1144 Registered: 10-2003 |
i found it: Sec. 61-12-220. Parking structures. Parking structures shall be subject to the following provisions: (3) In the B5, PC, PCA, and SD1 Districts, a parking structure shall be permitted by right if at least thirty percent (30%) of the ground floor level façade abutting a public street is dedicated to commercial space or other space oriented to pedestrian traffic. Otherwise, a parking structure may only be permitted as a Conditional use; [this is in the downtown overlay district, which means it is applicable to all of the CBD.] | ||
Warrenite84 Member Username: Warrenite84 Post Number: 118 Registered: 01-2007 |
bump | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 1039 Registered: 02-2006 |
Shit that's a lot of parking. A full block and 11 stories by my count (not including ground floor or roof). Ugh. | ||
Rocket_city Member Username: Rocket_city Post Number: 297 Registered: 04-2006 |
It's a high rise. It makes Price Waterhouse Cooper look like a pip squeak. | ||
Gplimpton Member Username: Gplimpton Post Number: 21 Registered: 05-2007 |
Hello, ugly. | ||
Adamjab19 Member Username: Adamjab19 Post Number: 783 Registered: 11-2003 |
The only benefit of getting both the MGM and Greektown garages in would be that the surface lots will soon become obsolete. You know since there is so much parking in these garages they could charge $5 or so instead of the $20+ at the surface lots. I laugh a little inside when I park my car on Gratiot for free right next to $15 paid lots. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 4562 Registered: 08-2004 |
I do hope that the elevated walkway between the Greektown Hotel and Casino has glass walls! The MotorCity Casino skywalks will be just like the old one between the temporary casino and the food/restaurant building across the street from it. There's no windows, so when you're walking thru it, you have no idea that you are crossing over a street thru an elevated walkway. But in Greektown, the view from the walkway looking down upon the bustle of Monroe St. would be pretty cool, if it is glass enclosed. I hope that is their plan! | ||
Rocket_city Member Username: Rocket_city Post Number: 298 Registered: 04-2006 |
Don't mean to stray for a second, but while we're on parking: Does anyone know the details behind that really big empty lot directly in front of the MGM Grand? There is a lot of work being done on it, and all the signs point toward, Ilitch-like pretty surface parking. The lot is located at (something like) 2nd and Beech or Elizabeth streets. | ||
Cgunn Member Username: Cgunn Post Number: 58 Registered: 01-2004 |
DTE is sprucing up its campus to make it more park like. |
