  Harmonie Member Username: Harmonie Post Number: 609 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 198.109.32.15 |
FYI - I just got this in my work email. "Please be aware that the building on the northwest corner of Woodward and State (1201 Woodward) is deteriorating and the façade is crumbling onto the sidewalk, in a small chunks, from time to time, especially on the State Street side of the building. I have called the City's Building and Safety Engineering Department to report the problem but wanted you to be aware that you should avoid walking on that side of the street whenever possible." | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 557 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 35.8.219.97 |
That's the former Kresge store, which was only a block south of another Kresge store. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4141 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.177.81.18 |
Isn't this one of the ones they tried to put make-up on during the SuperBowl to try and hide the fact that it is vacant? You know, the kind of plain, tan-colored, Chicago School-styled building? | ||
Mattric43 Member Username: Mattric43 Post Number: 25 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 12.15.7.70 |
any pics? | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 558 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 35.8.219.97 |
For pics, look up "kresge" in WSU's Virtual Motor City site. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 528 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.105 |
Oh great-another wave of "lets chop off all of the onramentation", and just think Ilitch Just paid to have it all put back on the Fox. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 559 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 35.8.219.97 |
Most if not all of the Kresge ornamentation was lopped off many, many years ago. And I don't think Ilitch put back any pieces of actual *building* on the Fox; he just put a sign on top. | ||
Supersport Member Username: Supersport Post Number: 10482 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.246.37.236 |
TEAR THAT SCHITT DOWN BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT! (just kidding) | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1421 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.19.18.72 |
Photos and maps of various dime stores https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/62684/69049.html | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4144 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.177.81.18 |
Thanks, Horn. Here it is  | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 530 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 65.185.132.134 |
Burnsie--Mike put out some big coin to have all of the terra-cotta cornice work re-created and restored to the top of the Fox building. It was chopped off in the 1950's when the city passed the "no gingerbread" law after a 100 year old building lost some pieces (back then) and crowned someone. Pull up an old 90's picture of the fox bldg. exterior and look at the (lack of) cornice "stalagmites", then take that picture and look at the building today. Mike did right by the building. Again. One $5 pizza at a time. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2641 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.105.48 |
Well 56packman... with my appetite, I paid for a 10 foot section of it! (Money well spent!)  | ||
Genesyxx Member Username: Genesyxx Post Number: 559 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 71.159.22.4 |
So they contacted the city, and in turn the city will just send various letters (IN CAPS) about the problem. And nothing will be done for a long time until there's a story on the 6:oo news. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1998 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 75.10.25.111 |
I'm wondering why this building was left out of the two loft projects on lower Woodward. I certainly hope this can be preserved for the sake of the continuity of this block of Merchant's Row. | ||
Gambling_man Member Username: Gambling_man Post Number: 816 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 199.178.193.5 |
This building is owned by one Mr. Dennis Keffalino. IE, the single largest vacant building owner in Detroit, bar none......he is far worse than Illitch or Higgins could dream of being. He literally owns more than half of the vacant buildings downtown. For what, you ask? I have absolutely no idea.......as far as I know, he has never sold or done anything with any of them....... | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 7744 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19 |
Keffalino the Greektown guy? | ||
Gambling_man Member Username: Gambling_man Post Number: 817 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 199.178.193.5 |
That's the one. | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 891 Registered: 09-2004 Posted From: 136.1.1.101 |
That's "Dennis the Greek" to you. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1999 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 75.10.25.111 |
Keffalinos, that is, of Grosse Pointe Farms. A once illiterate Greek immigrant, but now self-made business man and apparantly slumlord. He founded and operates Niki's on Beaubien in the Boydell Building. Gambling Man, thanks for that info. One would expect that he is holding onto this building until he can get top dollar. this cannot happen until the rest of Merchant's Row fills in, i.e. all the storefronts and lofts are full. A new major employer downtown would probably accelerate this. 1201 underwent some facade improvements over the past year, though, right? | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1244 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 198.208.159.18 |
he also owns the Russell Industrial Center | ||
Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander Post Number: 2107 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 150.198.150.244 |
He also owns three building near capital park. As far as LMR they have an occupancy rate of about 85% which is very good in the rental market. The will always have empty spots because there are not enough people to support it. Why do you think so many retail spaces are vacant? | ||
Jams Member Username: Jams Post Number: 3633 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.38.30.233 |
Give the man his due. Currently 4 of his properties around Capital Park are being renovated. Not a fan of his by any means, but in the interest of fairness, he should receive the credit. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 2000 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 75.10.25.111 |
^^thanks for that info, too. I did not know he was improving well-occupied buildings at Capital Park. In fact, I only knew him as the founder of Niki's and a face in the community over here. | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 1139 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 216.223.168.132 |
Congrats on 2000 thoughtful posts, Mack. | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1284 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.2.1.101 |
Speaking of Niki's, that newly painted water tower with the Niki's logo (formerly graffiti-covered) near I-75 doesn't look half bad. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 2001 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 75.10.25.111 |
Thanks, Hysteria. Damn that snuck up fast on me. | ||
Gambling_man Member Username: Gambling_man Post Number: 818 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 199.178.193.5 |
For every building anyone can name that is occupied of his (which is guaranteed to be very few), there are 10 that are empty and falling down. | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6640 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
Gamblingman, are you saying that there are ten abandoned buildings for every one occupied downtown? | ||
Messykitty Member Username: Messykitty Post Number: 62 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.21.198.33 |
^^One in ten buildings that he owns, not one in ten in general. That's how I read it. | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6641 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
Whew. I was about to say... | ||
Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander Post Number: 2112 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 150.198.150.244 |
Would one of the Mikes get this type of free pass. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 7746 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19 |
No. I think Ilitch gets more venom directed his way since he is always cited as a model of Detroit property owners. I have often heard that downtown would be empty if not for Ilitch. The positive press for him with no mention of his slums probably brings some of the anger to him. People also probably assume that he has enough money to make a go of all his properties (whether it makes business sense or not). His relationship with city politicans just adds to the negativity. Higgins get beat up because he always has an announcement coming. I do get the sense that he wants to develop his stuff but doesn't have the means. I had no idea how many places Keffalinos owned. So he should definitely be cited for being a major slumlord. Just my 2 cents. | ||
Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander Post Number: 2114 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 150.198.150.244 |
JT1, I have no issue with any of them but the moose lodge thread is a perfect example of the hypocrisy that goes on here when dilapidated properties are discussed. The owner of moose lodge that is a preservationist (which should hold him to a higher standard) allows his building go to shit but that is alright because he is rehabbing properties in Pontiac. HypocrisyYES! | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 7747 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19 |
Very true - It's easier to give a pass when someone defends their position in a face to face manner. The loan issue makes sense but I am sure that any delinquent property owner could have a many reasons why they can't take care of their property. The one different from one slum lord to another is whether they keep the building sealed and safe or just let it crumble and pose a threat. I don't care for eitehr approach but I think that those that keep their buildings sealed and safe are a slight step abobe those who just allow them to rot without putting in the minimum amount of upkeep. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4157 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.177.81.18 |
The Ilitch's gets criticism, because they easily have the most wealthy to at the very least minimally keep up their vacant properties, something they've only recently did because the SuperBowl kind of made them. | ||
Redetroit Member Username: Redetroit Post Number: 34 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
He owns Bazooki too...gotta put that cash somewhere.. |
