  Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 145 Registered: 07-2006 |
Can anyone provide information about the Lafer building? When I visited Detroit last summer, I saw it from a People Mover station, and thought it was really interesting. Today's picture du jour post mentioned that the building is going to be rehabbed. Does anyone have any information about that? | ||
Milwaukee Member Username: Milwaukee Post Number: 581 Registered: 08-2006 |
Hope this helps http://www.modeldmedia.com/dev elopmentnews/lafer49.aspx | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 6108 Registered: 10-2003 |
Cman... This is the RFP the city issued back in 2000 or 2001... | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 146 Registered: 07-2006 |
Thanks, Aiw and Milwaukee! I will read both those documents when I get a chance. They look very interesting. For some reason, when I saw the back of the building, I had not realized it was the back! That is probably because of the painted ads on the back, though I should have figured, given the fire escapes. Any word on whether construction has begun? | ||
Erikd Member Username: Erikd Post Number: 790 Registered: 10-2003 |
Construction started a few months ago. Most of the exterior work is done. The facade hes been detailed, the back and sides if the building have been painted, the old rusty fire escape has been removed, and all the side and back windows have been removed. | ||
Enduro Member Username: Enduro Post Number: 40 Registered: 11-2006 |
If that's the same building I think it is, I've had a friend who lived on one floor and been to crazy parties on some of the others. Cool building and with no elevator at the time a true pain to help move in/out of. The floors at the time we're pretty cool (the fire escapes dangerous). I'd love to see them after some professional remodelling. | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 147 Registered: 07-2006 |
Thanks for the update, Erikd. When I had seen the building in the summer, it struck me as a gritty survivor of what downtown must have looked like 15 years ago, when things were truly desolate. I am glad that there is progress being made and that more people will be living downtown. | ||
Wolverine Member Username: Wolverine Post Number: 253 Registered: 04-2004 |
It looks amazing today. For a second I couldn't even recognize the back because it looks so nice. | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 149 Registered: 07-2006 |
If anyone could post a picture, that would be great. | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 223 Registered: 11-2003 |
The mural should have been restored. | ||
Christos Member Username: Christos Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2006 |
Wasn't there a coffee shop on the ground floor at some point? Perhaps called Mahoghany (sp?)? | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4984 Registered: 10-2003 |
I take it they aren't going to put up a website like Model D reported back in June, then? Or, is it that I simply can't find it? | ||
Krawlspace Member Username: Krawlspace Post Number: 284 Registered: 04-2004 |
Some photos I took this past summer can be found here. It was originally a grocery store on the two lower floors. A slide between the floors allowed goods to be sent down easily. The double oven on the top floor was used to roast Lafer Brothers Coffee, for which the store was well known. The woman boxer poster was pasted inside a closet. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 990 Registered: 10-2003 |
great pic's krawl! thanks for sharing. | ||
Ewo Member Username: Ewo Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2006 |
I LOVE that bar!!!! | ||
Cman710 Member Username: Cman710 Post Number: 153 Registered: 07-2006 |
Thanks for the pics! I think this building will be a great project. Let's hope it is done well! | ||
Krawlspace Member Username: Krawlspace Post Number: 289 Registered: 04-2004 |
The bar is actually in pieces right now and the owners are unsure if it will be used in that space. I know they were interested in selling it for around 4k. | ||
Drankin21 Member Username: Drankin21 Post Number: 39 Registered: 12-2003 |
Who is the creepy dude in the door around pic 20? he'll give me nightmares tonight... | ||
Kenp Member Username: Kenp Post Number: 161 Registered: 03-2006 |
took me 3 times to find the guy in the door, kind of looked like uncle fester. KrawlSpace, excellant pics. The bar was cool, I hope they didnt ruin it. | ||
Krawlspace Member Username: Krawlspace Post Number: 290 Registered: 04-2004 |
I have been likened to dear old Fester on occasion. Image is none other than yours truly. | ||
Drankin21 Member Username: Drankin21 Post Number: 40 Registered: 12-2003 |
no offense intended Krawlspace but I don't want to see you coming out of any dark rooms when I am in an abandoned building someday.... | ||
Sharmaal Member Username: Sharmaal Post Number: 978 Registered: 09-2004 |
That bar is very sharp! | ||
Dhugger Member Username: Dhugger Post Number: 168 Registered: 03-2005 |
Thanks for the photos Krawlspace. Hope they use the bar in the renovation. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4995 Registered: 10-2003 |
When is the project scheduled for completion? | ||
Diesel Member Username: Diesel Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2007 |
The building is about 50% complete, the drywall is being installed now and probably will be complete by mid-summer. |
