  Exmotowner Member Username: Exmotowner Post Number: 160 Registered: 06-2005 |
I was just wondering with much blight affecting PP, would PP benifit anything by going condo with a lot of those buildings? Have any already done so? Just wondering! Would the owners or residents benifit more? Would going condo command more police presence in PP? I lived there for many years and I see so much potential for it. First HP would have to go away! LOL (JK) | ||
Sknutson Member Username: Sknutson Post Number: 844 Registered: 03-2004 |
I don't know what is going on in PP other than this: http://www.1001covington.com/ It would seem that more conversions would have to help. | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 1135 Registered: 11-2004 |
More info on that project: 14 of 16 units sold in Palmer Park condo complex http://modeldmedia.com/develop mentnews/covington80.aspx | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 8831 Registered: 10-2003 |
Would the units bring in enough revenue to justify it? | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 931 Registered: 11-2003 |
Where exactly is this "blight" that is "affecting" Palmer Park? | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 1136 Registered: 11-2004 |
On the surface it seems that if they're selling for an average of $200,000 and selling quickly, then I think so. The buildings are already there and occupied, so renovation costs would not be too costly I think. Although that is a wild guess on my part. Others on this site could do a much better job of crunching the guesstimated numbers of a conversion like this. | ||
Neilr Member Username: Neilr Post Number: 481 Registered: 06-2005 |
To me, 1001 Covington is one of the finest apartment buildings in the city. It was designed by Albert Kahn. The apartments compare in size and style to those in Indian Village Manor. 333 Covington is also a condo and has been since it was built, I believe, in the 1950's. The original owners were wealthy Jewish families who no longer wanted to maintain their large, northwest Detroit homes. Until the 1970's Temple Israel was located in Palmer Park and was an anchor for the neighborhood. This building used to have a doorman and has indoor parking, as does at least one other Palmer Park building. | ||
Exmotowner Member Username: Exmotowner Post Number: 163 Registered: 06-2005 |
Hey Eric, I havent been there in 10 years. My friends tell me just about every other building in PP is either burned out or boarded up. Im just going by what I hear. And the pictures of the grass growing up in the fountain in the park. Guess Im wrong and Palmer park is not affected by any blight and is a vibriant and thriving community! 1001 covington is an awsome building! My friends Robbie and Sheila used to manage that. Sorry I upset you Eric. Chill out! | ||
6nois Member Username: 6nois Post Number: 140 Registered: 11-2006 |
The buildings directly on McNichols aren't in that great of shape, many of them are burned and empty, but once you head North in the Palmer Park area there isn't much blight. Sure the buildings could use a cleaning and some restoration work but it wouldn't be nearly as costly as rehabing a burned out building. | ||
Detroitbill Member Username: Detroitbill Post Number: 199 Registered: 09-2006 |
So many of those buildings in PP are in horrific shape that I am afraid PP is a lost area. The landlords over the years literally bled the buildings for all they could and put little maintainance in. With the exception of the Covington building it would take an enormous effort to restore PP. I don't think it will happen. You often hear people blame the condition of the area on the poor quality of residents but a major part of the blame rests on the building owners for their lack of caring to retain the quality of the buildings. | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 932 Registered: 11-2003 |
First off, Exmotowner, all I did was ask a question. Didn't think I needed to chill out, at all. Secondly, with the exception of McNichols (which marks the border with Highland Park, mind you) the Palmer Park Neighborhood seems exceptionally stable. In fact, I don't actually think of McNichols at all when I think of Palmer Park, and I work everyday just south of McNichols on Woodward. To me, the district is home to the park, the golf course, the Detroit Golf Club and it's affiliated neighborhood, and the Sherwood Forest area directly across Seven Mile. I like the new vintage-look streetlights that were installed on Merril Plaissance and Pontchartrain, too. The fountain hasn't been "overgrown" in years and Chess Row was recently refurbished. There are always improvements that can be made, but I suggest you come back more often than every ten years and see for yourself what's going on. Maybe this summer I'll post pictures, but don't hold your breath!  | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 2170 Registered: 07-2004 |
Eric_c, what exactly is Chess Row? I've seen the arrows pointing to it, but it appears that it is closed off to car traffic. | ||
Jfried Member Username: Jfried Post Number: 950 Registered: 11-2003 |
eric_c works at deja vu? | ||
Exmotowner Member Username: Exmotowner Post Number: 164 Registered: 06-2005 |
Thanks Eric. I dont know what chess row is either. I used to manage the 1001 merton, right behind Menjos. The owner was more than happy for us to restore the apt's when the residents moved out which we did to all his building (4). I will be coming back Memorial day week/weekend and will definitely be seeing for myself. I will be staying one night with a bud in Palmer Woods. I envision palmer park cleaned up with great restraunts and shops in all the lower levels and all cleaned up and bustling! It could still happen. I dont understand why the owners "landlords" dont get together and make a concentrated effort to get it together. Hell they have MAJOR investments there! Does anyone know of D. DeWald still owns a lot of the buildings? I think he owned (if memory serves me right) 17 buildings. I dated him for a while when I first came out. Eric. sorry I sounded like an ass, I really didnt mean to. I had planned on coming home labor day weekend when Katrina hit, but had buds come stay with me from N.O and just gave them my vacation money. Will be excited to see the changes Memorial day though. | ||
Jfried Member Username: Jfried Post Number: 951 Registered: 11-2003 |
and yes, there are buildings in palmer park that could be maintained better, but there are several that are kept in very good shape. people have mentioned the 1001 covington condos several times but you really have to see them to believe it. 1001 was originally built as one of the first apt buildings in the city to accomadate families. actually, I believe you HAD to have at least one child to rent there. each unit is built as its own wing, so you have three exterior walls of windows, and no adjacent neighbors. the walls and ceilings are 18" poured concrete so you will not be hearing your neighbors. the updated condo have refinished wood floors & molding, new utilities, kitchens and baths. Starting at $159k. Definitely one of the most elegant, affordable developments in the city. The developer has plans for more condo conversions, and was also taking initial steps to form an organization to promote the redevelopment of the area. | ||
Jfried Member Username: Jfried Post Number: 952 Registered: 11-2003 |
oops (Message edited by jfried on April 05, 2007) | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 934 Registered: 11-2003 |
1. Chess Row is just an area of chess tables and benches. Bring your own pieces. 2. Yes, Eric_c works as a bouncer at the Vu. Just teasing. Actually, I work at Revival Tabernacle as a custodian. Just teasing. Actually, I work at the Crown Motel as a maid. Just teasing. Actually, I work at the Uptown Cleaners as a pants presser. Just teasing. Actually, I work at Powerhouse Gym as a Personal Trainer. Just teasing... | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 1314 Registered: 11-2005 |
quote: The square footage per unit is impressive. Are there other buildings with units this size? | ||
Neilr Member Username: Neilr Post Number: 484 Registered: 06-2005 |
Pam, off the top of my head, the buildings in Detroit that had regular apartments of this size are The Palms (1001 Jefferson), Garden Court, Indian Village Manor, and Detroit Towers. There may have been other apartment buildings that had an enormous penthouse, or one tier of huge apartments, for example; but in these buildings, virtually all the apartments were very large. My best guess is that the biggest regular apartments of all were the rear (south side) apartments in The Garden Court. As designed and built, there were only four apartments per floor at the Garden Court. Although, those at the Palms, basically only two per floor, may have been as large. Smaller buildings with large apartments include The Colonial on Parker at Lafayette, Several buildings on Hazelwood, a building just east of Woodward on, I believe, Mt. Vernon, and the building on EGB at Lafayette. The Art Center Apartments on Kirby and John R had big apartments and even bigger apartments. It is now student housing for CCS. There is a white stucco building on, I believe Whitmore, in Palmer Park that is all small duplex apartments. The Hibbard, on East Jefferson at Hibbard, has (or had) several duplexes also. The most impressive, long hallways I have ever been in are those in the Indian Village Manor. They stretch, in a straight, unobstructed line, from the front of the building on Jefferson all the way to the river end. | ||
Neilr Member Username: Neilr Post Number: 485 Registered: 06-2005 |
I've been thinking. On McNichols, west of Hamilton in Highland Park, there is a handsome red brick building called, I believe, The Georgian. It also has quite fine, large apartments. There was an attempt, perhaps 20 years ago, to convert it to condos. I don't know its current status. Also, out on East Jefferson in Grosse Pointe, there is a 2 story red brick apartment that was built in, I'm guessing, the 70's. I've never been in this one; but it appears to have very large apartments. Then, I've already mentioned in a previous post 333 Covington. Those units are very large. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 1316 Registered: 11-2005 |
Interesting, thanks Neilr. |
