<<Midwest Coffee Talk: The Tens>> - Page 278

vid · #**5541** Posted **Dec 7, 2013, 6:31 PM**

So much like Thunder Bay, it hurts.

rockyi · #**5542** Posted **Dec 7, 2013, 7:47 PM**

And it's the second time in a year that this has happened. Last year right when a group showed an interest and wanted to save long empty Lincoln School (also near me) was resisted by the city who after all these years said, "Too late, it's coming down!" They claimed the structure was about to collapse and needed to come down NOW!!!....Uh, yeah, that's why a tear-down that was supposed to last a couple days stretched to almost 4 weeks since the school was so well built....almost over built. That's how things were done in 1892.....Currently on this site is a trash-strewn empty lot that Mayor Pauley seems to enjoy.

It's not as if it happens all the time, like I said, the renovations in Quad City Land are wonderful it's just that this mayor and his crew are going back to the "tear it down NOW" credo that many cities in the 60s and 70s had......We all know how well that went over.

mobyhead · #**5543** Posted **Dec 7, 2013, 11:22 PM**

Being unemployed is stressful.

Cleveland Brown · #**5544** Posted **Dec 8, 2013, 4:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockyi

Well, Rock Island is losing another old beauty on Monday when they tear this perfectly fine school down which is just a few blocks from me. (It's only been empty for two years) A developer had a last minute offer of $100,000 but the city refused, since they said the offer came too late.....So they opted to remove it for $275,000 instead

. Many people (including me) are not happy. The rehabs in this area are on fire so why they played the "game" of "your offer is too late" is beyond me. Well, actually the reason is probably because the city council is having a baby fit because earlier in the year Fairway Stores made an offer to remove the structure and build a store there but the neighbors fought it since, first, it did not fit the neigborhood plus it's on a two-lane street that's never getting any wider and it's already saturated with traffic and businesses so Fairway finally backed out in late summer without hearing of all the other options of available property (of which this town has a surplus of) which would have been a better fit.....Yet another baby fit.
Enjoy your new trash-strewn empty lot Mayor Pauley.

Gah! I hate it when that happens. I'm still angry that my high school was torn down two years ago. The district built a replacement building and closed the old building in 2005. A bunch of usefully shit was left in the building and it was quickly torn apart by scrappers.

Cleveland Brown · #**5545** Posted **Dec 8, 2013, 4:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobyhead

Being unemployed is stressful.

Hang in there! I'm sure that something better is just around the bend for you.

rockyi · #**5546** Posted **Dec 8, 2013, 5:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobyhead

Being unemployed is stressful.

I would send good vibes your way......if I, in fact, had any good vibes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleveland Brown

Gah! I hate it when that happens. I'm still angry that my high school was torn down two years ago. The district built a replacement building and closed the old building in 2005. A bunch of usefully shit was left in the building and it was quickly torn apart by scrappers.

Ouch! That's one hell of an impressive high school!

LMich · #**5547** Posted **Dec 9, 2013, 9:18 AM**

Why is that Cass Tech photo so large? lol I scroll down and get four-and-a-half bays of window on my screen. And then it's quoted!

LMich · #**5548** Posted **Dec 9, 2013, 12:41 PM**

Another sports moment for the Spartans, another civil disturbance in East Lansing. Saturday night after the Big Ten Championship Game:

Kevin W. Fowler | Lansing State Journal

Matthew Dae Smith | Lansing State Journal

Matthew Dae Smith | Lansing State Journal

The "good" news is that they kept this contained to Cedar Village and off of Grand River, "only" one or two cars were overturned and a few street trees used as kindling, and the cops didn't have to fire any tear gas, this time. Lots of arrests, though, and there will be many more.

Cleveland Brown · #**5549** Posted **Dec 10, 2013, 12:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockyi

Ouch! That's one hell of an impressive high school!

It was and it shows how far Detroit has fallen. High Schools generally don't have Eight floors outside of New York City. In fact, the demolished building and its curriculum reminds my of a combination of Brooklyn Tech and Stuyvesant High Schools, both in New York.

Oh well, it has been replaced by something completing un-redeeming of architectural merit. It's sad that Detroit stopped doing upgrades and renovations (that seems to be what NYC has done with Brooklyn Tech) and decided to demolish it for $10 million in savings to knock it down and replace it as compared with renovating the old building again. Of course, the new building went well over budget. Its last major renovation/addition, in just one wing of the building, was completed in 1984 and most of the building was still in original, but slightly worn, condition - complete with desks with ink wells!

Anyway, enough with my screed. Here is a good website that has a floor-by-floor, room-by-room tour of the building - beginning, middle, final years, and abandonment. It really went to hell after closing with fires, scrapers, graffiti, and urban explorers. However, even with I was there between 1997 and 2001You may even find a picture of me in there - taken in room 323 - a chemistry lab.

I'll always remember having a class in the new gym/pool in the basement and the next class on the seventh floor (classroom created out of the building's original lunch room). No elevator pass and five minutes between classes - these young whippersnappers will never know.

http://detroiturbex.com/content/scho.../architecture/

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMich

Why is that Cass Tech photo so large? lol I scroll down and get four-and-a-half bays of window on my screen. And then it's quoted!

I got lazy and did a quick cut and paste of a photo that I found on google.

Cleveland Brown · #**5550** Posted **Dec 10, 2013, 2:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMich

Another sports moment for the Spartans, another civil disturbance in East Lansing. Saturday night after the Big Ten Championship Game:

The "good" news is that they kept this contained to Cedar Village and off of Grand River, "only" one or two cars were overturned and a few street trees used as kindling, and the cops didn't have to fire any tear gas, this time. Lots of arrests, though, and there will be many more.

I don't understand the mass stupidity of rioting, especially the alcohol fueled stupidity of sports related riots. Bunch of spoiled thugs that need a good ass-whooping!

rockyi · #**5551** Posted **Dec 12, 2013, 12:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleveland Brown

.....Oh well, it has been replaced by something completing un-redeeming of architectural merit......

Yeah, the school I posted was going to be replaced by a Fairway Store, they offered $450,000, but they backed out after the neighbors fought having a cinder block grocery store in this historic neighborhood. After Fairway backed out a local guy who has done some beautiful local renovations made an offer of $100,000. That's when the city and school board said, nope, too late! People around here are majorly pissed they declined the offer for really no reason whatsoever and now have to remove it for $275,000.
Well, it now really is too late since the school is now half gone (I've only seem photos since I can't bring myself to drive past). My hood is slowley turning from a beautiful, historical, treefilled area to a place of disposable architecture and plastic signage.......I'm sure the school property will be filled with something just as beautiful like a Verizon Store or CVS......

A restaurant directly across the street from the school was the location for an episode of Restaurant Impossible set to air next week. I'm sure people might catch a glimpse of the school on TV.

EuphoricOctopus · #**5552** Posted **Dec 16, 2013, 9:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleveland Brown

I don't understand the mass stupidity of rioting, especially the alcohol fueled stupidity of sports related riots. Bunch of spoiled thugs that need a good ass-whooping!

Right? I don't understand why winning+alcohol= tear and burn up shit.

rockyi · #**5553** Posted **Dec 16, 2013, 12:12 PM**

^And they always get caught on camera.

subterranean · #**5554** Posted **Dec 16, 2013, 9:53 PM**

Just passed my 10 year mark on this forum. Jesus. At .43 posts per day, this is by far my most rewarding non-committal club I've ever joined!

What do I win?

rockyi · #**5555** Posted **Dec 16, 2013, 11:32 PM**

^Isn't the gift of our company enough?

I can't believe I'm still shown as 4.03 posts a day since it seems like I'm here just a fraction of the time I used to spend here. At my peak I was at 12 to 15+ posts a day.

vid · #**5556** Posted **Dec 17, 2013, 1:13 AM**

This month is the ten year anniversary of me getting a computer for the first time, and the 9 year anniversary of my house being flooded and ending up homeless during the coldest winter I've ever experienced.

Hooray!

Cleveland Brown · #**5557** Posted **Dec 17, 2013, 5:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by subterranean

Just passed my 10 year mark on this forum. Jesus. At .43 posts per day, this is by far my most rewarding non-committal club I've ever joined!

What do I win?

I think you, Buckeye, Rockyi, and me joined within a month of one another. I want to know what the hell occurred around Sept/Oct 2003 for us to finally join?

I lurked for a loooooong time and still remember the wild times and even memorable forumers who were banned (Jazzman and TalB) nearly 10 years ago.

You win more of my screeds as I travel along the path from idealistic college undergrad (when I joined) to becoming a jaded old man. This summer for the first time in my life I yelled at some kids and told them to "get off of my lawn!" My goodness, I wish I had a time machine just to smack the shit out of myself and some of the stupid decisions/statements that I made in my wide-eyed years.

Maybe when I get as old as Rocky or Ex-Ith I can mellow out and take joy in knowing that I'm not shitting my pants (yet) nor becoming worm food. But until then I'll be yelling, complaining about every-damned-thing, and reminiscing about "the good old times" that never were - just like every person who surpassed the foolish, impulsive, youthful stage of life, but hasn't reached the wise, reflecting, stage.

Cleveland Brown · #**5558** Posted **Dec 17, 2013, 5:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid

This month is the ten year anniversary of me getting a computer for the first time, and the 9 year anniversary of my house being flooded and ending up homeless during the coldest winter I've ever experienced.

Hooray!

But things have changed greatly since you've been here. We seldomly hear your hooker stories anymore and you're working now too! But I shall never forget your early years around these parts. Your beginnings here remind me of a Canadian version of Jazzman or a puppy - inquisitive, blunt, and always in trouble.

I'm still in awe that you weren't banned. Are you still banned from CE?

rockyi · #**5559** Posted **Dec 17, 2013, 11:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleveland Brown

.....Maybe when I get as old as Rocky or Ex-Ith I can mellow out and take joy in knowing that I'm not shitting my pants (yet) nor becoming worm food.

Cleveland Brown · #**5560** Posted **Dec 18, 2013, 1:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockyi

We'll still be here when you're shitting your pants and ranting unintelligible curses!