DETROIT | Development & Construction: Motown Lowdown

[photoLith]

So, this isn't really development related but me and a friend came here to Detroit for the first time ever to photograph and the first stop we made was at the packard factory. We weren't even trespassing, just taking photos of the outside and security there stabbed two of his tires and put a sticker on his window for trespassing about ten minutes after we got there. The tires and tow truck was about 400 dollars and we were stuck there for a good three hours while it got dark in a shady neighborhood. Have you guys heard of this happening before? There has to be legal action to take against these pieces of 🞵🞵🞵🞵 "security" guards.

[subterranean]

That is definitely NOT legal. Hopefully you got some identifying information. Either way, I would call the authorities.

[The North One]

Where exactly was your friend's car parked? The site is massive you possibly parked on their property without knowing it. You probably should have done some research before heading directly there, the Packard plant has been crawling with security and cleanup for about a year now, it's planned for redevelopment starting in spring: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nati...ckard-plant-could-begin-spring/94697090/

If you didn't meet any guards and never got names I'm not sure what you could do or how you could even prove security were the ones who slashed your tires.

The first thing you do when you get to Detroit is to take some ruin 🞵🞵🞵🞵 pics of Packard? I can't help but to roll my eyes. The days of mindlessly exploring vacant sites in Detroit are pretty much long gone.

[davidberko]

Originally Posted by The North One

Where exactly was your friend's car parked? The site is massive you possibly parked on their property without knowing it. You probably should have done some research before heading directly there, the Packard plant has been crawling with security and cleanup for about a year now, it's planned for redevelopment starting in spring: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nati...ckard-plant-could-begin-spring/94697090/

If you didn't meet any guards and never got names I'm not sure what you could do or how you could even prove security were the ones who slashed your tires.

The first thing you do when you get to Detroit is to take some ruin 🞵🞵🞵🞵 pics of Packard? I can't help but to roll my eyes. The days of mindlessly exploring vacant sites in Detroit are pretty much long gone.

I rolled my eyes with you haha. Detroit is having a true rennaisance. The days of exploring its ruin 🞵🞵🞵🞵 are nearly over.

[subterranean]

If your car was parked on a public street and your tires were slashed by a security company, it's a crime regardless of what you were doing. There is an entire thread stickied at the top of the photography forum about photographers' rights. Slashing tires is illegal, even if you were trespassing and your car was on public property.

[photoLith]

The car was parked on a public street two blocks away. When we get back home we're going to figure it out and hopefully get some justice against these dicks.

Anyways, other than the disaster that happened I must say detroits downtown is incredible. Looks like nearly every abandoned building is being renovated downtown. Didn't know that a new light rail line is getting built as well, that will help out Downtown immensely. Took tons of photos and will be posting the construction stuff when I get back on wednesday. Also, just went into the Gaurdian Building and holy 🞵🞵🞵🞵 it's inredible. The most beautiful Art Deco interior I've ever seen.

[The North One]

Huh, that's very strange and unfortunate indeed, I'm sorry that happened to you and hope you get justice. Although glad you enjoyed everything else.

Don't forget to check out Belle Isle and the Scott fountain! If you wanna get an idea of the entire metro; Ferndale, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Troy and Ann Arbor are worth a look.

[rlw777]

Originally Posted by photoLith

The car was parked on a public street two blocks away. When we get back home we're going to figure it out and hopefully get some justice against these dicks.

Anyways, other than the disaster that happened I must say detroits downtown is incredible. Looks like nearly every abandoned building is being renovated downtown. Didn't know that a new light rail line is getting built as well, that will help out Downtown immensely. Took tons of photos and will be posting the construction stuff when I get back on wednesday. Also, just went into the Gaurdian Building and holy 🞵🞵🞵🞵 it's inredible. The most beautiful Art Deco interior I've ever seen.

If you enjoyed the Guardian building you should definitely go see the fisher building.

[photoLith]

^
Yeah I went to the fisher building earlier, the gaurdian building is better I think, very unique Aztec inspired Art Deco. On a sidenote, has the development really ramped up downtown recently?

[subterranean]

Originally Posted by photoLith

^
Yeah I went to the fisher building earlier, the gaurdian building is better I think, very unique Aztec inspired Art Deco. On a sidenote, has the development really ramped up downtown recently?

Development downtown and in surrounding districts has reached a pace that I, and many others, have never seen in our lifetimes.

[mind field]

Originally Posted by photoLith

^
Yeah I went to the fisher building earlier, the gaurdian building is better I think, very unique Aztec inspired Art Deco. On a sidenote, has the development really ramped up downtown recently?

Welcome to Detroit! The Guardian does have a majestic lobby, a must see when in downtown Detroit. Since 2000, downtown and midtown have improved on every single metric. A world class riverfront and a world class public square have been developed. Dozens of companies have relocated from the suburbs to downtown, bringing thousands of employees with them, and companies already downtown have brought their suburban workers downtown. The Q line is ready to open next year. It is a start on what will hopefully be a light rail line extending all the way up Woodward Avenue into Oakland County, however there are no current plans for that yet. Downtown Detroit now has the most walkable sports district in the United States, after the Detroit Pistons announced they will share the under construction Little Caesars Arena with the Detroit Red Wings beginning next season. The Detroit Lions moved downtown from their suburban address in the early 2000s. It's true nearly every major abandoned building in downtown is being renovated, has been recently renovated, or will be renovated in the near future. I highly suggest Capitol Park, once forlorn and abandoned, now every building surrounding the park is undergoing renovation. The pace of development has only increased over the last few years. There is a rumored proposal of a new 60 story tower downtown on the site of the former Hudson's department store on Woodward. If 15 years ago you told anyone that paid attention to the Detroit development scene what would transpire over the course of the next couple of decades, they would probably find it hard to believe. It's been remarkable to watch.

[mousquet]

@photoLith, I'm wondering, reading your story, they may as well be tired of people shooting their ruins on camera.

Just saying cause if you ever wandered by yourself to a decaying ghetto to take pictures of it where I live, especially in the afternoon when they're up, it's not the tires of your car that gangsters of the neighborhood would stab...

In a nutshell, you obviously should stick to safe areas where there's no marginalized population. Just take care.

[JonathanGRR]

Restaurants, apartments planned for Broadway in Detroit
Ian Thibodeau | December 9, 2016

Detroit — Work is years away from wrapping on a multimillion development in Detroit’s Paradise Valley district downtown, but the project has already spurred development on nearby blocks.

Roger Basmajian, president of real estate company Basco of Michigan, said he’ll spend roughly $11 million renovating and adding two floors to three properties on the 1300 block of Broadway. Two restaurants, office space and 30 residential units are part of the renovation across the street from the Punch Bowl Social entertainment complex.
...
Broadway cuts between the Paradise Valley district and Gilbert’s Z Garage site, which in addition to parking houses multiple restaurants, bars and stores. Basmajian’s buildings on Broadway are some of the last vacant buildings on the block, as only part of one of the buildings is occupied by a convenience store.

“We want to reinvigorate that street,” he said. “We’re very much about placemaking ... We definitely have kind of a site plan we see connecting the developments.”

Basmajian said he’s working closely with developers behind the Paradise Valley project.

The other restaurant will have an alleyway entrance, which Basmajian said is a step to mirror alleyway activation seen at the Z Garage across Broadway, where multiple bars and art galleries use the alley as an extension of the sidewalk.

“We like walkability,” Basmajian said. “We like a challenge.”

The developer bought the space at 1322 Broadway in 2015. In an early December meeting, the Detroit Downtown Development Authority sold him the two other buildings for $800,000.

According to the development agreement with the DDA, the properties were primed for redevelopment given work underway in the adjacent districts.

Basmajian plans to “bring the historic facade back up” on the three buildings, which are in poor shape inside and out.
...

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2016/12/08/broadway-development-downtown/95176434/

[Kingofthehill]

loving all of these updates!

[subterranean]

I'm surprised this forum is still a relative backwater of SSP given the intense transformation that is occurring right now.

[The North One]

Originally Posted by subterranean

I'm surprised this forum is still a relative backwater of SSP given the intense transformation that is occurring right now.

Most of Detroit's development followers are on Detroit Yes or the Detroit subreddit. Skyscrapercity's development thread seems to have a more dedicated international and local following as well. There might be some other forums I'm not aware of.

It is a little weird though, I don't understand why a medium sized city like Portland has an entire section of the forum dedicated to itself and a major city like Detroit only gets this thread. Boston doesn't seem to get much attention either.

[mind field]

Article in Crains today about one (or more?) large office tenants looking in Detroit for space. Wonder where they'd go?

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by The North One

Most of Detroit's development followers are on Detroit Yes or the Detroit subreddit. Skyscrapercity's development thread seems to have a more dedicated international and local following as well. There might be some other forums I'm not aware of.

It is a little weird though, I don't understand why a medium sized city like Portland has an entire section of the forum dedicated to itself and a major city like Detroit only gets this thread. Boston doesn't seem to get much attention either.

It's probably a generalized reflection of the demographics/developmental history of those cities. Detroit doesn't too often get new high rises and the development thus far for the last couple of years has been under several stories or renovations or older high rises (though Dan Gilbert proclaims that will change very soon). Therefore, Detroit is still under the radar for anyone looking to ogle shiny new skyscrapers.

[JonathanGRR]

^
There's also the lingering antipathy to Detroit by the rest of the state (particularly by the Baby Boomers who grew up on such a negative image of all cities) that you probably don't see as much in a city such as Portland vis-a-vis the rest of Oregon. Though I grew out of it, I would venture to say that many in West Michigan (I grew up in the exurbs of Grand Rapids) still only have a positive view of Detroit in terms of that's where you go for state championships or major league sporting events. Otherwise, they keep a negative impression or simply don't care. I'd imagine that it's much more of a mixed bag in other states.

[skyfan]

Originally Posted by The North One

It is a little weird though, I don't understand why a medium sized city like Portland has an entire section of the forum dedicated to itself and a major city like Detroit only gets this thread. Boston doesn't seem to get much attention either.

Ummm..Detroit and Portland are around the same size