they are doing similar work here in Downtown Denver, converting old industrial buildings into apartments. they actually look very nice to be honest, they have Balcony's, large windows. And its a great reuse of otherwise old and useless buildings. Its cheaper then tearing them down and starting over, and to Be honest, Downtown Denver gets to keep some of its Flavor
They're demolishing Michigan Central Depot- DAMMIT
- Thread starter RooRocz
- Start date
they are doing similar work here in Downtown Denver, converting old industrial buildings into apartments. they actually look very nice to be honest, they have Balcony's, large windows. And its a great reuse of otherwise old and useless buildings. Its cheaper then tearing them down and starting over, and to Be honest, Downtown Denver gets to keep some of its Flavor
illinoiscentral
SARM Volunteer
See I disagree on this.
Just because the neighborhood is bad, doesn't mean this can't be done. When higher class Real Estate goes up, the lower class homes raise in worth a small amount, then the "poor" folks can't afford this neighborhood. So then middle class start moving in and the neighborhood keeps rising. Construction brings jobs, which brings a construction site, which brings security and police, which in turn keep the drug trafficing down.
Just because the neighborhood is bad, doesn't mean this can't be done. When higher class Real Estate goes up, the lower class homes raise in worth a small amount, then the "poor" folks can't afford this neighborhood. So then middle class start moving in and the neighborhood keeps rising. Construction brings jobs, which brings a construction site, which brings security and police, which in turn keep the drug trafficing down.
perry_weekley
New member
I saw the station and my immediate thought was " Why is there an image of the Tower of Terror in here?" Then I realized that was the station. Just that thought made me want to put my name on a petition and rally against demolition. Hell why it might not be good now in 20 years when the population shifts again and people go back to Detroit it'd be so much easier to give them High class and middle class options and more safety than before.
I say keep that beautiful building on the outside.
I say keep that beautiful building on the outside.
People are leaving Detroit because the auto industry is failing and no one can get jobs.
The same thing happened to Pittsburgh with the steel industry- eventually the city realized that the steel mills weren't coming back and that they had to move on- and the city flourished.
Give them ten years. Detroit will be a new city founded on some other industry, and they'll realize exactly how stupid they were back in 2009.
Absolutely true , and if everyone is leaving and if no one can get a job , who is going to move into and pay for the multi-million dollar renovation ?
Very possible , but in ten years , the building will have been vacated for 31 years ! They will realize then exactly how stupid they were , by not imploding it in 2009 !
Sorry to burst your bubble , but these are simply my thoughts --- ,DLR
And what exactly would be the harm of leaving it standing?
Your assumption that it is filled with crack dealers is has little base, seeing as the building is surrounded with razor wire, sure yes a enterprising crack dealer could set up shop there but why? Its not like Detroit has a shortage of abandoned buildings, a bigger priority for the city should be demolishing all the burned out houses that litter Detroit's neighborhoods. Maybe that way a few people people may want to live there.
So the building is vacant, and this is an obvious reason to pull it down?
This is a completely structurally sound structure. There are no prostitutes, crack dealers, or undesirables living in the building. It's vacant. It's amazing what a little TLC can do for these sorts of structures. For example, look at the old Book-Cadillac Hotel (also in Detroit)
Before renovations.
After renovations.
By no means is this a lost cause. The Book-Cadillac was actually in worse shape, but it is a profitable enterprise now.
So the building is vacant, and this is an obvious reason to pull it down?
This is a completely structurally sound structure. There are no prostitutes, crack dealers, or undesirables living in the building. It's vacant. It's amazing what a little TLC can do for these sorts of structures. For example, look at the old Book-Cadillac Hotel (also in Detroit)
Before renovations.
After renovations.
By no means is this a lost cause. The Book-Cadillac was actually in worse shape, but it is a profitable enterprise now.
Excellent example of what I was talking about. Too many laymen look at an old building, see trash and debris and have no vision. Someone obviously had vision here.
Mike
stagecoachdriverdave
Matt
Maybe it won't get very far but its worth a shot - an online petition for people who want to see it saved.
http://www.petitiononline.com/3044/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/3044/petition.html
Gandalf0444
FVRR member
I just added my signature up there.
Hope for the best.
Hope for the best.stagecoachdriverdave
Matt
Found another petition that's a little further along - 360+ sigs
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cEludTNkR3dpM29kVzF1UXdFTnVZQWc6MA
Also the facebook group to save the station - 1289 members!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=178565380054
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cEludTNkR3dpM29kVzF1UXdFTnVZQWc6MA
Also the facebook group to save the station - 1289 members!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=178565380054
illinoiscentral
SARM Volunteer
Yes! Add me to that!
Great example there. Mike, I was talking about that too, a good renovation would be great. You're in this business, can you see what I'm saying about modern upscale design? I think design like that is neat in an old building. It is like art, old and new together. I just can picture very nice upscale condo's and a mall in the concourse. Graffiti can be cleaned up, marble can be re-applied, windows can be repaired. Structural history and integrity can not be saved if lost.
I'm glad to see support for this old building! Somebody should contact "This Old House" they might actually be interested in a story for their magazine. Or some other restoration magazine.
Cheers,
Woody
Great example there. Mike, I was talking about that too, a good renovation would be great. You're in this business, can you see what I'm saying about modern upscale design? I think design like that is neat in an old building. It is like art, old and new together. I just can picture very nice upscale condo's and a mall in the concourse. Graffiti can be cleaned up, marble can be re-applied, windows can be repaired. Structural history and integrity can not be saved if lost.
I'm glad to see support for this old building! Somebody should contact "This Old House" they might actually be interested in a story for their magazine. Or some other restoration magazine.
Cheers,
Woody
illinoiscentral
SARM Volunteer
I just added my name to the petition. Please, anyone who views this thread, sign that! This building could and should be saved!!!
Woody
Woody
Woody
Yes, I'm in the business and I'd love to see the building saved, but there's more to consider than just whether it's too far gone to be renovated which in my humble opinion, it is not.
There are so many issues to be resolved and timing has to be exactly right for things to fall into place. A project such as this takes a real persistent manager type with vision that will explore every possible avenue. Of course, economic conditions have to be just right. Some would say that our current economic times is the time to proceed on construction of this sort as there's so many looking to work and sell products. It's a buyer's market right now. On the other hand, the banking world isn't in the mood to take a lot of risks, so there's a problem right at the start. Restoring this building alone will not make it an instant success. The climate and the neighborhood has to be showing some signs of upscale growth and not knowing Detroit myself, I can't comment on this aspect of the problem.
All of this does not mean that the building cannot be 'dried-in' to protect it from further damage, exterior debris and hazards removed and then mothballed until a more favorable climate presents itself. It's really too complicated for a treatise on this forum, but the whole point of my posts was to educate the less learned in the construction field that they shouldn't let themselves be fooled by a few pictures that make it look beyond repair when to the trained eye, that's just not the case necesarily. We've also got to understand that there's just about always a hidden agenda somewhere and we must be wary of whatever is presented by any journalistic story.
Mike
Yes, I'm in the business and I'd love to see the building saved, but there's more to consider than just whether it's too far gone to be renovated which in my humble opinion, it is not.
There are so many issues to be resolved and timing has to be exactly right for things to fall into place. A project such as this takes a real persistent manager type with vision that will explore every possible avenue. Of course, economic conditions have to be just right. Some would say that our current economic times is the time to proceed on construction of this sort as there's so many looking to work and sell products. It's a buyer's market right now. On the other hand, the banking world isn't in the mood to take a lot of risks, so there's a problem right at the start. Restoring this building alone will not make it an instant success. The climate and the neighborhood has to be showing some signs of upscale growth and not knowing Detroit myself, I can't comment on this aspect of the problem.
All of this does not mean that the building cannot be 'dried-in' to protect it from further damage, exterior debris and hazards removed and then mothballed until a more favorable climate presents itself. It's really too complicated for a treatise on this forum, but the whole point of my posts was to educate the less learned in the construction field that they shouldn't let themselves be fooled by a few pictures that make it look beyond repair when to the trained eye, that's just not the case necesarily. We've also got to understand that there's just about always a hidden agenda somewhere and we must be wary of whatever is presented by any journalistic story.
Mike
illinoiscentral
SARM Volunteer
Oh yes and I agree.
Detroit doesn't seem to be too awful but then again...
I think there is good chance here. If the vision can be visualized.
Detroit doesn't seem to be too awful but then again...
I think there is good chance here. If the vision can be visualized.
Politics and money will decide Detroit's fate. Right now real estate is being gobbled up by foreign investors due to the depressed market. The auto industry hangs in the balance waiting for their fate to be decided by an increasingly marxist government. Citizens wait for their bail out that sadly, they have not realized is never coming. Meanwhile their mortgages and rising taxes are conspiring to force them out of homes that aren't even worth the note the bank holds!
I have to wonder why the building is a target anyway, is the board just trying to do something to justify their existence?
I have to wonder why the building is a target anyway, is the board just trying to do something to justify their existence?
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