Graphic of Downtown Detroit's Big Vacant Buildings

as published in the Detroit News

Map shows downtown Detroit's vacant and abandond buildings

Even as new projects help transform areas of Downtown Detroit like Grand Circus Park, vacant buildings remain, undermining redevelopment efforts.

Big vacant buildings impede Detroit redevelopment

8.06.07

Stumbling blocks: Vacant buildings impede Detroit redevelopment


Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News

Big empty buildings continue to stymie downtown Detroit's comeback, particularly in the area under consideration for the new homes of Quicken Loans Inc. and the Detroit Red Wings, developers and city officials say.

The long-deserted buildings litter the downtown landscape, ghostly contrasts to pockets of redevelopment along Woodward, Park Avenue and Grand Circus Park, one of the areas being eyed for the world headquarters of fast-growing Quicken Loans. The potential site for Quicken, for example, is flanked by empty buildings. Some fear a fire-damaged structure next to the site could pose a hurdle for any development there...


Olympia on a buying spree

Next door to the Grand Circus Park site is a building whose roof caught on fire when a city-hired construction crew razed the Statler Hotel a few years ago. City officials say something will have to be done with that building for Quicken to build there.

Building owner Anthony Pieroni said he has no immediate plans for the structure and contends no one from the city or Quicken has contacted him. "I don't intend to stop a deal but I don't know how I can be part of this process if no one is contacting me," he said.

He's also aware that all of the talk about Quicken and a new hockey arena makes his fire-damaged empty building more desirable.

"I know what the Ilitches are paying for properties around the area. I would sell that building for a bargain rate," he said, though he declined to give a price range.

Olympia Development, the real estate arm of Ilitch Holdings Inc., had no comment, spokeswoman Karen Cullen said.

Olympia Development, whose control includes the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and the Fox Theatre, also owns property next to the Statler site. The city is offering that property -- which includes the former United Artists building -- along with the Statler to Quicken.

Olympia has been on a buying spree of mainly empty buildings and lots near Grand Circus Park. This comes at a time when its lease with the city-owned Joe Louis Arena, home of the Wings, soon expires. The company is looking to possibly build an arena in the area behind the Fox... (Complete Story)

Map shows downtown Detroit's vacant and abandond buildings

Blogger reports Ilitch has let Fine Arts Building deteriorate

Inside the Fine Arts Building..." water has been leaking from the roof for so many years that the center of the floor of every level has collapsed, leaving a pile of rubble on the ground floor."

Photo by David Kohrman

Blogger Detroit Area Dork, a 21st Century urban explorer and, by his own admission, amateur photo journalist, recently found his way inside Detroit’s abandoned Adams Theater and the adjoining Fine Arts Building and he’s documented the experience on myspace with photos and narrative:

"Around the corner from the place that I will always call the State Theater, is a building that most people pass by without even noticing. The Adams Theater. I had no idea until recently. Not even as I watched someone juggle knives at Cliff Bell's a month ago in the building directly adjacent to it.

"The funniest thing about this place is that when it was open you didn't enter from the street. You would go in the front of the Fine Arts Building on the other side of the block, at Grand Circus Park, which back in the day was the theater district...

"The condition of the building is really bad. There are large gaping holes in the roof above the stage area. All the rain water over the years has caused the stage floor to rot, and it already has many holes. I almost made another hole in it myself when my foot started sinking through the floor of the stage...

"Since I was already there, and the buildings are connected, I decided to take a look at the Fine Arts Building too…I have to highly recommend that no one goes into this building. Water has been leaking from the roof for so many years that the center of the floor of every level has collapsed, leaving a pile of rubble on the ground floor. What a surprise to find that is owned by Olympia (Ilitch)."

The blog Forgotten Detroit gives an excellent look into the dilapidated Adams Theater and Fine Arts Building with it's stunning, and oddly enough, artistically beautiful pictures by blogger David Kohrman.

The Ilitch organization's last commitment was made 18 months ago when they stated they were going to conduct a feasibility study to "determine options for the property."

note: the photo used here is from David Kohrman's collection. Photos taken by Detroit Area Dork further document the buildings' current state.

Ok sought for historic Fine Arts Building demolition

3.18.07

Ilitch asks for OK to demolish most of Fine Arts Building

by Robert Ankeny

Ilitch Holdings Inc. has requested permission from the Detroit Historic District Commission to demolish most of the Fine Arts Building at 44 W. Adams while preserving the building facade.

Karen Cullen, Ilitch vice president for communications, said architects from SmithGroup and Preservation Wayne determined that the entire building was not reusable. “Preserving the facade while we can is an important first step,” Cullen said.

Built in 1905, the office building contained the lobby of the Adams Theatre, added behind it in 1917 on Elizabeth Street and connected to it by a tunnel. The Adams offered the full range of entertainment from vaudeville, silents, talkies, Cinerama and even adult movies before it was closed in 1988. Its marquee, in danger of collapsing, was removed in 1999.

Francis Grunow, Preservation Wayne executive director, said the organization “grudgingly supports the proposal ... provided redevelopment happens quickly.”

The commission is scheduled to consider the request at a March 29 meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council chambers, Coleman A. Young Municipal Building, Detroit.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070318/SUB/703160344&SearchID=73275739022826

You may want to review these additional posts:

• Faded Detroit: Behind the Facade
• Blogger reports Ilitch has let Fine Arts Building deteriorate