Showing posts with label United Artists Theater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United Artists Theater. Show all posts
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Ilitch plans depend on Quicken picking his downtown property, the former Statler Hotel & United Artists property
MLive Map detailing ownership of parcels in the greater Foxtown area of Downtown Detroit
8.24.07
A DOWNTOWN DILEMMA: Quicken considers a move to Detroit; two key sites spark pros, cons debate
BY JOHN GALLAGHER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
It's unanimous: Detroit's civic and corporate leaders all hope Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert will move his company downtown.
But far from unanimous, and sparking debate in Detroit development circles, is where in downtown Gilbert should relocate his Livonia-based company, if and when he decides to come.
The key question is: Which of the two sites offered to Gilbert would produce more spin-off benefits for downtown, bringing downtown closer to its goal of becoming a lively, walkable, 24-hour community?
The two parcels offered include the site of the old Hudson's store, demolished in 1998, and an irregular site off Grand Circus Park that once housed the now-demolished Statler and Tuller hotels and vacant United Artists Theater.
Of course, Detroit's leaders would welcome Quicken to either site should Gilbert decide to move.
"I'd be happy with them being in Detroit, period," George Jackson, the city's chief development officer and president of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., said.
But as Gilbert mulls a decision, two camps have evolved. And both have strong arguments for each of the sites.
Quicken looked at other locations, including General Motors Corp.-owned riverfront just east of the Renaissance Center. It also has considered buying an existing office building, such as Comerica Tower at 500 Woodward.
But the Hudson's and Statler-Tuller sites are the main ones under consideration, according to Jackson and others close to the negotiations...
The Ilitch family, owner of the Tigers, Red Wings, Fox Theatre and other holdings, owns a portion of the Statler-Tuller site [and United Artists Building]. The family, which declined to comment for this article, hopes to lure Quicken to that site to bolster overall redevelopment in the vicinity.
And that could become an important consideration if the family decides to build a new hockey arena for the Red Wings behind the Fox.
The arena is something that the Ilitches have been weighing for more than a year, although no decision has been announced.
But two other factors may play into Gilbert's decision, assuming he makes the move.
Cost is one. The Hudson's site is development-ready, complete with a 1,100-space city-owned parking garage operating below ground, as well as foundations already in place for a future building.
No such foundations or parking exist at the Statler-Tuller parcel, so building there would be more expensive.
The second consideration is the matter of prestige. People close to the negotiations say that Gilbert, should he choose to come, fears that locating on the Hudson's site might seem like taking second place to Compuware's headquarters...(Complete Story)
Contact JOHN GALLAGHER at 313-222-5173 or gallagher@freepress.com.
8.24.07A DOWNTOWN DILEMMA: Quicken considers a move to Detroit; two key sites spark pros, cons debate
BY JOHN GALLAGHER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
It's unanimous: Detroit's civic and corporate leaders all hope Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert will move his company downtown.
But far from unanimous, and sparking debate in Detroit development circles, is where in downtown Gilbert should relocate his Livonia-based company, if and when he decides to come.
The key question is: Which of the two sites offered to Gilbert would produce more spin-off benefits for downtown, bringing downtown closer to its goal of becoming a lively, walkable, 24-hour community?
The two parcels offered include the site of the old Hudson's store, demolished in 1998, and an irregular site off Grand Circus Park that once housed the now-demolished Statler and Tuller hotels and vacant United Artists Theater.
Of course, Detroit's leaders would welcome Quicken to either site should Gilbert decide to move.
"I'd be happy with them being in Detroit, period," George Jackson, the city's chief development officer and president of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., said.
But as Gilbert mulls a decision, two camps have evolved. And both have strong arguments for each of the sites.
Quicken looked at other locations, including General Motors Corp.-owned riverfront just east of the Renaissance Center. It also has considered buying an existing office building, such as Comerica Tower at 500 Woodward.
But the Hudson's and Statler-Tuller sites are the main ones under consideration, according to Jackson and others close to the negotiations...
The Ilitch family, owner of the Tigers, Red Wings, Fox Theatre and other holdings, owns a portion of the Statler-Tuller site [and United Artists Building]. The family, which declined to comment for this article, hopes to lure Quicken to that site to bolster overall redevelopment in the vicinity.
And that could become an important consideration if the family decides to build a new hockey arena for the Red Wings behind the Fox.
The arena is something that the Ilitches have been weighing for more than a year, although no decision has been announced.
But two other factors may play into Gilbert's decision, assuming he makes the move.
Cost is one. The Hudson's site is development-ready, complete with a 1,100-space city-owned parking garage operating below ground, as well as foundations already in place for a future building.
No such foundations or parking exist at the Statler-Tuller parcel, so building there would be more expensive.
The second consideration is the matter of prestige. People close to the negotiations say that Gilbert, should he choose to come, fears that locating on the Hudson's site might seem like taking second place to Compuware's headquarters...(Complete Story)
Contact JOHN GALLAGHER at 313-222-5173 or gallagher@freepress.com.
Monday, August 06, 2007
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)
Thursday, May 24, 2007
"Detroit: The Reel Story" brings back memories for moviegoers
Exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum highlights experience of movie- going. See how the experience has changed from the first movie shown at Detroit Opera House in 1906. First movie theater was The Casino, on Monroe St. Most of downtown Detroit's movie theaters were located along Monroe Street or Grand Circus Park.
read more digg story
you may also want to review this post at another blog:
read more digg story
you may also want to review this post at another blog:
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Demolition Crew working on site at Detroit's United Artists Theater Building
Crews wearing hard hats marked Beal Inc., Demolition Contracting have been seen working at the site of the historic United Artists Theater Building at 150 Bagley Street in downtown Detroit's Grand Circus Park area. Teams from Beal Demolition have also been spotted at the historic Moose Lodge property at 2115 Cass Avenue, three blocks west of the Fox Theater in the area believed to be a potential site for a new hockey arena.
From the Beal website:
"Beal Incorporated provides demolition services, specializing in historic building renovations, for a variety of clients throughout Michigan. The company specializes in interior demolition and lead/asbestos abatement with projects sizes ranging from $10,000 to over $1,000,000. BEAL also offers a wide range of other services including; emergency services, dumpster and waste hauling, and recycling services.
"The company, formed in January 2006, is rapidly developing into one of the leading demolition service companies in the state of Michigan. BEAL Inc. is the team to call for demolition services when a client is faced with a comprehensive renovation of a historic or other complicated structure. BEAL has the best and most efficient equipment, technology, processes, and people."
If Beal stays close to its mission statement, then it would seem that the Ilitch organization (Olympia Development of Michigan LLC), may have plans to spare the building or at least some parts from the wrecking ball.
Then again, it's also possible that Beal may be undertaking asbestos abatement or something similar prior to knocking the building down.
Little has been disclosed by the Ilitch organization about their intentions for the UA Theater Building complex since a January 2006 press release announced:
"Olympia Development is teaming up with the City of Detroit to co-market the property at 150 Bagley, currently the site of the United Artists Building and Theatre, along with the property adjacent that was the former Statler Hotel siteCertainly that statement doesn't imply concerete plans to renovate and restore the building.
that is now owned by the City."
You may want to review these posts:
- Blogger questions Detroit Arena assumptions
- Field of Schemes: Tiger Stadium back in limbo
- Family that built fortune on Detroit Sports and Little Caesars Pizza directed $900k to these political committees while expanding gambling ventures
- As most of Michigan continues to struggle financially, 11 make Forbes List of World's Richest Billionaires
- Taxpayers give Ilitch $95,000 to tear down his building
- City Sells Historic Building to Ilitch for $220,500
- Supreme Court ruled against Ilitch eminent domain scheme
- Ilitch has an insatiable appetite for land in downtown Detroit; see Live.com map of all 170 properties
- Contractors at work on MotorCity Casino have experience with MGM/Mirage & Mandalay Resorts
- Has Illitch acquired the historic Moose Lodge in downtown Detroit, and what are his intentions?
- Demolition Crew working on site at Detroit's United Artists Theater Building
- Ilitch agreement requires Moose building be preserved & renovated, doesn't allow relocation
- Spin about Moose Lodge isn't truthful; reporter was mislead
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