Detroit, a Series of Tubes

You may be familiar with the shiny tubes that traverse Jefferson and Randolph avenues.  You may have even used one of the tubes that link the JLA garage to Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Center. There's even one that links the St. Regis Hotel in Detroit's New Center to Cadillac Place. Yes, Detroit seems to have its fill of human habitrails, but the city is about to get one more.

The Greektown Casino already has one skywalk linking it to a garage, but one just isn't enough.  It seems that the casino's valet service isn't fast enough.  The casino, which didn't have enough money to build out the performance space it was required to when its original license was granted, is going to build a valet parking garage behind Monroe Street. The reason?  The casino wants to cut the time gamblers have to wait to flee the city from 20-30 minutes down to 5-7 minutes.

This reduction in vehicle retrieval time does not, however, come without a cost.  In order to facilitate a speedy escape, Greektown plans to demolish a building containing one of the oldest restaurants in the city.  The Laikon Café was established in the 1920's and the current owners held a 10 year lease on the building.  However, a dispute over that lease forced the restaurant to close, allowing the casino to purchase the vacated property.  In the building's place, the casino will build yet another skywalk across Monroe linking the casino to the new garage.

One of the main selling points for allowing to casino to remain at its temporary location was that it would be integrated with the neighborhood, building synergy.  Instead, with this latest skywalk, Greektown will become a little less greek and foot traffic will be further reduce as customers, along with their winnings, are "tubed" from the casino to their vehicles without ever having set foot upon a city street.

At least the crater that used to be New-Hellas Restaurant has finally been filled it.  Unfortunately, this was only done to create a staging area for the new construction.

Motor City Casino

Cobo Center Recap

A look back at the 25,000 a square foot addition to the rear of Wayne Hall that was completed in time for the 2012 North American International Autoshow.

Cobo Arena Blowout

The gutting of Cobo Arena is well underway. The space is being converted into a 40,000 square foot ballroom capable of seating 2,600 people for dining and 5,000 for general sessions.

Comerica Park Scoreboard Exposed

The scoreboard at Comerica Park made news last week as the Detroit Tigers released an artist's rendering and specs for the rehabbed board, along with other improvements being made at the park this off-season

30 Clifford Street

You may remember 30 Clifford Street from such films as 8 Mile (where it stood in for the Shelter), Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Red Dawn.

It has received a significant face-lift since then and the owners of Louie's Ham & Corned Beef in Eastern Market have been working on turning the location into Bar/Eatery.

Buffalo Wild Wings Set to Fly into Detroit

Diversified Restaurant Holdings of Southfield have announced that they will be bringing a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise to downtown Detroit. The 12,000-square-foot restaurant will occupy three floors of the Temple of Odd Fellows Building at the corner of Randolph and Monroe. The building was built in 1874. Reconstruction will begin in April for a projected November opening.

You may recall that the City tried to have the building demolished in 2008 after high winds caused the back of the building to collapse in April of that year. The City later relented.

The Slow March to Rehab

There seems to have been a lot of interest in the M@dison building after the open house last week. I've decide to go back to my archive and post some never before released photos of rehabilitation.

WXYZ Tours the David Whitney Building, Discusses Aloft Boutique Hotel