Shield's Pizza to Abandon Detroit Again?

Over two and a half years ago Shield's Pizza announced their return to the city after an absence of two decades. Work began in the lobby of the Kales building, but as the months went by, numerous opening day announcements went unmet.

In June of 2008 Owner Paul Andoni addressed the delays. Apparently, construction stalled due to an issue with the exhaust ventilation that necessitated the installation of a 19-story shaft to the roof. At that time it Andoni stated that the restaurant would open by mid-September.

Nearly a year later, it is apparent that no further work has been done on the restaurant. At the begining of April the site was in the same unfinished state that it had been when Andoni made his most recent proclimation. A sign on the door states "construction has been haulted." It remains to be seen if Shield's will ever return to downtown Detroit.

Detroit Port Authority Terminal

Foundations have been set for the Public Dock & Terminal to be built near Hart Plaza. The 21,000-square-foot two-story facility will hold a tourist processing area, ticket counters, restrooms, office and a public plaza with space for educational interpretive exhibits.

Greektown Casino Hotel

The Griswold Project Scrapped

The collapse of the housing market has claimed yet another victim. The 80 luxury condominium Griswold Project that was set to be built above the new 10-story Book Cadillac parking garage has been scrapped. The Detroit Downtown Development Authority and the Roxbury Group must pay $1.5 million after canceling an order for Steel and precast concrete molds.

Slow sales have at best, delayed the project, but the group is willing to reconsider the deal if the housing market improves. Only nine units had been sold by December 1st, with another seven set to be sold. This was not enough to meet the requirement that 20 units be sold by the end of the year. An extra $750,000 was spent by the city to reinforce the garage so condominiums could be built on top.

Rosa Parks Transit Center

Progress is Progress?

After a long delay since setting the foundations for Brush Park Village North. Progress can again be seen on Brush Park's latest condo development.

May, 2007

September, 2007

October, 2007

May, 2007

September, 2007

October, 2007

Contrast this with the continued neglect of Hip City Living's other properties in Brush Park. This house on Erskine had its porch collapse in January and the rubble still remains till this day.

September, 2007

Nothing has been done to stabilize this house or any of Hip City Living's other properties in the neighborhood. In fact, the houses continue to deteriorate. The only noticeable signs of progress are the signs planted firmly in their front yards.

Setting the Foundations

Foundation work has begun on Brush Park Village North.

Ilitch Blocker

The owner of the CC Bar appears to be ready to cash in on the speculation related to the rumors that a new Red Wings arena will be built behind the Fox Theater. Mike Ilitch owns the majority of the vacant land West of Park Avenue with a few exceptions. With the demolition of the Hotel Vermont and Olympia Developments' involvement in other land acquisition in the area it appears that something is in the works.

The CC Bar was completely demolished except for two exterior walls prior to the new construction seen below.

So question is why rebuild almost completely from the ground up on a site that is almost certainly within the footprint of a new arena? Is the intention to rake in the cash from the foot traffic created by a new arena, or is the idea to put up some cheap construction in order to raise the property value in advance of an impending land grab? Either way it appears that the owners are trying to stick it to Mr. Mike.

Greektown Rising

The Greektown parking garage/hotel is finally getting off the ground.