Adams Theater/Fine Arts Building Demolition and Facadectomy

Olympia Clueless About What to Do With Fine Arts Facade

It seems that everyone greatest fears are true. The facade to the Fine Arts building is being shored up with no definitive plans to build anything behind it. It is being "preserved for future reuse" kinda like the site of the former Madison-Lenox is being preserved with a parking lot.

Atanas Ilitch is "confident that the facade of the historic Fine Arts Building can be preserved and ultimately integrated into a new development that will occupy the site at some point in the future." Are you freaking kidding me? Olympia knocked a building down with no plans in place. How long do they plan to leave the facade twisting in the wind? I predict that the building and safety department will eventually decide that it is unsafe and demand that it be pulled down.

Behind the Facade

Ilitch holdings, Inc requested permission from the Detroit Historic Commission on March 29th to demolish most of the Fine Arts Building on West Adams. This request does not include the demolition of the Adams Theater located behind the building. Their plan is to preserve the facade of the 102 year old Fine Arts Building, while constructing a brand new building behind the structure.

I have heard that permission has been granted but this has yet to be reported in the media.