Showing posts with label State Savings Bank. Show all posts
Showing posts with label State Savings Bank. Show all posts

Friday, August 02, 2013

Andreas Apostolopoulos Tries Again to Demolish the State Savings Bank


Andreas Apostolopoulos of Triple Properties has applied to the Historic District Commission for permission to demolish the State Savings Bank on Fort Streetin order to build a parking garage.

This is the same Triple Properties that let the Pontiac Silverdome's roof collapse this past winter and has let the stadium rot ever since. This is also the same Triple Properties that also wants to buy the Wayne County jail site from the county in order to build a mixed-use development. That development would include a 25,000 seat soccer stadium because MLS does not want a team in Pontiac.

A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday August 14, 2013

Preservation Detroit - Save the State Savings Bank

Line to be drawn over State Savings Bank?

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Line to be drawn over State Savings Bank?

Expect a new property fight in Downtown Detroit.  Andreas Apostolopoulos, the new owner of the Penobscot Building, purchased the neighboring State Savings Bank earlier this month for $700,000 with the intent on demolishing it for parking.

Apostolopoulos claims in an interview with the Detroit Free Press that:
 “Detroit needs parking, If we don’t have parking people won’t come downtown… We tried to bring some tenants downtown and the people are not coming because there is no parking.”
Yes! The one thing Downtown Detroit lacks is parking.

If the building can not be demolished, Apostolopoulos would look into maintaining the facade and incorporating it into the $20 million garage.

Fortunately, any demolition plans would face stiff opposition.  The 112 year old Beaux-Arts style bank is listed on the federal, state, and city registers of historic places.  Therefore, Apostolopoulos would have to demonstrate financial hardship and would have to try to sell the structure for a year before the city could grant permission for demolition. He could also argue that the building is blocking a major project that would benefit the community.

I would expect Preservation Detroit to get involved in this one.