Sunday, February 24, 2008

Detroit's Corktown

Over the years the fortunes of Detroit's oldest neighborhood have mirrored that of the city proper. In many ways the story of Corktown is the story of Detroit. Detroit's Corktown from Arcadia Publishing examines the fabric that has held this neighborhood together through its many ups and downs.

The story of Corktown begins in the 1830's when the Cass and Woodbridge families began to sell off their ribbon farms west of downtown for development. This area was quickly filled by the hundreds of Irish immigrants newly arriving in the city. Authors Armando Delicato & Julio Demerly devote the early pages of the book to the cultural and religions institutions that the Irish established in the area.

With a few exceptions, Corktown has always been a working class neighborhood and this is reflected in its housing stock. The neighborhood's housing stock has evolved from Shotgun Houses to Greek Revivial and later Gothic Revival gradually becoming more stylish. There are a shortage monumental residences that exist in other neighborhoods. However, Corktown has been one of the most successful neighborhoods in preserving its architectural heritage inspite the coming of freeways and numerous urban renewal projects. The book successfully captures the essence of the community providing numerous photos of area homes.

Urban renewal and redevelopment was the prevailing theme in Detroit during the middle part of the last century. Corktown's residential nature proved to be an obstacle to the city's plans. Converting the neighborhood to light industrial was seen as a necessity in order to retain manufacturing synergy with downtown. Two freeways were built cutting through huge swaths of Corktown, dividing it and isolating it from the rest of the city. Other sections were raised to make way for industrial parks, may of which now sit empty. The rise of the automobile precipitated a steep decline in rail travel which ultimatatly lead to the demolition of one of Corktowns train station and the famous abandonment of another.


Despite of all of this destruction in the name of progress, Corktown has managed to hang on. Residents fought the destruction of their neighborhood and manage to contain the devastation. Corktown is no longer an ethnic enclave, but it has managed to attract new residents and businesses to begin to fill the void left by the loss of train Stations and Tiger Stadium. Later pages are dedicated to the new pioneers as well as those institution that have held firm, surviving though many decades of turmoil.

Detroit's Corktown provides valuable insight into history and character of one of Detroit's most colorful neighborhoods. Considerable space is devoted to historic photographs of the district and its people. The photos are supported by chapter introductions and lengthy, informative captions. As an introduction to one of Detroit's cultural gems, the book serves as a valuable resource.

Photos reprinted with permission from Detroit's Corktown, by Armando Delicato & Julio Demerly. Available from the publisher online at www.arcadiapublishing.com or by calling (888) 313-2665.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Downtown Historic Movie Palace Tour Part 5

The Gem Theater opened as the Little Theatre in 1928. It was built for the Detroit woman's group "The Twentieth Century Club" as an addition to their Century Club facility which was constructed in 1903. After being opened for just one year, the theater was leased to Motion Picture Guild to show the first foreign films in Detroit. In 1959 the theater became the Vanguard Playhouse and hosted repertory theater. By 1967 the theater returned to being a movie house showing adult films until it closed in 1978.

The theater was completely restored and reopened in 1991 to host a series of hit musical and comedic productions. On November 10, 1997 The Century Club and Gem Theater were moved about a half mile from their original location to make way for the construction of Comerica Park. Thus, the theater had to be preserved for a second time. This time, the Century Club was restored as well. Many architectural features from the demolished Downtown YWCA were salvaged to facilitate the building's restoration. Pewabic tile from the pool, stained glass panels from the chapel, leaded glass doors, chandeliers, fireplaces and cornices were all seamlessly incorporated.


Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Med-Med Rethink

After marketing the Mid-Med Lofts redevelopment for two years with no sales the developer has decided to market the property as office space instead. 13 units had been presold but non of the purchases have been finalized. This will make it easier to convert the building to commercial as only two of the 38 units had been built-out for residential use.

Sorry, I had to repost this

Thursday, January 10, 2008

A New Contender?

There has been much speculation over where the Detroit Red Wings will build their new arena if they decide not to renovate the Joe Louis Arena. The leading contenders are Foxtown on the swath of parking lots behind the Fox Theater and the land the city has recovered from the failed Motown Center project West of Woodward and North of I-75.

Foxtown Site

Motown Center Site

The latest rumor suggest that a new arena will be built at Grand River and the Lodge on the site of the closed East Jefferies housing projects. The rationale being that traffic from Red Wings games and other events would spill over to the Ilitch owned Motor City Casino. This would solidify a second Ilitch controlled entertainment district bridging the gap between the Motor City Casino and the Masonic Temple which Olympia Entertainment is now booking.

Jefferies East (part of Foxtown North?)




Sunday, January 06, 2008

HUGE Campus Martius News

The Mayor Kilpatrick is set to announce the details to a $150-million residential, retail and entertainment center for Downtown Detroit on Wednesday. The mixed use "Cadillac Centre" development will be built on the long vacant Monroe block at Campus Martius. Financing is lined up with ground breaking set for the fall of 2009.

The New York property firm Northern Group Inc. will build and own the property. The company already owns the Penobscot, the First National building and Cadillac Tower.

The plans call for 2 24 story apartment towers connected by a 12 story entertainment center containing a movie theater, restaurants, stores and a health club. The design will be cutting-edge. If the renderings are any indication, the curvy edged modernistic complex will be the most daring architecture the area has seen in decades. Detroit will either have a new signature building or be the butt of further jokes. Only time will tell.

Cadillac Centre Project Details:
  • 84 apartments,
  • 30,000-square-foot market
  • 100,000 + square feet of major retail space
  • 14,400 square-foot health club
  • 40,000-square-foot public park with water features,
  • 25,000 + square feet for boutiques and specialty shops
  • 800 parking spaces.

**UPDATE 10-3-08**

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Quicken wants to know what you think.

Quicken has posted a question on Yahoo answers asking where it should build its new headquarters.

The choices are the Hudson's site and the Statler site.

You can vote here.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Cass Corridor Setback

James Wickenheiser, a prominent developer in Brush Park, has reneged on his deal to buy the Harbor Light Center and several neighboring properties in the lower Cass Corridor from the Salvation Army for $3 million. Part of the deal, completed in 2005 with Wickenheiser's Detroit Urban Living, included providing insurance and securing for the Louis Kamper designed building.

Wickenheiser failed to provide security, allowing the building to be scrapped of its fixtures, window frames, and copper. According to lawsuit filed against Wickenheiser, the resulting damaged has left the building at half of its original value.

The Salvation Army is trying to get rid of the property and will not try to salvage it for its own purposes. This may put the building at risk if the Detroit Red Wings decide to build a new Hockey Arena on property currently owned by the city of North of I-75 and West of Woodward. The Harbor Light Center began life in 1925 as the Park Avenue Hotel and was one of three residential hotels designed and developed by Louis Kamper and Lew W. Tuller.