MSU Red Cedar Message Board

This picture was taken Dec. 17, 2011.

Dec. 24, 2011

Looks like work is in full swing now, fences up, cranes moving, etc.

YES!!!!!!!

Can you take some pictures?

The GAR is located in an area that was for decades another pocket of skid row. Starting north from Grand River (pre-1963 Michigan Avenue) streets such as Cass, Second, Third, were lined with flop house hotels, apartments, and dive bars. The east-west streets like Columbia, Elizabeth, Montcalm, etc. were as well. In another city those buildings were have made for a nice loft district. Several of the buildings were actually aesthetically pleasing. The problem they had been neglected for so long, rehabs may not have been realistic. However, the point is moot since Mike Illitch did his version of "urban renewal".

Downtown Detroit always had an interesting building dynamic with building locations. The Leland Hotel and Townhouse Apartments were built years after the old Michigan Avenue skid row had been established. The Townhouse Apartments into the early 70's had a number of athletes and successful professional types living there, meanwhile the Salvation Army was block west, and the Lindell Hotel (home of the orginal Lindell A.C.) was a block east.

I think you're right.

Cool, thanks for the updates. Back in the 2001-2003 timeframe when I was a CPA, I had a client in an adjacent building and had a good view of the GAR out my window. Had no idea of its name or anything, but often wondered when/how such a beautiful building could ever be used again. With MGM opening up in its location, this stretch of Adams road west of woodward was bound for improvement.

Since Ilitch owns a very significant portion of land in that part of downtown combined with some other owners of empty lots looking to hit the jackpot the ultimate result is it could take awhile. After Ilitch took over the Fox he was periodically buying the old apartment buildings, flop house hotels, and dive bars as was mentioned in another post. I'm sure Ilitch knew some land speculation would occur over there, but I doubt 25 years ago they ever thought that area would have any redeeming value other than for their projects. It was a very undesirable area for years. Although if those buildings that were demolished could have been rehabbed, it would have been perfect for a loft district.

New update is up w/ some pics. I'll pass on the remediation vacuum-er job

Drove by it when I was visiting last week after a visit to Slows and didn't notice much change from the outside but I'm sure a lot of the work is starting on the inside with structural updates, etc.