Major Downtown/Midtown/Corktown Developments! (Detroit, Hamtramck: per square foot, stations, campus)

[MS313]

Originally Posted by detwahDJ

You know, this points up the fallacy of previous short-sighted non-residency zoning practices (which, despite the trolls, didn't start under Kwame or any other minority mayor). Don't know who lobbied for those ordinances, but people certainly had to use either public or private transportation to go back and forth - and then there were those conveniently-placed freeways which extended to the far suburbs for easy commuting. A puzzle.

This is the reason why downtown Detroit was dead after work hours until recently. That was a bad idea but I think they meant well. Back then they probably didn't want downtown to be too congested. In fact, I hear the lower end of Manhattan clears out after business hours as well.

[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by MS313

This is the reason why downtown Detroit was dead after work hours until recently. That was a bad idea but I think they meant well. Back then they probably didn't want downtown to be too congested. In fact, I hear the lower end of Manhattan clears out after business hours as well.

That's true, other cities do the same, but they don't catch the same media crap on that point. A recent weekend visitor noting the lack of pedestrian traffic moaned and said "this sure ain't like other cities" obviously thinking it was due to something other than zoning.
And way back when, people obviously didn't have the great desire to live downtown, i.e. the urban lifestyle, because it was a given that the burbs and "a quiet place in the country with easy commute" was "where it's at". The manufacturing jobs were not downtown, but were in the outer neighborhoods and the suburbs, so downtown workers were fewer and not involved in that. I was one of 'em and really thought nothing of clearing out after 5 - it was just the "natural order" of things.

Still, I'm not sure why living downtown was not desirable or allowable at any point, or if congestion was even the issue. They did develop Lafayette Park, but I'm not sure if that was just due to a perceived market for downtown workers or what.

[AdemH]

Originally Posted by MS313

In fact, I hear the lower end of Manhattan clears out after business hours as well.

It clears up around 1-2am. lol Way later than business hours.

[animatedmartian]

I highly doubt the financial district looks as busy at 12 AM as it does at 6 PM. There's simply not the same group of people around during either of those times. It may not 'clear out' per se, but there's certainly less people. Especially if there aren't any arbitrary midnight events going on.

[AdemH]

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

I highly doubt the financial district looks as busy at 12 AM as it does at 6 PM. There's simply not the same group of people around during either of those times. It may not 'clear out' per se, but there's certainly less people. Especially if there aren't any arbitrary midnight events going on.

Of course not as busy but there are still bars/night clubs/restaurants open at that time. Most of the halal chicken and rice carts that are famous in the city are open till 3-4am.

[atler8]

Some of us from far away are rooting for a Detroit comeback so I'm glad to see threads with positive news like this one!

[MS313]

Resort on the riverwalk?
After $5M in renovations, Roberts Hotel goal is a city resort

[usroute10]

The Davide Whitney Building is opening as a 136 Room Aloft Hotel and 105 apartments. The Building cost $92 MILLION dollars to renovate.

Much of the building's original exterior ornamentation has been restored (as the facade was "modernized" in the '50s). Also, the 4-story arcade has been restored to its original grandeur.

David Whitney Building ushers in glittery new life

[animatedmartian]

Here's the Winning Redevelopment Plan For Tiger Stadium - Renderings Revealed - Curbed Detroit

The city has chosen a redevelopment plan for Tiger Stadium site (aka Navin Field) that includes brownstone style homes along Trumbull and a mixed use apartment building along Michigan Avenue.

[Indentured Servant]

With each passing month and new announcement....the revitalization of Detroit becomes more palpable. I think baring a national economic slowdown, the rate of new investment will ramp up considerably by the end of 2015. I just think that Detroit is one of the best places to invest right now...while prices are still relatively cheap.