Russel Industrial center to close. (Detroit: sublease, home, neighborhood)

[Jomz]

Apparently the Russel industrial center is being shut down by the city for various construction violations.

http://detroit.curbed.com/2017/2/21/...tenants-vacate

I never knew that - that building was occupied. zooming through I75, I thought it was another building in like the abandoned Packard plant by I96/I75 interchange.

Today had an early lunch and walked through the complex. It has a post apocalyptic vibe to it. Much more grungy vibe than the Heidelburg project. All the art studios and art people add to the vibe - felt like something from Mad Max.

Worth checking out I guess, before it closes.

[animatedmartian]

Not really surprised at the violations. The owner of that complex owns some other buildings downtown and it isn't unusual to see him called a slumlord. He may not be that bad, but he seems to cut corners a lot and works on his buildings seemingly with a skeleton crew. I guess the positive is that his tenants get cheap rents, but often at the cost of the growth of a neighborhood.

[keraT]

I agree with the "post apocalyptic vibe", it would be great place for movie. I remember first time going there and turning back because it looked too scary. It took me several attempts to finally explore the place and find the business I was looking for. But once I became familiar with it, I really loved going to Russell bazar on weekends. They had the cheapest knock-off purse and jewelry. this was few years ago, I haven't been there.


From reading the article, its seem like the tenants and small business owners will suffer most. Maybe the city should give longer time to fix violation or tenants to move out. Not immediately

[Jomz]

Originally Posted by keraT

I agree with the "post apocalyptic vibe", it would be great place for movie.

Apparently some scenes in Batman vs Superman were shot there.

'Batman v Superman': 10 key metro Detroit filming locations

[Coldjensens]

It is a neat place to visit.

However when I heard about the big fire in the mis-used warehouse in San Francisco, the first thought that came to my mind was "Russel Industrial Center"

It was probably that disaster that triggered the citations. They were obvious to anyone who visited and have been for years. San Francisco probably just drove home the penalty for looking the other way because something is "cool"

[drro]

Hoe come this building was still used anyway? The broken windows and shattered glass didn't bother anyone? Nice building though. Streetview has some pictures.

[DTWflyer]

That's too bad, I always thought it was a decent use for a old industrial space and that the RIC was something kind of unique in its own way.

There are a number of old industrial buildings around the city that appear vacant and derlict but are actually owned/occupied but used for industrial storage/warehousing by the automotive OEMs and suppliers, and other others are or were previously used for warehousing metal ingits for the London Metal Exchange.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

It is a neat place to visit.

However when I heard about the big fire in the mis-used warehouse in San Francisco, the first thought that came to my mind was "Russel Industrial Center"

It was probably that disaster that triggered the citations. They were obvious to anyone who visited and have been for years. San Francisco probably just drove home the penalty for looking the other way because something is "cool"

The Ghost Ship fire in Oakland and subsequent hindsight is causing lots of other cities to tighten up on "live-work" situations, many of which were set up by people who come to the landlord of an unused or abandoned building, offer to pay an unbelievably good rent, then sublease to multiple other people.

[Jomz]

apparently some kind of agreement was reached, It is not going to close- but a lot of people moved out.

http://detroit.curbed.com/2017/3/6/1...city-agreement