Detroit Casino Megathread

[RustTown]

Yeah, I'd go in there, park my car sideways just for the helluva it.

[Michi]

lol...I drove past and was going to ask one of the construction guys standing on the street what the anticipated opening day is going to be. There's billboards up all over the city advertising that the garage is going to open soon, but it doesn't say when.

I'll take 3 spots too!!

[wolverine]

So I checked out two Casinos today with a couple other forumers.

The Greektown skywalk is nice and convenient. I found the new garage to be a bit chaotic. There was a lot of people directing traffic....possibly too many, despite that the electronic system installed could have easily directed people to open spaces. And btw, they filled 11 floors

The MGM ramp was actually a bit nicer and allowed people to park wherever. They played music throughout, and the elevator lobbies were very classy (I know sad saying that, but it's true) Very interesting interior, I guess warm and inviting is the best word. We actually had dinner there, and a diversity of food choices and prices was available. So if you are in the mood for fine expensive dining or just looking to get a good, cheap bite to eat, you might want to check it out.

[Michi]

FYI: the Greektown Casino tower is just peeking out over Campus Martius. The tower will have a skyline impact, I noticed today, from 3 unique locations...1) Penobscot Building at the corner of Fort and Griswold. 2) from the Griswold at Capitol Park site along Michigan Avenue, and 3) from Grand River Avenue at Woodward where you look over the old Hudson's site beyone the Broadway line of buildings. It'll be pretty cool. Hopefully sightline #3 won't last for very long though.

[hudkina]

It'll probably be visible from much of the western side of downtown. Afterall, most of the buildings on that side are shorter than 30 stories.

[Michi]

Yah, whatever, hudkins. It just so happens there are a lot of tall buildings that have the potential to block the view. So there!

[detroitfan]

Why is Greektown going up so slow?. Its floors are rather narrow and I've seen building with larger floor plates rise faster.

[tapezord]

maybe because they are using reinforced concrete? Also, I don't think greektown has a redi-mix plant near the site like MGM did (lot off of Rosa Parks and I-75).

[RustTown]

If it's precast it shouldn't matter. But, I don't know the specifics of the project. It would very well be poured-in-place. Anyone?

[tapezord]

the base of the structure was most certainly poured-in-place

[Michi]

I don't know either. It's finally 5 stories above the garage, which is somewhere around floor 15, I think....so a little more than half its height...given some lower floors are taller.

[tapezord]

update from this morning... it is indeed poured-in-place reinforced concrete. I saw a few redi-mix trucks on site today.

[Michi]

Yah, and I just saw the little barrel tumblers being lifted by the crane. Are we sure they aren't pouring molasses w/ those? Good golly!

[Michi]

Pictures: Friday December 28, 2007 {sodEmoji.{sodEmoji.|}} Posted: Friday January 04, 2008

Greektown Casino Hotel Tower - about half way done

From Campus Martius

Lafayette expansion over the boulevard.

Installing the brickwork.

From the back

From Lafayette Park

From Eastern Market

From Gratiot

From St. Antoine

Motor City Casino - Grand River Avenue. I went inside for the first time and didn't really care much for it. It's very "casino-like" and "loud" w/ the architecture where the MGM is more elegant and subtle while still "wowing" on the interior. Definately prefer the MC exterior though.

Current garden theme at the MGM.

[toog05]

Great Pics, Michi! Glad to see greektown coming along so well, and Motor City looks excellent, it exceeded my expectations. It is such a site to see at night, everytime I pass that place on the lodge fwy. the traffic is always slow because everyone is looking at it.

[hudkina]

Great shots, Michi. Greektown is going to make such a nice impact on the skyline!

I remember when everyone hated the design of Motor City Casino!

[toog05]

Great shots, Michi. Greektown is going to make such a nice impact on the skyline!

I remember when everyone hated the design of Motor City Casino!

[rbdetsport]

Looks like alot of us were at Eastern Market Friday. Me and Statedude were also there.

Greektown is looking great. I realized how big of an impact that it will have on the skyline when I saw the half complete tower was pretty noticable from many angles and the view from Eastern Market.

[toog05]

Question about MotorCity Casino...I never been there but was wondering is all 100,000sq ft. of the casino floor open or are parts still under construction?

[jbr12]

Pictures: Friday December 28, 2007 {sodEmoji.{sodEmoji.|}} Posted: Friday January 04, 2008

Current garden theme at the MGM.

[detwaa84]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...METRO/801310500

The casino opened a new 2,900-space parking garage in November and will unveil a 39-story, 400-room luxury hotel this fall.......

39??

[tapezord]

paging LMich!! We've got a height query.

[toog05]

Maybe they made a mistake and pressed the "9" instead of the "0" thats right next to it. But I would love to see a 39-story hotel instead of 30.

[Ramcharger]

Here's an update to the previous article. It also says "39-story" hotel. It could still be a typo, I guess.

It also says that Mr. Celani will be helping to manage the new construction. This sounds like a great deal for Greektown Casino and good for the city as well. I particularly found the last paragraph to be very interesting.

[Jasoncw]

Based off other 39 story hotels built recently, it would be about 125 meters/410 feet. That would put it in line with Detroit's other tall buildings (it would be about the same height as the Fisher Building).

Sounds good to me!