Midtown Development

[wolverine]

So no different than living next to a McDonald's;)

[Jim856796]

I have two questions about the Brush Park redevelopment.

Have they demolished anything in that neighbourhood, including some old mansions that are beyond repair?

What kind of developments are they gonna build on the empty areas between the redeveloped mansions and any area that no new condominium townhouses are being built?

[wolverine]

It seems like there are a lot of fenced off areas. Some particularly large ones that occupy almost the whole block. I always wondered if a single developer owned them. I haven't seen any more mansions get demoed though.

[hudkina]

There have been quite a few houses demolished in recent years, primarily for the fact that they were structurally unsound. They tried to save as many as they could, though.

[wolverine]

^ Around the super bowl yes. But since then a lot have been mothballed

[jbr12]

Does anyone know of apartments that are located in Downtown or Midtown?? My brother wants an apartment because he doesn't want to be tied down with the real estate market. All I can seem to find are new condos.

[Michi]

Studio 1 should have the complete second level done by the end of the week, me thinks, with the whole 3rd level work shortly thereafter. It's such a great filler for that area along the uber-wide Woodward. Adding the last 2 levels will be even more exciting just to get that cozy feeling of urbanity in that location. It already feels pretty high to me.

I'll have pictures soon.

[jbr12]

Hopefully some new pics with the upper levels will help calm everyone down over the 'poor' design

[Michi]

Yah, admittedly, it's looking better than I imagined already. The start of level 4 went up today on the back side.

[tapezord]

Hopefully some new pics with the upper levels will help calm everyone down over the 'poor' design

[tapezord]

update:

I pumped gas this morning on my way to henry the hatter at the gas station at forest and woodward. I am really surprised to say this, but it looks like the material on the parking garage is nicer than the stuff on the residential units. I guess I have a question to Michi: When they were putting up the parking garage, did they later attached a decorative facing to the precast concrete? Regardless of materials, I am excited to see this development move forward.

[Michi]

Anyone know why the large construction crane was taken down at the South University Village Project? Hopefully, it was just for the pause for the holiday season and nothing worse.

[jbr12]

Are you talking about the big crane at Studio One Apartments? I'm guessing they aren't done laying precast so I have 2 guesses...

1- Break for the holidays

2- Waiting for precast to get far enough ahead

Not sure of either one, but some updates pics would be nice

[Michi]

Well then, here you be:

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

South University Village - still pretty much looks the same a week after these were taken.

From Garfield Street

The vehicle garage slip.

Engineering School Addition - Wayne State University. It is built on the north side of Warren diagonal from Old Main.

For instance, this is looking north toward the Fisher Building and Anthony Wayne Drive (3rd Street) is just to the left.

The Bethoven renovation at 3rd and Prentis, Midtown

New city retail at the MidMed Lofts.

Wayne State Univ. DMC Medical Expansion Project - (adjacent to Detroit Receiving along Canfield).

Brush Park North - John R & Erskine Streets (Patterson Terrace on the left (renovation soon??))

LaMar Loft Development, Brush Park - just weeks ago it did not have a roof or windows and was rotting on the inside.

Private caretaking in Brush Park.

Infill opportunities that Crosswinds is going to pollute w/ low-density, cookie cutter suburban poo.

Crystal Lofts - nearly complete on the exterior.

Not sure what's happening with the door on the left.

[hudkina]

I think I'm going to really like those new townhouses. That's what Crosswinds should have been building all along. And I don't know who owns the Patterson Terrace, but I hope they renovate it or sell it to someone who is willing to do so. That is one of the last major eyesores driving down John R. It seems like every other building is either under renovation or is "secured" for a future renovation.

[Michi]

Even though Crosswinds has another model coming on line in the near future, I don't think they should have strictly gone w/ what Brush Park North is like either. I don't necessarily mind CW's units, it's just how disgustingly cookie cutter they are...and for crying out loud, keep them off of Woodward!! They did their part w/ the first block along the service drive, but STOP already. Ww is appropriate for developments like the Ellington and Studio One as a bare minimum.

Everytime I go by the Ww facing Crosswinds townhomes and see people just hanging around on peoples' front yards doing this and that and waiting for the bus, I think to myself, geez...I'm glad I don't live here. W/ a mixed use development, it would be TOTALLY different. People don't lounge around out in front of peoples' townhomes on the side streets like they do the cookie cutter models on Woodward.

Now, it's time to change the design. I don't care if it costs a few more dollars. That's why BP North is such a good thing. Keep the nhood interesting and not look like Burning Tree Terrace in freaking Novi.

Also, I think John R would have been ideal if the city changed the zoning to mixed use. It could serve as a nice retail corridor as well, especially where it currently exists near Adelaide.

[wolverine]

That's for the updates Michi, the renovations are looking great. I like the Brush Park town homes, but I hope to God they put a porch over those doors. I think the rendering showed no porches and this ridiculous amount of wall space above the door.

[TheDetroitCity99]

wow very cool. I love those homes on John R. Any news of renovations??

[hudkina]

BTW, is it just me or does this house look remarkably similar to those designs for the Far East Side a year or so ago:

[TheDetroitCity99]

A house in the middle of the city. I love it.

[Michi]

lol...What else do you expect people to live in?

[tapezord]

cardboard boxes under overpasses

[rbdetsport]

South University Village is looking much better than I expected from the newest renderings. Very excited to see this one liven up the street around there.

[wolverine]

Wow, I'm going to get confused posting in two different "South University Village" threads.

[detroitfan]

Anyone know what exactly the DMC is building?