I just received word from my connection at the Greek Development Corporation that the developers received their funding so demolition will start soon. The good news is that I am in the process of working on gaining access to the building the last final days to shoot some video work and create some installations. I also am hoping to get permission to document the demolition. Just waiting for the final say...so far so good...wish me luck.
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I have been following this demo for the last few weeks. Looks like they are finally moving ahead. Do you know anything about the large warehouse building along the railroad tracks? I heard the building was used to make spices. I also heard it was recently (relatively) sold, and the new owners were looking at a mixed-use development. Is this building historic, and are they going to rehab (like S,E & R, ie Tide Point), rather than tear down & rebuild? I would love to see the inside of that building. Do you have pictures inside that building? I would love to see them.
-T
The research for this site is about the building along the railroad tracks that is across from the Crown Cork and Seal Building. I met with the Greektown Development Group and they shared with me the new plans for that whole block. Everything on the one side of the tracks (Beside the church and houses up near Ponca?) are going to be torn down and built into a new housing development to attract people to the community particularly, young professionals from places such as the hospital to live in the community. There will also be a park and I think a couple towers with condos. Originally it was going to be a 200 million dollar project but I think they had to make some cuts because of the situation with the economy. The development is similar to Canton Crossing and is owned by the same individual, Ed Hale.
I really wanted some of the structure to be saved and restored. Something like a meeting hall or a center for the community would be nice. It could be a nice space to be utilized for events such as the Greek Festival. Lots of kids hang out in the building which leads me to believe a community center might be a good idea. They obviously need a place that is safe to do that in other than an abandoned building.
I saw the original design for this property in The Sun back in April of 05, as well as the newer one thanks to the current condo market. As a landscape architect, I think a park with a community center would be great focal point, not only for the new development, but for the Greektown community as a whole. The kids need more than a tire swing at the end of Lehigh Street for recreation. Also, the Greek festival in the parking lot along Ponca Street could have a much nicer setting. I have even offered my design services to Jason if they do a charette for the design of the park.
Actually, Hale has split to concentrate on Canton Crossing, so it is all KSI now.
Were you able to save any of the architectural elements before demolition that could be incorporated into the design of any future structure, such as a pavilion?
-T
Did you happen to get any images from the demolition? I meant to ask you when we chatted awhile back.
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