Last one out, get the lights
June 20, 2015 8:35 AM Subscribe
So, Mefiquarters? I'm in for a nickel.
posted by percor at 9:02 AM on June 20, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by percor at 9:02 AM on June 20, 2015 [7 favorites]
I'll be shocked if Dan Gilbert doesn't buy it. Dude is turning Detroit's core into his own personal monopoly board.
Last one out, get the lights
scully_eyeroll.gif
posted by wikipedia brown boy detective at 9:13 AM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Last one out, get the lights
scully_eyeroll.gif
posted by wikipedia brown boy detective at 9:13 AM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
i wonder if there are requirements for use or if some rich, senile fogey could buy it, crank up the heat, and just wander the halls semi-nude.
what?
posted by slater at 9:37 AM on June 20, 2015 [6 favorites]
what?
posted by slater at 9:37 AM on June 20, 2015 [6 favorites]
These classic office buildings are a big challenge to make work as new commercial space.
The best pre-war preservation / revitalization have been of industrial and warehouse buildings because they were designed with the high ceilings you need to drop modern electronics and HVAC and the open floor plates that suit the modern style of corporate workplace.
In more thriving areas this would be a gorgeous residential conversion but apartment prices in Detroit don't support that.
posted by MattD at 9:42 AM on June 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
The best pre-war preservation / revitalization have been of industrial and warehouse buildings because they were designed with the high ceilings you need to drop modern electronics and HVAC and the open floor plates that suit the modern style of corporate workplace.
In more thriving areas this would be a gorgeous residential conversion but apartment prices in Detroit don't support that.
posted by MattD at 9:42 AM on June 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'd buy that for a dollar!
posted by clockwork at 9:50 AM on June 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by clockwork at 9:50 AM on June 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
The purchase price is the least of the worries. The cost of refurbishment and the cost of property tax make this a huge money pit. It won't surprise me if there are no bids.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:07 AM on June 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:07 AM on June 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Whoa! I went here a few weeks ago for a Movement after-party... my jaw dropped as soon as I stepped inside, but I had no idea the building was so renowned.
There's a cool horror/B-movie themed bar in the basement (next to an old bank vault!), if anyone's interested in that kind of thing.
posted by raihan_ at 11:26 AM on June 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
There's a cool horror/B-movie themed bar in the basement (next to an old bank vault!), if anyone's interested in that kind of thing.
posted by raihan_ at 11:26 AM on June 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'd be up for a Rapture meets Goremghast style closed Society slowly descending into madness but I'd want wardrobe approval first.
posted by The Whelk at 11:48 AM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:48 AM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
"from the Golden Tower of the Fisher Building...”
posted by gyc at 12:18 PM on June 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by gyc at 12:18 PM on June 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
Too bad it's so far north. I hope that neighbourhood, and the rest of the city, experiences the resurgence I saw downtown and a few other adjacent neighbourhoods when I visited recently. But W Grand and 2nd is pretty far from the action right now.
Beautiful building, though. I hope it sees better times.
And yeah "last one out get the lights" betrays an ignorance of what's happening in the motor city these days.
posted by rocket88 at 12:24 PM on June 20, 2015
Beautiful building, though. I hope it sees better times.
And yeah "last one out get the lights" betrays an ignorance of what's happening in the motor city these days.
posted by rocket88 at 12:24 PM on June 20, 2015
There's an interesting link in the comments there of a Mr. Herman Krieger, who offers a very personal tour to people who've never been to Detroit. Basically chronicles his life and times growing up in Detroit, and it's a very personal, very engaging read.
posted by kurosawa's pal at 12:30 PM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by kurosawa's pal at 12:30 PM on June 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
It's not ignorance, rocket88, it's lack of faith that what's happening now will be enough to make a difference. I hope you're right and I'm wrong. I really hope you're right and I'm wrong. But if the Fisher Building - arguably one of the most beautiful buildings in the country, not to mention what it represents to Detroit - can't support itself, it's hard to see Detroit coming back.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 1:01 PM on June 20, 2015
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 1:01 PM on June 20, 2015
The Fisher building probably can support itself, just not lavishly. The new owners will need to budget the renovation carefully, and probably content themselves with tenants who won't pay top tier rents. Small professional practices, branch offices for foreign industrial concerns looking to sell to the Big 3 and the Tier 1 suppliers, etc.
posted by MattD at 3:48 PM on June 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by MattD at 3:48 PM on June 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Some radio station in town (was it Dick Purtan?) used to broadcast "from high atop the mighty Fisher Building" and I basically just think of it as the Mighty Fisher Building on account of it.
posted by BinGregory at 1:04 AM on June 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by BinGregory at 1:04 AM on June 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Too bad it's so far north. I hope that neighbourhood, and the rest of the city, experiences the resurgence I saw downtown and a few other adjacent neighbourhoods when I visited recently."
Nah, the Fisher building will be fine; the North End/Milwaukee Junction are already seeing a lot of investor activity.
posted by wikipedia brown boy detective at 9:10 AM on June 22, 2015
Nah, the Fisher building will be fine; the North End/Milwaukee Junction are already seeing a lot of investor activity.
posted by wikipedia brown boy detective at 9:10 AM on June 22, 2015
Sold! For 12.2 million. That's 18 million less than the 2001 sale price of 31 million.
posted by wikipedia brown boy detective at 10:35 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by wikipedia brown boy detective at 10:35 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
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