[The-New-Tony-Detroit]

Graphics of proposed changes:
http://www.freep.com/assets/static/pdf/2006/12/cobo1205.pdf

The jist of the plans for the Free Press:

The plan would:

• Boost Cobo's exhibit space from its current 700,000 square feet to just under 1 million. The actual construction cost would be $425 million.

• Demolish the adjacent Cobo Arena.

• Convert Cobo Center's existing Riverfront Ballroom to exhibition space.

• Link Cobo to downtown's main convention hotel, the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, with an enclosed moving walkway that would cross above Hart Plaza.

• Provide an extensive renovation of Cobo's loading dock areas that would shorten the time needed to set up and tear down the annual North American International Auto Show, which is in January. That should allow Cobo to book other trade shows during the early fall period, which now is occupied with setting up the auto show.

DFP reporter Tom Walsh: Plan offers glimmer of hope:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/BUSINESS06/612050415

DFP: Auto exects like plan for Cobo
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/BUSINESS03/612050412

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Updates today:

DFP: Oakland County Exec: 'compromise possible' for expanded Cobo
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/NEWS99/61205027

________________________________________________________________
Discuss:

[LMich]

Fianco better have a Plan B for the financing, because regardless of what Patterson says in public, he's not going to go for this. Fianco better have other private investors lined up or in talks (i.e. casinos, GM, Ford...).

[Robert Pence]

... Fianco better have other private investors lined up or in talks (i.e. casinos, GM, Ford...).

Given the financial condition of GM & Ford, I doubt if they'll be very eager to invest any assets in anything other than the immediate survival of their core businesses, at least in the near future.

[hudkina]

Ford and GM both have shelled out millions of dollars to name sports arenas.

[Hayward]

A skywalk across Hart plaza. how graceful.

[LMich]

That skywalk is never going to fly even if this project does. This is the first casualty I predict when they hash this out more, if this ever goes beyond Fianco's announcement. There is not any graceful way to drag anything above Hart Plaza.

Cobo Arena

http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Dato=20061205&Kategori=BUSINESS06&Lopenr=612050415&Ref=AR&Q=80&MaxW=450&MaxH=450&site=c4&Border=1&title=0&logo=0

[apbest]

yeah, cobo arena is quite ugly...I hope if this comes to frutition that Cobo becomes pretty, like a glass facade, maybe utilize the fact that it's on a river and make it sort of see-through for convention patrons.

[Cleveland Brown]

So I guess we can assume that Cobo will get larger than this initial plan when Illitch decides to build New Olympia. ;)

IMHO, we really need a comprehensive plan on Cobo not just piecemeal expansions every 20 years. While it's important in its current location, it really need to move much further west so that future expansions arent impinged by existing structures.

[the pope]

Dear Mr. Ficano,

You sir are an Asshat for suggesting public funds to build a skywalk between Cobo Hall and the Renaissance Center, when an alternative exists. Its called the People Mover, and for 50 Cents, it will even do the walking for you.

Regards,

the pope

[Michi]

There're already a skywalk between Cobo and the Ren Cen. It's called the People Mover. AND you don't even have to walk it.

[The-New-Tony-Detroit]

As I have said now repeatedly to people at work who saw this plan and told me how cool it would be to have a "walkway like they do at Somerset"...:

FORGETTABOUTIT!!!


ahem... <clear my throat>

Ficano put this skywalk in the plan to harness more attention and more of a front page story. I mean with just expanding the Cobo Center to 1,000,000 square feet you get the bottom right corner of page 1A or maybe even thrown to Local News Section B right next to a story on how we are using zebra muscles to suck the fat out of obese Macomb County residents (no comments from the peanut gallery)...

BUT WITH A SKYWALK the Free Press would have to make a huge 3Dish map diagram with a dotted line going from Cobo to the RenCen and then say "the exact placement of the actual skywalk has not been determined" Here is the graphic that took up more space on page 1A than the story:

http://www.freep.com/assets/static/pdf/2006/12/cobo1205.pdf

IT'S ALL ABOUT PRESS COVERAGE PEOPLE. Make no doubt about it - this plan will bring attention and it's timing is fantastic - suddenly Joe Louis site magically becomes available the Wings announce soon their move after 2009 and the convention floor goes up to 1.2 million square feet... Something huge is a foot if my senses and instinct and the rumors are all working right...

[LMich]

BTW, the skywalk is a horrible idea, regardless, but the People Mover only goes one way. The skywalk is a horrible idea, but for many other reasons than the People Mover.