[LMich]

Let's see if they actually ever get around to putting the thing out of its misery.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070608/SPORTS0104/706080346

http://cmsimg.detnews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C3&Date=20070608&Category=SPORTS0104&ArtNo=706080346&Ref=H3&Profile=1129&MaxW=1500&Q=100&title=1
Robin Buckson / The Detroit News
After demolition, the site could be used as a mixed-use site for retail and residential projects, with construction beginning in April 2009.

Tiger Stadium outta here by '08

June 08, 2007

Louis Aguilar / The Detroit News

Old Tiger Stadium has moved one step closer to its final date with the wrecking ball.

A plan approved by city economic development officials on calls for the famous but moldering ballpark at Michigan and Trumbull to be razed by September 2008, with most of the historic baseball diamond preserved. Seats and other stadium memorabilia will be sold off.

The plan, approved Wednesday, gives a nonprofit group called The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy until late July to find a feasible approach -- complete with financing -- to preserve part of the stadium. The nonprofit is trying to find a way to save Tiger Stadium's main entrance behind home plate.

The plan now heads back before the City Council. Most members, along with Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and an influential Corktown neighborhood organization, have endorsed the general concepts. Given the looming deadlines, economic development officials anticipate the City Council will approve the plan soon.

"This is the most concrete, most specific plan that has gotten the farthest along in terms of city backing," said Ron Flies, vice president of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. and project manager of what's officially known as the Tiger Stadium Property Redevelopment Plan.

Flies said Kilpatrick publicly endorsed the project's concept last year and the City Council authorized the general project about two months ago. City economic officials have also been meeting with the Corktown neighborhood group to get their input.

The plan approved Wednesday by the city's Economic Growth Corp. calls for the stadium structure to be demolished by September 2008, if the conservancy doesn't come up with a plan to save the front entrance. The site would be used as a mixed-use site for retail and residential project, with new construction to begin in April 2009. Parts of the baseball diamond -- the infield and most of the outfield -- will become a public field.

"Detroit's really got a unique opportunity," said Jeff Wattrick, head of the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, which grew out of the Greater Corktown Development Corp. "You look at what's happened to so many of the older ballparks and nothing is left of them and that's just a waste. And after so much effort and debate, hats off to the mayor and the city development people for listening."

The Detroit Tigers moved to Comerica Park in 1999 and Tiger Stadium has remained vacant since. Many notions on what to do with it have come and gone since the park -- opened five days after the Titanic sank in 1912 -- closed Sept. 27, 1999.

Some sounded grand. Most weren't feasible or lacked financing. Among the plans: Concerts, soccer games, lofts, shopping courtyards and serious consideration by the Canadian Football League to put a franchise in the stadium.

The sale of the seats and other memorabilia could take place this fall. The seats will be sold in pairs for $247 a pair; other memorabilia has not yet been selected or priced.

Stadium demolition, estimated to cost $1.6 million, could take up to a year. Money would come from the state's Clean Michigan Initiative and city brownfield tax credits.

You can reach Louis Aguilar at (313) 222-2760 or laguilar@detnews.com.

[Michi]

You know when all is said and done and there is a quality development there with people living and socializing in it, it will be the most humerous discussion to talk about the proposals to put a Walmart there...A WALMART...A FREAKING WALMART...GOOD GRIEF!!! lol

[LMich]

It's an absolute shame to see it go, and it's even more a shame that the owner fell into the trap of building a new ballpark, but if even the famed Yankee Stadium is soon to meet the wrecking ball, there is even less hope for saving Tiger Stadium. There have been so many proposals to save this dinosaur, so many unfeasible plans. Like Yankee Stadium, though, it's almost certain that, at least, the field will be saved and possible some of the entrance for whatever surrounds the old field.

It needs to be put out of its misery not just for baseball lovers, but more importantly, the neighborhood in which it sits that can never move forward with an empty Tiger Stadium.

[LMich]

I personally always wanted to see the facade saved, but I can live with them just saving the entrance for the new development that will ring the field. Really, saving the field is enough for me given that it's nearly impossible to find a creative resuse for an old stadium besides using it as another sports venue of the same sport, usually. If you know of any historic ballparks that have seen creative reuses, I would be interested to hear about them. It's not as if the city hasn't considered a plethora of proposals. The stadium has been standing for nearly 8 years now, rotting. I'd hate even worse to see it turn into another ruin, something Detroit has far too many of.

[Trumbull]

I just wish they would hurry up and do something with the stadium. Not only is it sad to see it in this condition but until she's torn down that part of Corktown will continue to be mostly parking lots.

[LMich]

I'm looking at the old facade, and the truth is that Tiger Stadium is probably one of the less architecturally significant old ballparks, even as ballparks, go. The worth in Tiger Stadium's architecture would be the configuration of the bleachers, if anything. I really do hope they can come through to save "The Corner", though, as that is one of the few architecturally significant parts of the facade.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/348518200_7cc21b884a_b.jpg
SNWEB.ORG Photography - http://www.flickr.com/photos/snweb/

Last Friday, 1999

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/80/233473494_e40179b5e2_o.jpg
phatphudd - http://www.flickr.com/photos/34397473@N00/

In better times

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/86/233473493_f733c89084_o.jpg
phatphudd - http://www.flickr.com/photos/34397473@N00/

[LMich]

Wow, it's not surprising residents came out to save the stadium, but surprising that the Planning Commission didn't back the redvelopment plan. It must have been really scant. This could really delay the demolition, as the City Council will most likely not vote for the demolition without the support of the Planning Commission.

Link (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/UPDATE/706220413/1003)

Planning Commission doesn't back Tiger Stadium redevelopment plans

June 22, 2007

Mark Hicks / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Citing incomplete plans, the City Planning Commission on Thursday declined to recommend approval for proposed redevelopment plans for Tiger Stadium.

Also prompting the move was public sentiment expressed during the meeting's public discussion on the issue.

"There's a lot of sentiment you can't put a price tag on," said commission member David Cason.

A decision on the stadium redevelopment is not expected until after a City Council public hearing on the issue next month, said Marcell Todd, director of the planning commission.

The Tiger Stadium Property Redevelopment Project, headed by the city's Economic Growth Corp., calls for the ballpark at Michigan and Trumbull to be razed by September 2008, with parts of the historic baseball field preserved. Seats and other memorabilia would be sold.

Developers have not yet been selected, but the total project could cost $2.9 million and is expected to add at least 90 residential units with 30,000 square feet of commercial space, said Scott Veldhuis, project manager for the economic corporation.

Representatives from the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy and the Greater Corktown Development Corp. also supported the plans.

But several citizens Thursday night asked the commission not to approve the plans because of scant details.

"It's very disturbing to hear proposals to tear down such a historic site without any plans," said Bill Dow, a member of a stadium fan club who called the area "arguably the most historic site in the state."

To Charles Moore, the site is too precious to lose.

"We just let it go to waste," said Moore, 48, a dishwasher from Detroit. "That stadium should remain a field of dreams."

Corktown resident Joe Rashid said he advocates other options -- including expanding ballfields. "We should be looking toward a culture of preservation, not demolition."

[Exodus]

The original facade was covered up between 79 and 80. If my memory is correct, the original facade had a little more detail.

Watch these videos. Go full screen, then pause it when you see Briggs Stadium.
The original facade as you can see is detailed or textured, especially compared to what it looks like now. I'm pretty sure they will rip that siding off and re expose the true facade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQxrhiraoUg&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVhTdKnDUW0&mode=related&search=

[pdxtex]

yet another nostalgia driven connundrum for detroit. at least i got to see the kiss reunion there before they closed up shop. and the current tiger roster is doing well over at comerica...

[H-Ville Man]

Figure out a way to work the structure into the new devleopment. To tear the whole place down to build some BS Walmart or Target or crappy strip mall is a waste.

Think outside the box.......use some of the historical piece of the building into a newer structure.

[Hayward]

^ They are

[LMich]

Looks like someone didn't read the article. :)

[twomutts]

Wasn't there talk years back of converting the stadium into an aquarium? Or am I thinking of Joe Louis??

[hudkina]

There have been tons of ideas thrown about. 99% of them were pipe dreams.

[Trumbull]

This is a bit off topic but, why is the stretch of Michigan Ave. around the stadium paved with brick?

[LMich]

All of the streets were originally brick, as they were in most cities. They never covered it up for aesthetics and historical reasons.

[Jasoncw]

I'm sure that it will be possible to make a good project out of it, but most of the people living there would be living there in part because of the stadium part. But wouldn't it feel dirty living there?

Anyway, hopefully something worthwhile comes out of it.

[Exodus]

I'm sure that it will be possible to make a good project out of it, but most of the people living there would be living there in part because of the stadium part. But wouldn't it feel dirty living there?

Anyway, hopefully something worthwhile comes out of it.This is something worth while. It's better than an empty rusty stadium.

[skyfan]

I'm sure that it will be possible to make a good project out of it, but most of the people living there would be living there in part because of the stadium part. But wouldn't it feel dirty living there?

Anyway, hopefully something worthwhile comes out of it.


I think it'd be cool living there, that field with so much history would be your backyard. I'm just worried that those out to torpedo this plan will make itdifficult for conservancy to raise money

[Hayward]

I'm sure that it will be possible to make a good project out of it, but most of the people living there would be living there in part because of the stadium part. But wouldn't it feel dirty living there?

Anyway, hopefully something worthwhile comes out of it.


It would definitely put us on the map as far as interesting development. I can't think of too many stadiums that have been converted into residential. Actually I can't think of any right now. But you can imagine the attention something like that would get. Detroit would be setting an interesting precedent in the reuse of old stadiums.

[LMich]

No such conversions have happened.

I find it ironic the usually "roll-over-and-die" planning commission is so adament about the most difficult renovation the city will see. It's also silly for anyone to try and compare this structure with the B-C, a conventional structure that, when gutted, could have been converted to almost any usage. Looks like we're in to watch Tiger Stadium turn into another MCS.

Tiger Stadium plan hits a snag

Board rejects razing proposal touted by mayor, argues park can be saved.

July 13, 2007

DETROIT -- Plans to demolish Tiger Stadium are starting to unravel as the city planning commission Thursday night refused to approve the plan touted by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick for the corner of Michigan and Trumbull.

In rejecting the plan to raze the structure and build housing and retail venues in its place, commissioners said they didn't believe enough has been done to preserve the structure and that they don't see the rush to get the stadium razed.

The commission voted 5-1 to reject the plan, with one abstention.

Commissioners repeatedly cited the Book-Cadillac Building, which had been left for dead for years after being shuttered in 1980 but is now being renovated and touted as a jewel of the city.

Art Papapanos, vice president of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., the quasi-government agency that is spearheading the Tiger Stadium Redevelopment Project for the city, said so far there have been no viable proposals, that no Major League Baseball stadium has been redeveloped and that as long as Tiger Stadium stands it costs the city in maintenance and security costs.

Those arguments fell on deaf ears Thursday.

"Why can't Detroit take the lead and be the first to do" it? Commissioner Marilyn White asked.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Thomas Christensen said he believed the administration would do whatever it wanted with the stadium whether or not the commission believed it was an appropriate use of the property.

"It sounds like you're going to tear it down no matter what," Christensen said, suggesting that the only way to control what happens on the site in the future is to implement zoning changes that would require more oversight of the project.

Still, the stadium's final fate rests in the hands of the Detroit City Council.

Earlier this week the council deferred a decision until the commission gave its input on the project.

The council plans to address Tigers Stadium again on Monday.

The commissioners asked pointed questions of Papapanos and other representatives of Detroit Economic Growth Corp., who say they want pieces of the stadium auctioned off by the end of the summer and demolition to begin by the end of the year.

The commissioners wanted to know why the city never seriously considered a plan to preserve the ballpark and use it for minor league baseball games, and whether the owners of the Detroit Tigers were nixing any plan that could compete for customers.

The backers of the minor league ballpark plan, first touted in 2002, did not have financial backing, nor did they have anyone with experience in the field, Papapanos explained.

Major League Baseball rules have proximity limits that would bar another one of their teams from playing in Detroit, planning department officials said, but another league could play at the stadium.

Still, the Economic Growth Group is working with the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy to preserve a portion of the ballpark that would be used for recreational games. For that to happen, however, they would need financial backers by the end of the year.

Council approval is needed for the overall plan, which includes demolition, as well as a disposition plan that would include auctioning off parts of the stadium for scrap and as memorabilia.

A council vote is also needed to allow whomever develops the site to get tax credits for reusing a site that would otherwise be unusable.

Fewer people turned up to listen to the commissioners than the 20 who addressed the council at a public hearing about the stadium earlier this week.

Still, at one point David Malhalab, a retired Detroit police sergeant active in the fight to keep Tiger Stadium standing, got to his feet and shouted at the commission. "You need to investigate what is going on," he said.

In recent weeks he has urged the City Council to tour the stadium to see if it is beyond reuse.

Commissioner Susan Glaser pressed city officials on when the stadium was last evaluated for structural integrity.

The last time that was done was in the mid-1990s when the Tigers were lobbying to move to a new ballpark.

You can reach David Josar at (313) 222-2073 or djosar@detnews.com.

[Trumbull]

The original facade was covered up between 79 and 80. If my memory is correct, the original facade had a little more detail.

Watch these videos. Go full screen, then pause it when you see Briggs Stadium.
The original facade as you can see is detailed or textured, especially compared to what it looks like now. I'm pretty sure they will rip that siding off and re expose the true facade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQxrhiraoUg&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVhTdKnDUW0&mode=related&search=

I've also found some pictures of the old facade.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n202/tom-servo/getimage-idx.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n202/tom-servo/getimage-idx-1.jpg
(From WSU Virtual Motor City (http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/v/vmc/topic.html))

[skyfan]

No such conversions have happened.

I find it ironic the usually "roll-over-and-die" planning commission is so adament about the most difficult renovation the city will see. It's also silly for anyone to try and compare this structure with the B-C, a conventional structure that, when gutted, could have been converted to almost any usage. Looks like we're in to watch Tiger Stadium turn into another MCS.

I agree makes no sense now they're all for presevation. This city so ass backward we tear down that ones that can be reused and try save the ones that can't.

[skyfan]

Nothing suprising that the proposals to reuse Tiger Stadium were flawed hopefully this will put this issue to rest.

Tiger Stadium proposals fell short


Report calls three redevelopment plans since '03 lacking; Cockrel says council may vote on park's fate next week.

David Josar / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- The city has received just three complete proposals to redevelop Tiger Stadium since 2003, and all had severe shortcomings, according to a report given to the City Council on Wednesday.

The report by the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. makes no mention of several other plans that have informally been pitched, a deletion some stadium supporters assert is further evidence city planners simply want to raze the historic structure as soon as possible.

The 32-page report, completed at the urging of City Council President Kenneth V. Cockrel, is scheduled for discussion Friday.

The council has been asked by the DEGC, which is heading Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's redevelopment efforts for the vacant ball field, to approve a plan that could see the stadium dismantled by the end of the year. The planning commission rejected the plan last week.

Although he didn't address specifics in the report, Cockrel said there was enough information in the document that the council could vote next Wednesday on the fate of the stadium, which has not had a Tigers game played there since 1999.

"I think council could move on this," he said.

A call to George Jackson, the head of the DEGC, was not returned Wednesday.

According to the report, the three proposals the DEGC received were from the Navin Field Consortium, which would establish a minor league team by retaining about 20,000 seats of Tiger Stadium; the Cherry Street Development, which proposed a phased-in project that would include demolishing the stadium to make way for residential construction, a hotel, parking and a museum; and Collins Development, which would demolish the stadium for housing but preserve the field for a softball field.

Those ideas were received after the DEGC made a formal request for projects in 2002. Reasons for rejection ranged from the lack of minority representation to no financing.

The DEGC made a similar request in 1999 and received seven responses, including for a bullfighting ring and a rugby stadium. Wednesday's report did not detail those ideas, but said all ideas had problems.

Corktown resident Tony Baker said he is growing tired of the indecision on the stadium.

"We need some decision so people know what direction the neighborhood is going to move," Baker said.

Louis Beer, a backer of the Navin Field proposal, suspected the DEGC never forwarded some of the other redevelopment plans to the council because backers had been turned off or frustrated by the city's lack of response.

Still, Beer said he believes that the reasons the DEGC is giving for rejecting the proposals are without merit.




http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070719/METRO/707190382&theme=Metro-Stadiums

[LMich]

Be careful with that assumption. As we already know, the City Council is one unpredictable body. We all know that they often don't let facts and reports get in the way of their decision-making process. :)

[skyfan]

FINAL OUT: Split City Council OKs plan to dismantle Tiger Stadium

David Josar / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Tiger Stadium, the site of some of the city's greatest victories as well as a symbol of decay and decline, was called out Friday.

After an eight-year debate, the Detroit City Council voted to demolish the beloved old ballpark as early as this year.

"I was hoping they'd save it. I had a lot of memories there," said Detroit firefighter Darnell McLaurin, 39. "When I'd drive up (Interstate) 75 and point out Tiger Stadium, that's when you knew you were in Detroit.

"Now, wow, you see Tiger Stadium," he said, pausing during a dart game at Hoot's on the Avenue near the old ballpark, "and you know you're in Detroit. It's an eyesore."

The old stadium at Michigan and Trumbull hasn't heard the crack of a bat since the end of the 1999 season, when the Tigers left for Comerica Park. As its admirers struggled to save it, the site originally known as Bennett Park grew shabbier and shabbier -- a pitiable end to the place where Babe Ruth hit his 700th homer, and where for 95 years fans cheered on heroes like Al Kaline, Hank Greenberg and Ty Cobb.

There are sad memories too. It was at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull where Lou Gehrig, battling the disease that would kill him, ended his streak of 2,130 consecutive games. And it was at The Corner where a pot-bellied Bubba Helms gained infamy when he was photographed in front of a burning police car, waving a Tigers pennant, after the team won the 1984 World Series. Detroit bore the worldwide shame for years.

"I grew up in Corktown. I love the stadium. But we have to move forward," Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel said Friday. She was among those voting in the 5-4 majority to demolish the stadium in favor of what advocates, including Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, hope will be stores and homes.

They believe it will boost the Corktown area the way that renovation of the Book-Cadillac Hotel and Fort Shelby Hotel are fanning development downtown.

"This is about progress," said Matt Allen, the mayor's spokesman.

Nobody seemed happy to order the wrecking ball.

"My parents met there," said Councilwoman JoAnn Watson. "If it weren't for Tiger Stadium, I wouldn't be here today."

Part will be preserved

The plan approved by the council authorized demolition and new construction -- even though no developer has yet stepped forward.

The field and part of the stadium will be preserved so a specially created nonprofit, The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, can maintain it and use it for Detroit youth baseball.

Still, the move forward isn't as smooth as Kilpatrick had wanted.

Although the council, on a 5-4 vote, approved his Tiger Stadium Redevelopment Plan, it rebuffed Kilpatrick's desire to turn over the land to the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., the quasi-government agency spearheading the development.

By doing that, council members made sure their approval is needed as the redevelopment project progresses.

They can, for example, delay the wrecking ball by not approving the money for the job or by not approving a company to do the work.

By giving the land to the DEGC, the process would have been streamlined.

Bill Dow, founder of the Tiger Stadium Fan Club and a vocal critic of razing the structure, said the plan is now a "paper tiger" that may not be able to be put in motion.

"This is a sad day in a lot of ways," he said.

Council members said they opted not to turn over the land to the DEGC so they could maintain more control over the project.

"I love the ball field, but the changes don't have to happen so fast," said Councilwoman Martha Reeves, who backed the redevelopment plan but voted against giving the land to the DEGC.

Councilwoman Albert Tinsley-Talabi, who also backed the project but not the land transfer, said there needs to be continued debate on what is best for Detroit.

"I thought it was prudent to not transfer the land in an effort to make sure that public participation and access issues are resolved in a public forum," she said.

Detroit Economic Growth Corp. vice president Art Papapanos said demolition is key to the land's future.

Potential developers, he said, want the site cleared and ready to go -- and not be bothered by further red tape.

The council authorized Schneider Inc of St. Louis to auction memorabilia inside the ballpark, and it approved a timetable for development.

A demolition contract is to be awarded in October, with all demolition and site preparation completed by September 2008, and construction to start in April 2009.

Allen said an auction and final public tour of the stadium -- a final goodbye -- should occur sometime this fall.

The City Council went ahead with the decision despite Friday's last-minute plea from retired sportscaster Ernie Harwell to delay a decision until September.

Harwell made pitch for time

Harwell, saying the stadium at Michigan and Trumbull has become just a "house by the side of the road for a long, long time," urged the council to wait a little longer, so he and his attorney, Gary Spicer, could come up with some alternatives.

"I'd urge council to not move forward too quickly," said Harwell, who is retired and lives in Novi.

Nonetheless, the council members were moved by the legendary sportscaster's plea and said they would like him to be included in the planning for the site.

Already in that vein, The Old Tigers Stadium Conservancy on Thursday night decided to approach Harwell about joining its executive board.

Council President Kenneth Cockrel, in urging the council to make a decision on Friday, said he worried the fate of the stadium was about to become a long-running soap opera.

"This should be a TV series and come to an end," he said.

You can reach David Josar at (313) 222-2073 or djosar@detnews.com.




The proposed development timeline
Tiger Stadium timeline

By Oct. 15: The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy must have preliminary designs plans and cost estimates to the city
By Oct. 23: A contract for demolition will be awarded.
By Nov.1 : The city will put out a Request for Proposal to find a developer for Tiger Stadium.
By Jan. 22, 2008: The Economic Development Corporation will select a developer.
By Sept. 1, 2008: Demolition and site preparation complete
By April 25, 2009: Start of construction by developer and The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy.

[Exodus]

I have fond memories of spending most of my youth in that park, but it is for the best. It's just time to move on.