Tiger Stadium outta here by '08

[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...0104/706080346


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.


SNWEB.ORG Photography - http://www.flickr.com/photos/snweb/

Last Friday, 1999


phatphudd - http://www.flickr.com/photos/34397473@N00/

In better times


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

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=QQxrh...elated&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVhTd...elated&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]

Originally Posted by 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.

This is something worth while. It's better than an empty rusty stadium.

[skyfan]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.