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00SL2
F L I N T O I D
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Towering expectations
Posted by Chad Swiateck | The Flint Journal November 24, 2007 22:21PM
I've used this space before to bemoan the pox that Genesee Towers is upon the Flint downtown that's trying its best to pick itself up off the ground. It's a tough thing to ignore since the crumbling hulk stares at me through the office window every day.
But it seems like some other folks have started to get as fed up as I am. At least that's what we can deduce from the concrete barricades and wooden sidewalk shields the city has erected around the 19-story building in recent weeks.
The construction zone didn't come out of the blue since a recent study warned that the area around the Towers is unsafe, and there's a reasonable risk slabs from its edifice could fall on nearby pedestrians. If there were any. This is downtown Flint, after all.
Given the cold war of words between the city and owner V. Kumar Vemulapalli, it's tempting to view the latest action as akin to the U.S. naval embargo during the Cuban missile crisis.
OK, maybe that's escalating things a bit much. But either way, it's good to see something finally happening that could (please please) lead toward the Towers' razing while other buildings go up nearby.
Source: http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/whatthe/2007/11/towering_expectation.html
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You can post your comments at Chad's blog, too. |
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Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:48 pm |
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Ryan Eashoo
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If we can re build "The Rowe Building", "Berridge Place", "Durant Hotel", "Durant Dort Office Building", "Community Foundation Building", we surely can rebuild, renovate or bring back to life this sleeping giant. There is no doubt in my mind that the current owner can't do it, but we have lots of interest in downtown Flint now, someone should and proably would step up to the plate and do it.
quote:
00SL2 schreef:
Towering expectations
Posted by Chad Swiateck | The Flint Journal November 24, 2007 22:21PM
I've used this space before to bemoan the pox that Genesee Towers is upon the Flint downtown that's trying its best to pick itself up off the ground. It's a tough thing to ignore since the crumbling hulk stares at me through the office window every day.
But it seems like some other folks have started to get as fed up as I am. At least that's what we can deduce from the concrete barricades and wooden sidewalk shields the city has erected around the 19-story building in recent weeks.
The construction zone didn't come out of the blue since a recent study warned that the area around the Towers is unsafe, and there's a reasonable risk slabs from its edifice could fall on nearby pedestrians. If there were any. This is downtown Flint, after all.
Given the cold war of words between the city and owner V. Kumar Vemulapalli, it's tempting to view the latest action as akin to the U.S. naval embargo during the Cuban missile crisis.
OK, maybe that's escalating things a bit much. But either way, it's good to see something finally happening that could (please please) lead toward the Towers' razing while other buildings go up nearby.
Source: http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/whatthe/2007/11/towering_expectation.html
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You can post your comments at Chad's blog, too.
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Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
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Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:41 am |
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last time here
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i believe that situation is about competing personalities.  |
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Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:21 pm |
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00SL2
F L I N T O I D
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quote:
Ryan Eashoo schreef:
... we surely can rebuild, renovate or bring back to life this sleeping giant. There is no doubt in my mind that the current owner can't do it, ... someone should and proably would step up to the plate and do it.
Ryan, you have such enthusiasm for this building, and you're an investor, why don't you do it? No one else has stepped up to the plate to show an interest for over ten years, what makes you think that's going to change for any reason now? |
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Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:27 pm |
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last time here
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even disregarding the owner whom i feel is an undesireable landlord,
i can't see for the forseeable future anyone filling that building up.
i can see flint becoming more of a "ferndale" type city with curio
shops, book stores, smart markets (charlie), poetry bars, etc.
i hear what your saying ryan and i envy your zeal, (ahh youth),
but i'll be glad to see it gone...and every other dilapidated building
he owns.  |
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Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:45 pm |
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Gumby
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quote:
If we can re build "The Rowe Building", "Berridge Place", "Durant Hotel", "Durant Dort Office Building", "Community Foundation Building", we surely can rebuild, renovate or bring back to life this sleeping giant. There is no doubt in my mind that the current owner can't do it, but we have lots of interest in downtown Flint now, someone should and proably would step up to the plate and do it.
I could go either way on this building. It seems like they could strip the building to its iron work and reskin it. I mean they are always complaining about parking downtown. That is one huge deck that sits unused.
I also wouldn't shed a tear if it was imploded either. |
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Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:20 pm |
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Ryan Eashoo
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I walked around the building tonight and looked inside of it, its a very well put together building. I hope or wish the owner would let the public come in for a open house type thing to see its condition.
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Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
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Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:05 am |
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Gumby
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| Not sure how that the city would allow a public showing of the building because of the engineers report, no matter how valid we think it might be. It is a shame that Vemapaulli and the city can't get beyond their differences anf work together to fix the thing. I noticed you mentioned Freeman Greer's plans for the building that are just collecting dust. He told me about them as well a year or so ago at a downtown clean up. That is when I started leaning towards the fix it side of the argument. |
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Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:36 am |
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last time here
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honestly, structurally it should be fine..is it ugly? yup.
perhaps a good makeover would make it a blossom.
but....10 to 1 it ain't gonna happen. if he had a history of
renovating his properties, he may have had a chance.  |
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Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:43 pm |
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Ryan Eashoo
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The point is that it looks bad and had some problems, but it is in a condition that could be repaired.
quote:
last time here schreef:
honestly, structurally it should be fine..is it ugly? yup.
perhaps a good makeover would make it a blossom.
but....10 to 1 it ain't gonna happen. if he had a history of
renovating his properties, he may have had a chance.
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Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
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Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:40 pm |
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Dave Starr
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| I get the impression that someone REALLY wants it gone. |
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I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
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Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:45 pm |
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