City Modern...too modern? (Detroit, Birmingham: fit in, houses, neighborhood) - Michigan (MI) - City-Data Forum

Retroit · 12-01-2016, 02:56 PM

City Modern | Brush Park Detroit

I hate to bemoan development within the city, but...couldn't they have come up with something that at least tries to pay respect to the Victorian homes there, like Woodward Place did? Woodward Place - HRS Communities HRS Communities

zthatzmanz28 · 12-01-2016, 06:45 PM

gentrification is not a respecter of culture.

Retroit · 12-01-2016, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

gentrification is not a respecter of culture.

That's generally true. I know it isn't reasonable to expect Gilbert to build Victorian mansions, but the renderings of these new buildings are hideous. The contrast between old and new is very discordant and doesn't benefit either. I'm just thinking down the road a few decades: are people going to want to live there after the initial novelty wears off?

Coldjensens · 12-02-2016, 02:17 PM

Those are some ugly buildings and the renderings usually look 100X better than the actual.

It is only "modern" for a couple of ears, then it is "outdated" I cannot see that community aging well. It will draw when it is new and people are excited about it and the emperor's new clothes syndrome is in effect, however give it 10 - 15 years a coat of grime and I cannot see it having any appeal whatsoever. It the designer's slogan "Designing the slums of tomorrow" ?

Retroit · 12-02-2016, 05:44 PM

Thanks, CJ. I'm glad I am not alone. I guess the good news is that 50 years from now people won't have to feel bad when these eyesores are torn down because of abandonment. Hopefully by then, better appreciation for classical styles will produce nicer replacements.

Geo-Aggie · 12-02-2016, 07:01 PM

Personally I like it and given the condition Brush Park is in today (well, pre-development) I don't think concerns about it becoming a slum in 50 years are warranted

- I mean, I get it, my neighborhood is about 30-40% teardown/new-builds and most of them match pretty well, but a certain new-build 7 or 8 houses down from me really sticks out in my 1920s neighborhood like a sore thumb from the other ones because it looks like a box with gigantic windows, but it isn't unappealing, it's just .. unique. In fact I'd say it's beautifully unique.

I guess my point is that there's no reason every new structure build in Metro Detroit has to have that exact same appearance of 1900-1930s architecture with 2010s fine tuning. There's already plenty of that. Character is okay.

MS313 · 12-02-2016, 11:00 PM

I mean... what can I say? I guess it's better than the empty fields that are there now? Hopefully it turns out better than the rendering. I can tell that Los Angeles architects were all over this one, because this looks just like something that you would see in LA except for the fact that these houses are historic.

jonnynonos · 12-03-2016, 08:46 AM

The overwhelming majority of Brush Park is gone and what a lot of people don't know is that it was a flophouse neighborhood since the early 1900s.

There are maybe 20-30 buildings left in a 22 block area...building the whole area up to fit in with the 19th century aesthetic would probably be unprecedented in urban devolpment.

People are just going to have to get used to the fact that you win some, lose some with new development.

The design strikes me as kind of meh, but Gilbert apparently knows what he's doing.

Republic of Michigan · 12-03-2016, 10:03 PM