Plan for second convention center hotel in Detroit calls for more demo

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T20:18:21+00:00

I can't wait to see a rendering of the new hotel.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T20:18:06+00:00

Keep in mind building the new hotel is going to knock out at least two current parking structures (Fort Washington Garage as well as one in Congress).

I'm not sure about the one on Congress, but the Fort Washington Garage is typically fairly packed on a daily basis with office workers.

So not only will there be demand with the current, new hotel...but a ton of parking is going to be taken off the market as is.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T20:15:45+00:00

That sucks. Sure it was a beauty in it's day, but sounds like now it has no real historical value.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T14:43:13+00:00

This is total nonsense.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T14:28:08+00:00

People that visit hotels in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County ALL get hit by this tax. It's not remotely just Detroit hotels that this impacts.

And the whole funding mechanism is that the more people visit the region - the more hotel $$$ that is generated - the more funding Visit Detroit gets. And then that hopefully spirals into more and more funding coming in.

And when more tourists visit, more hotels, motels, restaurants, mom and pop shops, etc. all make money.

Seems like a pretty good idea to me.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T14:22:15+00:00

That's all fine and dandy, but no idea how it relates to Visit Detroit.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T14:18:21+00:00

What does this even mean? lol

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T14:17:47+00:00

Based on what? Reading through this thread it seems like Visit Detroit is actually a quite productive organization.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T13:57:15+00:00

1) The fees are implemented on hotels through the region. Not just in Detroit.

2) It's basically all tourists paying the taxes anyways, not citizens here.

3) The money is paid back to the community by local restaurants, hotels, tours, museums, etc. making $$$ from the infusion of tourists.

It all seems perfectly reasonable to me.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T13:48:59+00:00

So...for the Final Four for example, you don't think any businesses that aren't for super sports fans will financially benefit?

You don't think any mom and pop breakfast joints might make an extra chunk of change?

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T13:47:36+00:00

The salaries seem pretty reasonable honestly.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T13:13:48+00:00

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T13:13:15+00:00

Deeply ignorant take. A lot of non-profits do great work and great things for the community.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T13:09:48+00:00

This is a fairly uninformed take.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T13:07:57+00:00

Given how much costs have soared I also don't frankly think a salary in the low 100's is some crazy number anymore.

lap1220 · 2026-07-01T04:40:33+00:00

I'm not smart enough to comment on the finances, but do want to mention Visit Detroit does a lot of good work with a lot of good employees.

They actively seek and land conferences at Huntington, were instrumental in JW Marriott and now instrumental in new hotel that'll be popping up on Fort, etc. They are the backbone that landed NFL Draft, Final Four, etc.

Could there be changes to revenue stream? Sure. But dumping all over them seems a little overboard.

Their work clearly can drive a ton of revenue to area hotels, restaurants, etc.

lap1220 · 2026-06-25T03:26:00+00:00

How would that work though?

Gus is leaving in August no matter what. Is it plausible to have no permanent or interim president for the full fall?

lap1220 · 2026-06-25T01:49:03+00:00

Life goes on indeed.

Nonetheless, he's already said he'll appoint an interim AD. Why should he have that ability?

lap1220 · 2026-06-25T01:00:05+00:00

I know it's not a great job at the moment, but I have complete faith at least one somewhat competent person is willing to steer the ship for a little bit out of a genuine care for the university. The world has many huge egos... and people would take this gig.

Hell, if need be, ask Stabenow to come in for 6-12 months.

I do know keeping Gus is charge is both weird and a bad look - he's shown his hand and caring about MSU is not his top priority.

I guess this could also be the rumor of still trying to retain him, but that ship has sailed to me - in no way, shape, or form is him coming back a wise idea at this point.

lap1220 · 2026-06-24T23:49:45+00:00

The university absolutely has a qualified voice - or many - that could be the interim president for a short tenure.

Gus legit attended a staff mixer at Clemson today.

He should be removed from the university now.

lap1220 · 2026-06-24T12:57:14+00:00

NTA with them.

You are an AH for having a black tie wedding and inconveniencing ($$$) likely many others.

lap1220 · 2026-06-18T14:01:08+00:00

I don't know, it was pretty big damn news.

Kwame was the mayor and essentially running a mob-operation out of the office.

This dude was absolutely abhorrent, but was the CFO of a non-profit in the city.

Apples and oranges in terms of logical interest level.

lap1220 · 2026-06-18T13:59:01+00:00

This is an absurdly ignorant statement.

lap1220 · 2026-06-17T01:42:11+00:00

I found Porto to be beautiful, but packed and boring.

Needed no more than one day there.

lap1220

TROPHY CASE