preservationrestoration

Its amazing to think that a major department store at one time operated out of this string of buildings. Glad to see they are being brought back to their former glory.

The ceiling is cool....the green is very...well financial.

God I hate union mentality. Its so cultish. They have such a sense of entitlement, when in actuality, nothing in life is guaranteed. These guys should be thankful that there is still a steel company in Middletwon to provide jobs. ARMCO, the previous company, almost when bankrupt in the mid 1980s and again in the early 1990s before the Ashland and Middletown plants were spun off into a new company, AK Steel, when turned around 5 years later and purchased what was left of ARMCO. I have family members and friends who are affected by all of this. My dad is two months shy of being eligible to retire. Luckily there is a 90 day grace period in the old contract, so he will be able to retire under that. But he'd like to continue to work. I'm gald he is considering other options. Middletown can survive with is main employer if it prepares for it. In the long run, they may be better off without it.

Ah yes, Ann Arbor....the Manhattan of the Midwest....the small cosmopolitan city....and hopefully my future home. Nice pictures. I love Nickels Arcade. It just has a very European Appeal. Downtown Ann Arbor is very spread out. The campus separates several business districts. There's the South U area, home of the awful tower shown above...which by the way, you can by a 600 sqft unit for $200k. This area is full of shops and restaurants that caters to the student population. One the other side of Campus to the northwest of the South U area you will find Nickels Arcade, more shopping and more restaurants. Still caters to students but townies like the area as well. Main Street area is the old financial district and where you'll find more upscale shopping and dining. KerryTown is the oldest area of downtown. Sorry OSU folks, but Ann Arbor is a great city for is size. The people are a little full of themselves primarily because of their "public Ivy league" mentality, but once you get past that, you can truly appreciate the city for what it has to offer. And the campus is absoluately beautiful. Once the weather warms up, I'll get some shots as well.

I see you got camera happy again. I never realized Hamilton had such a diverse, well-maintained housing stock. Its neighbor to the North should take note.

From Middletown and visit quite often. Currently living in Metro Detroit. As I like to say, I summer in Middletown LOL.

Thanks to "urban renewal", downtown today is much less dense. Notice the canal in the 1926 picture running through town. Present-day Verity Parkway.

Me in a Piston's suite . . .

The AEIF has represented the Middletown Works for over 60 years with only one work stopage that lasted 4 days (back in 1985, I believe). There have been several attempts to bring the USWA into Middletown, and each time, the idea has been fought by the company and soundly defeated by the workers. There is another separate AEIF at another plant, I believe. The UAW also represents several AK plants. The USWA doesn't have the best reputation. My dad each time voted against them.

You go L. Brooks Patterson :)

Not looking too good . . . . . MIDDLETOWN: AK to AEIF: Clean out lockers Company wants all personal items removed by Monday AK Steel Corp. is telling Armco Employees Independent Federation members to clear out their lockers before the labor contract expires next week. The contract expires at midnight Tuesday. AK has been in collective bargaining with AEIF — its biggest union, representing nearly 2,700 workers at Middletown Works — since Nov. 30. A woman who would not give her full name, but said she is married to an AEIF member, told The Journal that workers were advised through notices near time-clocks that personal belongings should be out of lockers by Monday — or the company would cut the locks. Read More...

This rendering gives a little better idea of the crown. I liked it alot more after I saw this: I still think the top of it looks very Golden Girls Miami Beach 1985. All that's needed is the pink flamingo. Not a fan of all that glass.

OMG .... Comments like this are too often familar from the leadership of the Motor City.... The Future of the Detroit Zoo By Kimberly Craig & Dave LewAllen Web produced by Sarah Morgan February 20, 2006 Detroit’s financial mess has put the Detroit Zoo on the endangered list. City council members said their vote was not to close the zoo, but some felt they were being bullied by a state deadline and lawmakers who look down on Detroit. Council member Barbara-Rose Collins said the state’s deadline for the city to sign over zoo operations to the Zoological society boiled down to disrespect. Many council members felt they were being bullied into handing over zoo operations without an agreement they were comfortable with. Some city council members said they were largely opposed to giving $10 million in capital improvement funds to the society and paying almost $1 million a year for insurance and security without getting any of the revenue. City council members said they also wanted to have a say in who would be hired as the director. Council member Martha Reeves said, "Whoever runs the zoo should have an understanding with the city council. And it was not clear what the actual agreement was, it was never completed." Collins said, "The symbolism is that Detroit is a black city and that we’re unable to govern ourselves. So we need an overseer, the state legislature, or what have you, to step in and tell us what we must do and how to do it." She said she will not sign off on an operating agreement until it protects Detroit’s interests and the state should not try to force them with a funding deadline. "That is a racist attitude. I resent it very much. I’m trying not to let it color my judgments, but we’re not a plantation, blacks aren’t owned by white folks anymore," said Collins. The Kilpatrick administration and the Zoological society proposed an agreement that council rejected on Monday. A spokesperson for the mayor said the process of closing the zoo has begun. But, she added, the door is still open to discussions with council members should they come up with an alternate plan. City Council members said they will work with the mayor to raise funds to keep the zoo open. "I don’t believe that the zoo will close, I believe that the zoological society and the city council will come to an agreement," said Collins. Governor Jennifer Granholm said, "We asked the legislature to approve $4 million to allow the Detroit Zoo to continue. Obviously it’s a cultural gem and I hope that the Detroit City Council does what it needs to do to make sure that gem continues." Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. council members will hold a press conference at the city county building to address questions about the zoo’s future. 3,000 animals call the Detroit Zoo home. 130 workers are employed there and 25 are employed by the Detroit Zoological Society. All would be impacted by the zoo’s closing. Senior Zoo Keeper Bestsie Davis said, "They’ve become like a second family to me. I take care of them every day. I look forward to coming to the zoo every day. I love this job, even on the coldest day of the year I here and I’m ready to go. I hope these animals recognize me and that my commitment to them is extreme." According to Zoo Director Ron Kagan, if the zoo closed the animals would be sent to other accredited zoos or sanctuaries across the country. "It would be very tragic," he said. About 1 million people visit the zoo annually. 7 Action News has launched "Growl For Action," a campaign to raise funds for the zoo.

Another interesting note...The DIA is in a similar situation. No city funding and an outside group wanting to take control of operations...we shall see how that also plays out.

Hi fellow wayne stater...I did my graduate work there. The Detroit Zoo is nothing special (especially when you compare to Toledo and Cincinnati Zoos). Still, its a special place (as was Belle Isle Aquarium) to most metro Detroiters. I think the City Council in Detroit made a huge mistake in voting not to transfer operations. I think most people voted no on the tax because they didn't trust the city/county to manage the funds.

My dad works there and doesn't believe it will come to a strike. I'm not too sure this time.

That's for the pictures of the exterior.

A more expansive look at Middletown's current City Building from dfly's collection built in the 1970s. Middletown's City Building built 1880 located on Broad Street. (center building) Middletown's City Building circa 1930. Former Middletown High School building located on Central (now the site of Dublin House).

Very nice. Anyone have a picture of the building's exterior?

I think the top of the Phase 2 building looks very 1980s. Other than that, not bad, although I prefer the FSW design.

Can't say I love that tower, but glad to see they are at least doing something with the old warehouse.

Great reuse project in a cool, old building. But I cannot see 18 condos plus indoor parking here. Do you know average sqft of the condos?

Minus, all that snow, looks like a great city. Love all the districts. Thanks for the tour. I can only imagine all the people when its warmer outside ;)

*sigh* a house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

The zoo shuttle I was told was shut down. Oh well. Detroit Beer Co. was one of the places I had planned on checking out. That and/or The Town Pump.