Thoughts
On a recent fall evening I was walking down Washington
Blvd towards Grand Circus Park. At that time all that
remained of the Statler was a stump of the 1916 addition
and a heap of rubble. This sight filled me with bitter
anger. Nothing like destroying one of the best buildings
in the city for little more then a gravel lot.
Something else grabbed my attention, resulting in
an opposite reaction. Beyond the rubble pile stood
the Kales Building, every window ablaze with light.
Tenents could be seen passing in and out of the lobby
doors that had been locked shut for so many years.
Although this had not been the first time I had seen
the Kales since its opening, it was the first time
I saw it at night. I recalled a cold evening years
ago when we climbed the dark building for photos of
a quiet Grand Circus Park. Tonight the park was brighter
and more lively because of the Kales.
Yes, the city has made mistakes, many mistakes. However,
projects like the Kales, Merchants Row, Washington
Blvd, and the Vinton Building, to name a few, are
showing that progress is being made and downtown Detroit
isn't exactally as "endangered" as the National
Trust would like to believe. Hopefully Kales will
provide an example for what can be done to the Farwell,
Metropolitan, United Artists and other vacant office
towers.
For more information and floorplans visit the building's
new website:
www.kalesbuilding.com
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