Abandoned GAR Building in Detroit.

[fire_zouave]

It is supposed to be restored at some point, but that has been said since the 1980s.

http://www.forgottendetroit.com/gar/index.html

http://detroitfunk.com/?p=338

Has anyone ever visited there?

[Suppelsa]

Re: Abandoned GAR Building in Detroit.

Yep, last I heard, it was bought within the last few months with the intention of renovating it for commercial use.

[FlatLandFed]

Re: Abandoned GAR Building in Detroit.

That is a sad fact of life -- for the grand old lady to survive the Depression and two world wars only to change hands for "commercial" use because there's no funding to keep it open as a museum.

Of the more than 300 G.A.R. Posts (as well as several other veterans organizations, such as the Union Veterans Union) that were formed in Nebraska, only four of the many G.A.R. buildings they constructed still stand and (IMHO) when the nicest of the group was "redeveloped" for commercial use about five years ago, it just meant making sure it was structurally sound and air conditioned, but then painting the exterior a color it never was and completely gutting the interior for a "rustic" look.

Surely hope that doesn't happen in Detroit. Earlier discussion was that the collected artifacts belonging to the G.A.R. Post were in danger of being broken up. Any chance a museum will be able to display good chunk of these?

Who, knows, maybe a sugar daddy will step forward to rescue the building and return it to its glory days.

Keeping up hope,
Paul Hadley

[Gary of CA]

Re: Abandoned GAR Building in Detroit.

It's sad to see a grand old building rot like that. However, I'm not sure restoring anything in Detroit is worth the money put in. Detroit is a cesspool and museums are money losing operations. Right now most museums are hurting as their foundations have lost money in the market, donations have been decreasing along with fewer members renewing thanks to the poor state of the economy.

[mladair]

Re: Abandoned GAR Building in Detroit.

The GAR building was the subject of a long standing legal dispute between the City of Detroit and the Allied Orders of the GAR (primarily the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The suit was brought against the city under a state law that says in essence that the building is a monument to the soldiers of the war and that the city was required to preserve it.

The resulting settlement basically stated that the City could sell the building, but the buyer would be required to preserve the external facade and any internal memorials (for example, the floor tile GAR badge). Also, the Allied Orders would be given a reasonable amount of space for memorializing the GAR and the Boys in Blue. Another part of the settlement had to do with the GAR records which were known to be in possession of the city up to the point where they shuttered the building. This is pretty involved, and has yet to pan out.

The last I had heard, the Illich family had purchased the building. I have not heard much since then. Overall, the Dept. of Michigan, SUVCW, viewed this as a victory since the building itself will essentially be preserved. There are a lot of other outcomes which could have been much worse!

Another brief summary can be found on page ten of the following document: http://www.suvcwmi.org/hq/118-enc.pdf

Matt Adair
Signals Officer
Dept. of Michigan, SUVCW

[FlatLandFed]

Re: Abandoned GAR Building in Detroit.

Thanks for the clarifications, Bro. Adair. I haven't been to Detroit since 1968 to watch the Tigers play. What's the condition of the rest of the neighborhood around the Hall?

Perhaps I will see you in Louisville in August for the Encampment.
Paul Hadley, PDC Nebraska

At the end of this summer, beware of the Bummers!

[unclefrank]

Re: Abandoned GAR Building in Detroit.

The area around the old GAR building is somewhat foul.

[Thomas Alleman]

Re: Abandoned GAR Building in Detroit.

Actually the Illiches have destroyed everything around the building so there is nothing but parking lots around it. The city gave it away to someone who let Tiger Stadium go, hordes land, gets Stadiums made with public money and tears down historic buildings and put up parking lots, I will NEVER buy a Little Caesars pizza again, they are bland crap anyway. He will never do anything with the place just let it rot like all his slum lord properties. So ask me how I really feel?

That is how Detroit preservation works, there is none. Ask the Hudson's building, old City Hall, and so many other historic places long gone and nothing of mention put in it place. It is sad. Hey there is more parking downtown, woopee. Check out www.detroityes.com and look through the ruins.

[fire_zouave]

Re: Abandoned GAR Building in Detroit.

What is the status of what is left of Tiger Stadium? Did the preservationists come up with enough funds to keep part of the park?