Pre-Development for Wurlitzer Building – Detroit, Michigan

Isaac Kremer/ July 19, 2013/ placemaking, preservation, public art, tactical urbanism/ 0 comments

Across the street from the beautifully renovated Detroit Opera House stood the Wurlitzer Building. The wonderful facade with terra cotta details had a presence despite the fact that the building remained open. When a barrier was required to be placed on the sidewalk to prevent pedestrians from being struck by falling building elements, a wonderful piece of positive graffiti was installed – offering a free cup of coffee with purchase of the building. The enigmatic asterisk at the endsee above for details” had a double meaning of course, encouraging people to look up at the building overhead.

Update – 2018

Following an extensive renovation The Siren Hotel opened in March 2018. Ironically or fittingly the Populace Coffee and Candy Bar opened on the ground floor. No word if the developer and owner ever got that free coffee…

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About Isaac Kremer

IsaacKremer.com is the personal website of Isaac Kremer, MSARP, a nationally recognized leader in the Main Street Approach to commercial district revitalization with over 25 years of experience. Kremer, New Jersey's first certified Main Street America Revitalization Professional (MSARP), has served as founding executive director for organizations like Experience Princeton and the Metuchen Downtown Alliance, which won a Great American Main Street Award under his leadership. He recently became director of the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority in Michigan.

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