Going though some old photos, I came across these photos of the Chrysler Headquarters under construction. I posted these photos, once a long time ago. But I couldn’t find them on the site, so they may have been on the old version of the site.
May 6, 2001 – The site has been cleared and the crane is in place on the site of Windsor’s biggest mistake.
January 9, 2002 – Looking north on Ouellette towards the river.
January 9, 2002 – Looking at the corner of Ouellette and Chatham.
Of course hindsight is 20/20 but it was just a stupid decision to move in the first place. The old HQ was just fine right across from the plant although a bit dated. The building was solid, had historic roots and was right where it should have been. They didn’t need an overpriced tower on the river to house everyone (I think they’ve cut about 30-40% of the original staff since that opened downtown) as they also have another office on Temple drive. I remember the many times I was in the old HQ and although just an office building, it still had character. Just as many other spots in Windsor, it became a park and most recently…yep, a parking lot!
Agreed Colin – the old HQ on Chrysler Centre had serious style, great looking building–even liked the old C H R Y S L E R lettering.
Interesting to look back at construction…sadly the building was far less than it could’ve been–I’m not sure was worth sacrificing the Norwich Block for. I’m amazed at how much better it looked before it was finished–strangely enough it looked way better without its aluminum siding.
Can still remember walking out of the soon-to-disappear Royal Bank at Ouellette and Pitt and seeing the wrecking ball wailing away at the old coffee house on the opposite corner.
Painful.
Andrew, you should have shown what was there before for our out of town guests.
Hurst as a mayor was bad and this big blunder made it worse. Heck Even Eddie hasn’t done anything this dumb. But he is trying with his stupid canal idea.
You know, it never ceases to amaze what elected people do with public money. Why on earth would anyone tear down a block of businesses in order to build a 14 story building that had only one tenant that filled 1/3 of the building? It is mind boggling to say the least.
By the way the building was “supposed” to be somewhere between 32-37 stories originally but it was scaled back because there were no tenants. That in itself should have gave the warning signs. That is why we need councillors with backbones because when they just go along with the ride, crap like this happens.
I heard that they made the foundation solid and large enough that another dozen stories could be added to the top of it if there was a market demand. Any truth to that?
Reading the paper earlier this week. Chrysler is looking to move completely out of that building due to cuts. Mikhail holdings was offering a fraction of what it cost to build it if it’s looking to be sold–something in the range of $8m with attached parking garage. What did it cost taxpayers to build it (with all the settlements) btw?
I also remember reading that the building was designed to support another ten to fifteen floors but that market demand was too soft. I remember Mike Hurst telling the Star that once the Chrysler building was up, developers would be stampeding to put up even more office buildings downtown. He told everybody that Windsor would soon turn into a “mini-Chicago” and that the cost of the new building would pay for itself over time.
If I recall correctly, when they downsized the building, they put in I think what they called a floating foundation which is basically a very thick concrete slab. They decided that driving piles down to the bedrock was not necessary since the building was not going to be that high. So I think that they are very limited in adding more floors.
Regardless of its height, what was lost on that block can never be replaced.
The only thing wrong with the Canderel is that it won’t burn as easily as the Plywood Palace did, it should have never been built there.
And I guess we will find out this morning in the Renaissance Center will be for sale soon and if there is anything left of GM, Ford or Chrysler.
Truly a monument to mediocrity. Perhaps the most alligorical building in all of Windsor, which to me captures a time in our recent history when most people viewed tearing down well-crafted buildings that have stood for over a century as “progress” and vacant consumerism. Its like a statue of someone wearing bell-bottoms: new and edgy for its time, but quickly old fashioned and campy.
i have a couple photos of the lot before anything was put on it after norwich was torn down. i’ll post them on my flickr.
Sad, sad, sad – to think of what was there before – variety,density, history. The old time smell of Bert ‘s Market Hardware, all kinds of stuff hanging in the high windows, brooms and mops, galvanized cans and basins stacked out front on the sidewalk…….Around the corner were jewellers, gifts, cameras….the fabulous facade of the Dominion Bank….late night noodles up the creaky stairs at The Paradise….table full of two-bit draft beers 1968 bleary eyed Lee’s Imperial House….some little coffee shop Ferry and Pitt name escapes me, fries and a coke, cops and newsmen….across the corner trucks rolling out with the afternoon edition (Star is gone suburbia too?). South Shore Books….Art in the Alley…..gone,gone,gone….a puff of smoke. Today the windows are blank, the sidewalks deserted, unspeakably lonely.
windsorite-in-exile, you’re right! It is the coldest block in the core, sterile, uninviting and a fortress, there is nothing to do and nothing to see but walk by it as fast as you can. Only in Windsor and looking across the river, Detroit, would we build a parking garage(s) on prime real estate and they to will be very empty soon.
hey andrew did you hear about the fire at 1076 Walker Rd.the tenants were the Flag Depot and Prestige Auto Service. They said it used to be a button factory. do you have any old photos of that building?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/westerntragedy/sets/72157608761942752/
Excellent photo coverage of the fire this morning at the above URL.
Yes, unfortunately downtown no longer has anything to offer… While working on the restoration of CNR 5588 I was approached by three young ladies from Indiana looking for shopping and asked if there was a nearby mall or something, I was hard pressed to make any suggestions. Downtown is no longer the busy place it was in the 50s and 60s and has not developed with the times. Driving along Ouellette all you see are papered windows and debris. Even the riverfront is sterile with the exception of a few tourists admiring the Detroit skyline. Maybe it is time to consider development of a downtown mall instead of digging canals….
Ah hahaha. If I had a dollar for every American that walked up to me in downtown and asked, :”Where’s the mall?”
Here’s another one. After 5pm on Saturday walking around downtown, an American asks, “Excuse me, how do we get to the mall?” Other end of town–down Ouellette, left on Eugenie, right on Howard, but the mall closes at 6pm on a Saturday. Oh, you thought this was any other city in Ontario or Michigan that closes later on a Saturday?
Who knows, maybe Caesar’s will build a minimall on the site that currently houses the Raymond Demarias Apartment building. But, if they evict all the seniors there, who’ll play the slots??
David, from my sources that is exactly what is gong to happen. Though they are not kicking anyone out. As the apartments become vacant no one is allowed to rent them out. It has been stated that within 5-6 years the senior’s complex will be levelled for the mini-mall.
…it can’t come soon enough.