Motown No More

The Dodger's "Urban Desolation Tour" will be one feature short, thanks to the SuperBowl. The Dodger has always pointed out the blue clad former Motown headquarters, busted up and abandoned, at the corner of the Fisher Freeway and Woodward. Now it's going to be torn down for parking in conjunction with the Super Bowl [although, it's a fair hike from there to Ford Field.] There's lots more history in the full article.

When they finally can afford it, show biz people would rather live in LA. At least we have Martha Reeves on the Detroit City Council.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Motown Center could still move forward, despite demolition

Donovan Building, former home to Motown offices, to be razed, but project leader holds out hope

Susan Whitall / The Detroit News

A s the wrecking ball tears into the old Donovan Building on Woodward Avenue next week, the question remains: Is there nothing in the old Motown Center's future but a gravel parking lot?

The Donovan Building, which sported distinctive blue panels in its later years, and an attached building, an old Sanders shop, were headquarters for Motown's business offices from 1967 to '72, before the company moved to Los Angeles. Both buildings are being razed and will be used as parking during the Super Bowl.

Does that kill the much-vaunted Motown Center project, which would create an expanded, additional Motown Museum (apart from Hitsville, the Motown Historical Museum on West Grand Boulevard) and give Motown Records a presence downtown as a reminder of an earlier golden age of Detroit music?

Tanya Heidelberg-Yopp, who has helmed the Motown Center project for Berry Gordy Jr. and other investors, has said in the past that they could proceed either with the renovation of the existing buildings, or with new construction.

About the teardown, Heidelberg-Yopp says, "I think that everyone is interested in seeing Detroit in the best possible shape in time for the Super Bowl, moving Detroit forward in every way."

If nostalgia for the Donovan is muted, it may be because, despite some press reports, no recording was ever done there...