mipro Barry Sanders Project

[wolverine 12]

I can take pictures of al of that since I live in Frankenmuth which is in the Saginaw area.

 

And yes, there is a Tony's in Birch Run, I love that place.  Bronners is quite feasible.  I caculated the lot size one day.  It will be a 13 X 12 lot.  We don't have to worry about Christmas props surrounding it.  Maybe a giant snowman, the building, and that's about it.

 

EDIT:  I did not even add Dominos Headquarters onto the list for the website.  It is far too large and I think would run out of polygons.  Also, it is built into hills.  That would be really hard to do.

 

EDIT AGAIN:  The Website progress is moving at full speed today.  Yesterday there were some bugs in the page layout and things on the other pages looked strange.  But I fixed all that.  Since I it rained today, there were not many customers in the store so I did some more work on the site on the back computer.  Most of it was adding all those images to the private image collection.  (That kind of sounds bad)  I mean that as in our collection of photos in Michigan that we found from other sites but can not show them publicly because we would get sued.  Anways, the email service is in operation, but I need to set up the automatic mailing thingy so I don't have to wake up at 3:00 a.m and activate your account if you decide to sign up at some obscure time.

[budweiserdude23 80]

To respond to the previous posts first...I like the useless trivia stuff. I watch Jeopardy religiously, call me a dork if you want, but I find things like this interesting...

I'm glad you guys agree on the project list modfication/update...It just seemed the right time to modify a bit....

As for Dominos World HQ...I still think perhaps this should be modeled but it could be shrunk or could be used as a model to a hypothetical lot. The reason I say this is the night lighting on this would be amazing...

As for Yazaki there is this crazy indoor ark, like the one in the Bible, suspended in the lobby...read more here! . and a good pic is here!

A decent aerial photo and short description are located
here!

For Borders Books info click on the following links---
1. Official site This has a small pic of the HQ.
2. Store example
3. Store on Washtenaw Ave. in Ann Arbor

As of now I have not found any decent pics of the HQ itself but I can get them when needed since my fiance's sister works there.

I will wait for a few more posts before a new modified list is made. I figure Tuesday or Wednesday should be enough time to add and subtract ideas.

Okay, on to me...once again life threw me a curveball today in the form of my fiance's plans for the day. Of course who am I to argue so I spent a good chunk of the afternoon and evening with her and her friends so my projects have stayed at a stand still. I know you guys are hoping to see something and I'm not purposely trying to disappoint...sorry about that guys....but the good news is my HVAC job was finished yesterday and work is still slow so I should have some time this week to bat, at least I hope. It seems like everyday something springs up, such as today my sister asks me if I can watch her daughter/my niece for two and a half days so she can go to Cedar Point next week. WTH It's like every time I get a free moment someone tries to occupy it...so hopefully you all can understand my difficulty w/ batting right now....I'll keep you updated....

[JBSimio 152]

Wolverine... the website looks great!  I was checking it out yesterday, and it is amazing.  Out of curiosity, is or will there be a way to bypass the opening for those of us that visit and use it religiously?  (If this is a dumb question, forgive me... I have my ocasional retarded moments like everyone else!)

 

I still think doing Bronner's without the Christmas props and decorations would be defeating the purpose.  I would definately like to see it done, but I just don't think it would be a very distinctive model without these things.

 

Bud... I guess I have seen the Yazaki building, just didn't put the name with the face.  In fact I remember passing it one day and seeing the ark... that thing is awsome.  As for Borders HQ... if you tell me where it is I can probably get some pics myself.  My bank is in Ann Arbor, so I get up there once a week or so.

 

I hope no one misunderstood me earlier.  I wasn't trying to say Dominos should be off the list, simply that I do not want to model it.  Mostly a personal thing for me.  I've met Monoghan and have no respect for the guy ever since.  It is a monster of  a building... but still important enough to be given some consideration.

 

Anyway... my first nephew will be here in about 5 or 6 more weeks.  I live two hours from my sister though, so I might not have as many problems with that as you do, Bud... which leaves me with just being excited.

 

JB

 

[EDIT]  Nevermind telling me where Borders is... I found it.  I'll have to take the camera with me next time I'm over there.

[wolverine 12]

Just go to barrysandersproject.com, and you will see what is done.  Although other pages are complete they are offline.  I cannot post them until they are completely error free.  Sometimes when I make small changes, they can dramatically effect page format and possibly cause your browser to freeze.  Becuase I am using dreamweaver, things get built haphazardly rather than an organized fashion like using notepad or frontpage. 

 

Now, I think I figured out how to give you guys access.  I can set some of you up as users and you can help with making individual pages for the projects.  If you have no knowldege in web-development, that is fine.  All you have know is how to make a normal document (set up kind of like a webpage) in microsoft word and a couple html tags for inserting images.  People planning to do heavy work on the site will be give 1.0 gig of space (only a few people).  Individual designers, basically anyone that wants to help, will be given 20 - 25 Mb of space to post pictures of what they are making.  They are more than welcome to customize their page any way they like.  The reason why I have to give people space is because I don't have anonymous ftp or posting much like Simtropolis has.  I could put a forum on the site where people can post stuff, but I'm worried about bandwidth.  Although we got a huge horde of webspace we will never use, our bandwidth is only at 20 gigs per month.  That is decent for what we need to do.  But a high traffic forum could cause problems, especailly if we have a direct link from this community.  If users feel like posting images of their progress here in this thread, that is perfectly fine, they do not have to use their allocated 20 Mb. 

 

I will update you guys more about setting up an account so you can ftp stuff to the site.  I'm not quite sure how many accounts I can set up, but surely enough for all of us in this thread currently. 

[baldy 0]

Wolverine, thanks again for all the time you've spent on the website, it looks amazing!  Do you need help with costs?  I can do the page for my projects, but think we should have a template page so that everyone's look similar.  I also use Dreamweaver and always thought it was much better than anything else.

 

Edit:  To skip the intro, either type in main.htm or under the flash intro, you can click to enter, even though it is blended into the background. 

 

I went downtown yesterday and took about 75 pictures.  Since it sounds like we have a lot of space, I can upload much of my picutres to the BSP website if desired (I will use photoshop to create a photo album) to make it easily accessible.  About 25 of them were of 150 west jefferson to help me with the details, which made me realize some things I really have to change.  I also got the base of Comerica tower to help FarmSim out, assuming he is still here.  If someone is looking for a good starter building, the Ford Building downtown shouldn't be too bad.  I took enough pictures to be able to build it.  It's not a large building, but it's Daniel Burnham's first building in Detroit which makes it historical.

 

JB, keep the trivia coming!  You are the only source I know of for this information and I'm sure I'm not the only one who enjoys finding out why things are the way they are.

 

Doesn't it suck when all of life's activities get in the way of the BSP?!?  It's glad to see I'm not the only one that is having this problem.

[JBSimio 152]

I have a lot to learn about web design, so when the time comes I will definately need some help in that area.  I agree with Baldy's idea of some sort of template for the sake of consistency.

 

Thanks for the compliment, Baldy.  I can't take credit for most of this stuff... it's just bits and pieces I've found in various places, many of which I can't remember long enough to give proper credit.  Transportation systems have always been a big interest for me so I tend to retain that information better, I guess.

 

On that note... I've learned some more history on the Davison Freeway that goes back a little further than what I said earlier.  I also have some cool stuff about the airports in Detroit.  So stay tuned for more useless stuff!

 

JB

[budweiserdude23 80]

JB---Hey you may want to change your signature...lol...friggin Wings...keep up the facts as well. I have some too. I'll post some over time...like this one...here's one of reasons the roads are so messed up around town. Michigan allows more weight per vehicle than any other state in the U.S, by a large margin due to the auto and steel industries. That coupled with the horrendous weather changes makes for  some of the worst roads in the U.S.

 

The site is looking good wolverine...nice work...

 

One more thing JB---I agree that props are needed for Bronners...I just think the whole project should be put on the back burner for the short term...

 

I'm still wondering about more feedback on the project list....what do you think should be added/removed. Some feedback has been made but I hope a few others will chirp in as well....

 

Man...Life has been getting in the way of this project...I got 8 service calls today alone for AC's...crazy...as soon as it gets warm the work comes in fast and furious...I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever get anywhere on my projects. With the work that's beginning to come in, watching my niece and now looking to adopt a kitten I'm getting less and less time to putz around with my projects...btw if anyone knows a good place to adopt a kitten/cat in the metro Detroit  could you please PM me to let me know where. I've tried the humane society but it seems like too many hoops to jump through so any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

As for web design...a template would be ideal in my opinion....also what happened to Farminsim. He seemed really involved at the beginning and has seemed to have disappeared...

[JBSimio 152]

Cool, Bud... I didn't know about the weight thing.  Makes good sense, though. (BTW... I'm not changing my signature!  It will stay even if there's no season next year!)

 

Here are my thoughts on the list you made the other day:

 

I'm leaning away from bowling alleys and golf domes.  Maybe I'm not quite on the same page as far as the goal of the BSP, but they don't strike me as distinctive Michigan architecture.

I definately agree with Yazaki, Consumers, and Bavarian Inn on the same basis as above.

I think Tony's, Hungry Howies, and Poppa John's are also good ideas since they're Michigan restaraunts.

I like the minor league stadiums idea, but I'm at a loss to think of any specifics right now.  Maybe 5th/3rd Park in Grand Rapids?

 

Humbly submitted by

JB

[budweiserdude23 80]

Reply to JB----I believe Michigan allows 164,000 max weight on roads with the next highest state @100,000 lbs. The impact of one truck weighing 80,000lbs is about the same as 10,000 cars and one weighing 140,000lbs is about 20,000 cars. That's nuts huh? Not to mention that Michigan's weight limit is nearly double the national average....

 

Just had to harass you about the signature a bit...I still love to cheer for the wings but after 2 years of disappointment I'm gonna get them off my mind for a bit....

 

Okay as for the golf domes, I know they're not unique to Michigan per say, however they're not seen too much outsdie of the midwest and northeast and I figured with the striking of the Dunes from the list a new park idea was needed. The bowling alleys...ahhh...no big deal either way....I think everything else on the list is a definite to add as well. Fifth Third Ballpark is the one that comes to mind when you think minor league parks in my opinion as well...I'm still trying to think if anything else should be added to the list. I'll post should I think of anything else....

[Sabretooth78 808]

That's a pretty cool website you got running there, I can only imagine how much better it's going to be once you get everything up and running on it!

 

-Chris

[wolverine 12]

That's if Mr. Sanders likes it, or hopefully approves because if you go there now it looks pretty ugly.  Don't worry, it will be up again soon, just type /main.html at the end. 

BALDY, it appears you have discovered my secret Enter button.  I forgot to set the timing on when the transparent button should appear and I was too lazy to fix it.  Actually there will be a skip intro button in the future.

[budweiserdude23 80]

I won't take credit for the website, that credit goes to wolverine. I'm just glad to see that there may be excittement outside of this thread...that's good news....

 

Okay I thought of some more ideas....

1. Cottage Inn Pizza---Voted the best pizza in the Big10...at least that's their catch phrase.

2. Sam's Club---maybe....

3. Costco---maybe....

4. Speedway, Amoco, Citgo, or Sunoco Gas Station---The thing is does anybody care about another name brand gas station?

5. DTE Energy Music Theater---It's still Pine Knob to me...

6. White Castle---Oh my god how did we forget this!!!!!!!

7. Church's Chicken---Hey they go hand in hand with White Castle.

8. Visteon World HQ's---Also known as Visteon village, it is still under construction with move in dates to begin at some point this year.

 

More will probably pop into my head later but that's what I could think of right now....

[wolverine 12]

Yes cottage inn has the best pizza in the big ten, but did you know that Angelo's has the best breakfast in the Big 10 according to Sports Illustrated I believe?

 

EDIT: READ MY LAST POST ABOVE.

[budweiserdude23 80]

Interesting....I did not know that nor have I ever gone there as many times as I have gone to Ann Arbor...If you ever want a good ice cream cone and I mean good go to the Washtenaw dairy. I attend every Michigan home football game and it has been a tradition since ever since my first game when I was like 5 to go there before the game. It's such a cool little place...BTW I used to work for Cottage Inn...my opinion of their pizza is not as high as it once was...

[wolverine 12]

Washtenaw Dairy is great.  BTW, we would model the main cottage in right?  Not the small take-out ones.  They got a pretty fancy mural on the side of the building.  Anyone would good with computer art while BATing?

[budweiserdude23 80]

Yeah, that would be cool. If someone wanted to do a small take out shop that's fine as well...but I was thinking about the shop on Washtenaw Ave. in Ypsilanti where you can actually sit down. That place is pretty darn nice...

 

I also discovered the secret click to enter button on the site...actually I've only watched the flash a couple of times....

 

EDIT---Have you taken the website offline wolverine??? Just tried to go there and I got some Fedora test page....

 

EDIT 2---The intro and main page seem to be offline but the project list page is still online....just thought I'd let you know...I will re-edit these off once you know about them as to keep the secrets of the page generally unknown...

[wolverine 12]

LMAO!

How the heck do you guys find these things out!  Am I that obvious.  I'm going to deliberately put small secret things on my pages now.  This is quite entertaining, someone could write a thesis on my websites.  But there are still more hidden pages! 

 

The reason why I pulled the index page is because I don't want Barry or whoever represents him to get mad at the fact that we lunged ahead on the site abit.  Removing the index page keeps it out of public domain until people seemingly find their way in, which I feel has been done a long time ago..  I'm sorry, but I can't help but laugh seeing you guys drag your mouses over dead space searching for some magical link that will open up something additional or an /admin page!

 

[budweiserdude23 80]

I'm gonna have to go on an easter egg hunt then when the site is back up....it'll be fun....as far as I know I haven't found many but if you put them there someone is sure to find them....

 

I see why you took the pages offline now, makes perfect sense...I'll keep checking back though for those magical places you may have hidden...lol...

 

You know I was thinking with all the knowledge we have maybe we should put a page on the website with funfacts/facts about Detroit/Michigan...maybe that's what I'll do for my so called personal space...

[JBSimio 152]

Great ideas for Cottage Inn and Pine Knob!  (Damn corporate sponsership anyway!)  Somehow, I've never been to Washtenaw Dairy... hmmm... might have to check that out next time.

 

So here's the scoop on the Davison Freeway.  Earlier I mentioned the original routes the freeway was meant to take.  That's not quite accurate.  What I described was actually Plan B after some changes and scalebacks.  The true original route for the Davison was as follows.  Heading west from it's current alignment near I-96 along what is now the Jefferies Freeway out to Livonia.  This has since become the stretch that we know as I-96.  (I-96 was originally planned to follow Grand River all the way into downtown.  The only two portions of this original idea exsist in Farmington and the section east of the express lanes.  Hence the spur in Farmington that is now M5 and the crazy bend at the Davison interchange.)  East of the Davisons modernday end it was meant to follow roughly east along Mt Elliot and then swing around City Airport before joining up with what is now I-94.  At this time, I-94 as we know it did not exsist.  More on that in the next bit of

 

Useless stuff from

JB

 

[budweiserdude23 80]

Yo Adrian---oops just finished watching Rocky.

 

Seems like this thread has become a three man post area with a few others chirping in now and again. What happened to everybody? Did they retire from the project prematurely? Bad pun, I know.....

 

You know JB, that's interesting about the Davidson. I know there is quite a history with that freeway...I was just thinking, holy crap do the roads suck in Metro Detroit. There's no easy way to get from the northeast side of town from the southwest and vice versa. The civil engineers, municipalities, and planning commissions should  be ashamed of the mess they created. Hell its bad enough without all the construction...

 

About the list, since all 3 to 5 of us agree that many of these new ideas should be added they will be in the next day or so. I will allow for a little more time to see if anyone else has anything to say about the additions/subtractions from the list, and, in addition, see if anyone else would like to see something added not already proposed.

 

[wolverine 12]

Hmmm, yeah I miss a few people.  It has been pretty quiet.  Work on the website same as always.

 

...........Barry Sanders...........I'm awaiting an email.........

 

Anyone notice the nicer projectlist page despite all the ? marks?  It's starting to come together quite nicely.  I really should add a chatroom so we can gripe about Illitch and Illitchtown, KILLpatrick, and poorly planned freeways, or how someone smashed all the front windows of Hockeytown and stole $2,800 in Red Wings stuff.  But hold your comments!  I shall try to add a chat applet thing today.

 

It's really sad no one here has any photos of our progress.  We are all so busy and that is understandable.  When the time comes, there will be breath-taking images of splines and other computer model terminology.

[baldy 0]

Just because I don't chime in, doesn't mean I'm not here   I read posts all day, I just don't post often.  I think before this thread, I only had posted about 10 times!

 

my 2 cents with the project list is that it is getting too large.  The few people that are trying to do them are really busy with life's activities and we need to get a grip on what we can do.  Also, I think some might be good landmarks, but not really a good thing to do for the BATT.  For example, Domino Farms.  I like it and think it would represent MI well, but think our effort would be better spent on other stuff.

 

As far as an update on my project, I just got elevations from the architect which will help greatly for size.  I still am going to try and get a floor plan, then I should be set.   I will check to see if we can post the drawings on the BSP site.  Once again, I will be starting all over when I get the time.

 

An interesting fact about the building is that although it is technically 30 stories tall, the bottom 4 floors are part of the large parking garage, then there is a mechanical/lobby floor, then 23 floors of office floors and the top is a large conference room.  The entrance on jefferson is just for show and it sends people to the main lobby on the 5th floor, which is on the same level as the people mover. 

 

JB, as always, thanks for the updates.  The davison was always the freeway I couldn't understand.

 

I guess I need to find some of the other hidden things on the site.

[budweiserdude23 80]

Sorry about not including you baldy....you make 4 that post here with regularity. Honestly though, isn't it weird that everyone was gung ho on the project and many of them have seemed to disappeared? That's interesting about 150 West Jefferson as well...

 

As for response to the list...I can't help but agree that the list is getting quite long, however in some of my discussions with wolverine we're of the same opinion that this project may stretch on for some time. We're assuming that with some of the interest generated in the website upon its release a few others may jump on board as well. Those two factors seem to contribute to the idea that this list could very well grow to over 100 or so buildings and landmarks and still be completed. As long as interest is still shown in the project, it could go well into 2006 for all we know. The project list is more so a brainstorm than anything. Obviously there are buildings/landmarks that are a must for this project, and others of less importance. I figure if enough interest is generated in the project, you never know how fast things will be churned out, but at this point I agree things are slow and tedious. If just a few more people knew how work with the BAT then I'd propose doing this project in phases but as we stand now, there is not enough manpower to warrant as such. Is such an idea were agreed upon though I'd have no problem with it. My 2 cents for now...

[baldy 0]

No problem budweiserdude.  (I almost used NP, but realized I didn't want to be hypocritical!)  Yeah, I noticed that there really aren't many people on here any more.  I think Farminsim said he got a new game which has occupied much of his time.  Call me selfish, but his Comerica Tower was so close to being done and looking really good, so I wanted it to be the first BSP building.  In my opinion the things that are slowing the process are time/life and BAT skills, which will come in time.  I don't play any other game, (are there any others worth playing?) so when I get the time, I work on the BAT.  

 

I just found the projectlist part on the site is up and running and have a couple of comments.  First the whole CO$$ and CO$$$ bothers me because the buildings are in the wrong spots.  To eliminate confusion, we should just classify as Commercial Office and Commercial Service.  After I finish with, or just get burned out with, 150 west jefferson, my next buildings will be either the Detroit Athletic Club, Cadillac Place, the Buhl, or the Ford Building.  I wanted to do the Dime Building, but it resembles something already in the game.

 

 

[wolverine 12]

Hey Baldy, that was nice that the architects were willing to front some plans and elevations.  As for Rossetti and Ford Field, they have probably thought about it, and didn't like sending a model.  WELL, our model will be much better.  As soon as I finish my Hudson's!!!!

 

EDIT:  Yeah, I'm aware some of the buildings appear to be out of place.  I will likely just merge the lists into CO and CS.

[DetroitINC 0]

hey whats going on everybody
sorry about not being on or putting on the pics i do have them but i sold my computers and i am buying my new one hopefully this week 64 bit yea anyways im at school just wanted to say it all looks great and i will be back on later so peace out keep up the good work

[budweiserdude23 80]

Wow, I say that only a couple of us are chirping in and look who comes out of the woodwork. Welcome back Detroitinc...your signature is a little pessimistic though...well I guess it's a fact...a sad one at that....

 

As for the list...I agree that merging the lists into CS and CO would probably be in the best interest of everybody. When I typed up the list, I headered as best I thought each building should be. However, that would make the list subjective, not objective, and that was/is not the intent. Certain buildings obviously will still remain CS$, CS$$, CO$$, and CO$$$, however it should be more up to the author or opinions from the group should be taken into account as to what the final say so on the building will be. I will update the list at some point today, probably this evening and then forward it to wolverine. My intent is to go through all 300 some odd posts in this thread and make sure I have not forgotten anything. As you can see that may take me a little bit of time but hopefully a new list will better serve our purpose and alleviate some of the work off of wolverine as far as that's concerned.

 

Hmmm...about Farminsim....maybe he'll show back up with a nearly finished model of the Comerica Tower....wouldn't that be nice

[megaman 1]

Is anyone working on the renessaince center yet?

[baldy 0]

here a bump for the budweiser dude ~bump~ were still here ~bump~   You have a lot of work ahead of you.  Maybe I should go back and edit my posts to keep changing building suggestions!  I hope you know I wouldn't really do that!?!?

 

Yeah, the guy I have been working with at Heller Manus has been great!  Remember that this building was done the old school way, which was the same was I learned, with a T-square and pencil.  This meant he had to dig up all the old drawings and scan them in for me.  I really dig the old pencil drawings.  Check this out!  I'm going to frame it an hang it at my house.  Yeah, I know I have issues, but isn't this just work of art?

 

 

 

I tired to get some with dimensions, but since I know the height, I can get everything off of the drawings he sent me.  By the way, what's wrong with this picture?

 

I'm really surprised the Ford Field architects are being really uncooperative. 

 

As for the Ren Cen, don't count on me doing it!  I really hate that building in real life and defiinitely don't want it in my sim cities.  I know that is how Detroit is identified, but there is so much better architecture in the city and state and one of this projects goals is to introduce others to them.  Sorry for the rant

[Sabretooth78 808]

Yeah is anybody working on Renaissance Center?  Doesn't seem like it would be a horribly difficult building to create, although I don't know about the base.

 

Now I check your website and see it is just proposed at this point.  Question answered!

 

Actually seeing this thread has made me realize for the first time what else is in Detroit (I was probably pretty ignorant, much like many people are towards Buffalo), and actually that I think the Ren. Center is kind of an eyesore! (IMHO)  However, landmarks are landmarks!

 

Nice website, looking better all the time.  I will not be doing that for Operation Buffalo Wing, unless someone else volunteers!

 

-Chris