A local Detroit newspaper article ...............

Legendary studio to go in road widening scheme .........

Proposal is to level the building as part of a project to reconstruct Freeway I-94. Plan is to add a lane on both sides & have service drives along the freeway. 

 

https://www.freep.com/article/20130703/NEWS01/307030043/motown-sound-United-Sound-Systems-detroit-sound-conservancy-demolition-freeway-expansion-MDOT-barry-gordy-aretha-franklin-eminem

Edited July 4, 201311 yr by Roburt

Soulful Detroit piece on the studios ...............

https://soulfuldetroit.com/web01-soulfuldetroit/united-sound.htm

 

But it might be saved ...........

https://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130703/METRO01/307030077

Edited July 4, 201311 yr by Roburt

So if the MDOT (Michigan Dept of Transport) are willing to 'MOVE THE BUILDING' to save it from demolition ...... THEN .....

where should it be moved to (the most appropriate location from a soul history point of view) ??

As whole areas of central Detroit are now almost vacant wastelands because the old buildings / houses have been demolished, then there must be loads of 'well located' empty plots which would make good sites for the relocated studio.

It could then be restored and also opened as a museum (like the Hitsville building).

Edited July 4, 201311 yr by Roburt

moved

best if use the report post feature in future rather than post in thread

cheers

mike

I sometimes find it hard to put my thoughts into print so please bear with me.

 

Like all iconic buildings associated with the music we love it's sad to see it will probably be demolished but I can't really see the point in taking it apart brick by brick and recreating it elsewhere. Ok, it would be an educational piece for folks to just look at but it would have lost all of it's atmosphere, lost it's ghost I suppose. 

 

By all means save as many photos, documents etc and items associated with United and put them in an all encompassing museum from the golden age of soul Detroit soul music, along with similar material from other studios such as Golden World etc.

 

If they rebuilt let's say the Casino somewhere nearby in Wigan could anyone who either went or not stand there in the middle of the dancefloor and truly say to themselves "wow, this is it, this is where it all happened"

 

I'd pay to go into the original studios or a Detroit Soul Music Museum but a rebuilt one, no. I'd just give it a glance as I passed it by.

 

Tuppence worth

 

Edited July 4, 201311 yr by Dave Turner

I sometimes find it hard to put my thoughts into print so please bear with me.

 

Like all iconic buildings associated with the music we love it's sad to see it will probably be demolished but I can't really see the point in taking it apart brick by brick and recreating it elsewhere. Ok, it would be an educational piece for folks to just look at but it would have lost all of it's atmosphere, lost it's ghost I suppose. 

 

By all means save as many photos, documents etc and items associated with United and put them in an all encompassing museum from the golden age of soul Detroit soul music, along with similar material from other studios such as Golden World etc.

 

If they rebuilt let's say the Casino somewhere nearby in Wigan could anyone who either went or not stand there in the middle of the dancefloor and truly say to themselves "wow, this is it, this is where it all happened"

 

I'd pay to go into the original studios or a Detroit Soul Music Museum but a rebuilt one, no. I'd just give it a glance as I passed it by.

 

Tuppence worth

 

dave, it is a reference point, but i don't think that the lack of atmosphere, necessitates it becoming just another building, the loss of any identity may pertain to the actual avenue it stood on, but as with ventures in this country such as for instance, the black country museum, blist's hill, beamish or any other victorian element that has been saved for posterity,...the original brickwork gaurentees, lovingly restored, it's place in history and as a tourist attraction, so important is it's place in the development of black music, not just in detroit but throughout the world. it's obviously viewed over there as something of significant importance if they're prepared to have a change of heart...if it's so, then we have to thank them for seeing commonsense...after all, it is part of their heritage and isn't it relevant in this day and age that sufficient people's consciences are pricked to prevent so much history just being consigned to dust.

Hands up how many people on here wouldn't love some time for a quick wander around this historic building inside and out?

 

I know I would.

 

Trouble is I know I wouldn't be able to stop myself opening every cupboard and trying to access each and every room.

 

Next it would be......erm sorry to trouble you but is there any chance I could look in the loft and/or basement please.....

 

The hunt for vinyl never ends.

 

Derek