Article published Jan 24, 2008
Fitness center proposed for Quo Vadis site
By Darrell Clem 
STAFF WRITER 

The Quo Vadis, a once-plush movie theater shuttered since 2002, could be demolished as early as spring by developers who hope to build a $5 million fitness center on the prime real-estate site.

Lake Bellaire Properties LLC has proposed a site plan to tear down the Quo Vadis and build a nearly 42,000-square-foot fitness center across Wayne Road from Westland Shopping Center.

Mayor William Wild disclosed the proposal Tuesday night during a Westland City Council meeting, drawing applause from an audience that appeared as eager as city officials to see the dilapidated theater torn down.

Lake Bellaire's plans will be discussed during a Westland Planning Commission meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, at City Hall. The developer hopes to move on the project this year.

"We're real happy about that," Westland Planning Director Bruce Thompson said.

City officials hope the project, if it happens, could spur other redevelopment efforts around the mall, particularly in long-vacant, big-box stores like the former Sam's Club, Best Buy and Service Merchandise.

The new center, yet unnamed publicly, would be built near the longtime Fitness USA at Wayne and Central City Parkway, providing fitness-industry competition in the city's core shopping district.

"It will make a huge improvement on a key corner in a highly visible area of our city," council President James Godbout said. "I think it's a great project. I'm excited about it, and it's long overdue in making something happen on that site."

The Quo Vadis opened in the mid-1960s with a futuristic look created by world-class architect Minoru Yamasaki, who also designed New York City's former World Trade Center. It became one of the early theaters to offer cocktails to patrons.

The theater stood for many years next to the old Algiers drive-in theater, which was torn down in the 1980s and replaced by a shopping center and sprawling parking lot.

dclem@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2110