It's been exactly one week since Dan Gilbert's “A Plan For Our Time” announcement, and as progress continues toward M1 rail, sources tell Deadline Detroit that Gilbert is quietly aligning the chess pieces to launch another, even bolder initiative for the downtown/midtown area.
The plan, which up until now has been kept even from some senior Quicken executives and other downtown business leaders, involves Gilbert purchasing public space air rights above the entire 7.2 square mile greater downtown area to operate a network of wireless aerial trams, or gondolas, powered by electromagnetic energy in the privatized sky.
The "wifidolas," as some in Gilbert’s inner circle have dubbed the system, float through the air like Marty McFly’s hoverboard from the "Back To The Future" movies, albeit on a much larger scale.
“How do they work? Magnets, that’s how they work,” explains Dr. J. William Utsler, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Physics. “These gondolas operate on the principle of magnetic triangulation. Tension created by electromagnetic waves beamed from the ground and surrounding buildings keeps the carriages afloat.”
Diagram explains the science of magnetic triangulation. [Source: Dr. J. William Utsler]
The system reportedly would be inexpensive, relative to other downtown circulator options, because the physical infrastructure is limited to just the trams and a network of high-powered electromagnets to keep them afloat. One source tells Deadline Detroit the wifidolas will cost between $60-$65 million to construct and launch.
The system would operate on a fixed schedule and initial service would be limited to routes between Gilbert-owned buildings. However, the long-term plan envisions wifidolas operating throughout greater downtown.
“This is still an experimental product,” said a person close to the project who asked not to be named. “Rather than negotiating buy-in from other partners, the idea is to show these things work in the first phase and then expand the system later.”
'Magnet Miraculous'
While some initial skepticism from the general public is expected, scientists say the wifidola technology has proven itself in extensive testing.
“Everyone who has seen these things is impressed,” said Dr. Utsler, whose 1989 European Physics Journal paper "Magnet Miraculous: How Magnetic Triangulation Could Change Cities As We Know Them" launched the technology behind wireless trams. “The safety features are flawless.”
Experts say Gilbert’s large real estate holdings and the political ease in which an emergency manager can sell public air rights makes Detroit an ideal site for the nation’s first wifidola system.
Gilbert is reportedly negotiating with Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr for the greater downtown air rights. Sources close to Orr declined to speculate on the price, but say talks have been productive.
“This has the potential to be one of the largest property transfers in American history,” a source told Deadline Detroit. “Orr and the city have done their best to expedite the process. They understand the value, not only of the service, but also the revenue from the air rights sale. This has the potential to be a win-win for the city. Still, it’s an enormously complicated deal. Rest assured, it will get done.”
New toy at City Hall
Orr reportedly visited a Newfoundland research facility with Gilbert to see a demonstration of a wifidola prototype nicknamed the “Gilbird” and came away impressed. Mayor Dave Bing, who didn’t make the Newfoundland trip, has a scale model built inside his office and reportedly is ready to support the project.
“The wifidola model exceeded our expectations,” said one administration source. “I don’t think anyone sent an internal email that day because we were all using the wifidolas to pass messages around the office.”
However, the project is not without its opposition, according to Evelyn Yardsworth-Steinbaum, of Commerce Township’s Wallace Ford Institute for Social Justice.
“These so-called ‘air rights’ are really a birthright that belong to Detroit’s people,” he said. “The space above Detroit’s streets and parks is a precious jewel of the people. One wealthy businessman shouldn’t be allowed to poison Detroit’s air with floating gondolas powered by potentially dangerous waves.”
Some homeopaths believe the wifidola's magnetic waves could transmit “potent dilutions” of carcinogens, Yardsworth-Steinbaum says. But Dr. Utsler says there is no scientific evidence that magnetic waves are dangerous.
'Always Some Fear-Mongering'
“There is always some fear-mongering,” he said. “They say the waves will do this and that. It’s stupid. Magnetic energy is pure and clean. It's all around us, in the air and water. It’s been detected in fire. Grab a handful of dirt from your backyard, if there is trace metals in it, that dirt will have some magnetic polarity. It’s everywhere in this [world].”
“We simply don’t know the danger,” Yardsworth-Steinbaum counters. “These scientists are all telling you what business interests want to hear. We’re taking them at their word and we shouldn’t. It makes me angry.”
Sources say Gilbert is undeterred by the criticism and many Detroiters are equally excited for this project.
“That's sounds like some serious Luke Sykwalker [expletive] right there, but Detroit is ready for it,” said Ron Cooper, while waiting at a Michigan Ave. DDOT bus stop. “It's about time we replaced the 360 bus with space gondolas and teleporters. This is real, right?I mean April 1 is when everyone makes this stuff up and that's past.”
Cooper is right. April 1 is when everyone makes this stuff up. That whole thing is passe. If you really want to fool people, do it on April 4. That's how the cool kids roll now.
