Skip to main content

Ford Motor Co. in talks to buy Michigan Central Depot

March 20, 2018 • Detroit News is reporting that, Ford Motor Co. is exploring ways to become a major presence in Corktown, including possibly acquiring the Michigan Central Depot,

The potential move to the long vacant train station would simultaneously resurrect the most visible symbol of Detroit’s decline, and make the 114-year-old automaker a major player in the city’s rebirth.

The last time I took the Amtrak from this station was 1989 - 90

To learn more: Click here

1A Michigan Depot

Gary: Rail-fanning from Detroit - Source Detroit News

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 1A Michigan Depot
Last edited by trainroomgary
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

This is going to take a MONUMENTAL effort.

The building is laden with asbestos, lead, and other hazardous materials. Let alone water has been pouring in through the floors and its foundation for years.

The Detroit City Council has declared it to be torn down.

"In 2013, the Detroit City Council passed a resolution that ordered Moroun to destroy the landmark building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Morouns ignored the order.

The estimated cost to renovate the 18-story building is somewhere between $100 million to $300 million, Moroun officials have said in the past."

I don't think Ford knows the details if the building has some major structural issues or not. So the investigation continues.

The building has not only suffered from missing a roof but multiple fires have damaged it as well...

 

Train-Station-at-sunsettrains_001_slide-fb05f3f4a3bc331dc1ed2473931cd32a302fc755-s900-c85Screen-Shot-2017-07-11-at-10_42_45-AM-1

Attachments

Images (3)
  • Train-Station-at-sunset
  • trains_001_slide-fb05f3f4a3bc331dc1ed2473931cd32a302fc755-s900-c85
  • Screen-Shot-2017-07-11-at-10_42_45-AM-1

The one nice thing about FORD, being a large corporation, the tax write offs would offset a lot, and bringing back buildings of historical significance adds to their ties with the city. It would likely be a magnet for many industries looking for headquarters in the city, especially if Detroit had a plan for starting taxes low as industry returned and not choke the Golden Goose from the start. Baltimore did a lot of this type of rebuilding in their inner harbor years ago and reclaimed some of downtown, Detroit needs a boost and get back to being an industrial hub.

From

1 Cranes Detroit Bus

Ford pursues deal to buy, redevelop Michigan Central Station

By KIRK PINHO & CHAD LIVENGOOD  -  Crain's Detroit Business

  • Sources: Automaker in talks with Morouns' Crown Enterprises over dilapidated Detroit building
  • Ford has bought The Factory nearby to house about 200 employees
  • Former train station has been empty for about three decades

2 Michigan Central Station 3 16 2018

Detroit radio stations are now reporting this story. Detroit's Mayor; Mike Duggan, may have a press conference. Took office 2014.

Gary - Rail-fanning from Detroit

Attachments

Images (2)
  • 1 Cranes Detroit Bus
  • 2 Michigan Central Station 3 16 2018
MichRR714 posted:

The fact that this project is even being considered is an indication of what is going on in the City of Detroit.  Most folks not from SE Michigan don't really have any idea other than preconceived notions that really don't hold up today.  I'm hoping this happens, keeping some of the architecture from the last century alive is a good thing.

 

I concur.   My niece plays softball for CMU up in Mt. Pleasant.   The couple times I've been out to visit, one of her teammates, from Detroit, would take us on little day trip tours around Detroit.   You are correct, what is still seen on media, is not a true picture of the revitalization going on.

 

Having grown up in Chicago, with relatives in Rochester, MI, Albion, MI, and Wooster, OH,  a lot of my youth was spent all over that part of the midwest.   I am excited to see this happening in Detroit.

trainroomgary posted:

From

1 Cranes Detroit Bus

Ford pursues deal to buy, redevelop Michigan Central Station

By KIRK PINHO & CHAD LIVENGOOD  -  Crain's Detroit Business

  • Sources: Automaker in talks with Morouns' Crown Enterprises over dilapidated Detroit building
  • Ford has bought The Factory nearby to house about 200 employees
  • Former train station has been empty for about three decades

2 Michigan Central Station 3 16 2018

Detroit radio stations are now reporting this story. Detroit's Mayor; Mike Duggan, may have a press conference. Took office 2014.

Gary - Rail-fanning from Detroit

The building has a fence and razor wire around it.   

It is nice to see an interest in revitalization though remediation will likely be a monumental task.    Hopefully all sides can work together to make it happen. 

MichRR714 posted:

The fact that this project is even being considered is an indication of what is going on in the City of Detroit.  Most folks not from SE Michigan don't really have any idea other than preconceived notions that really don't hold up today.  I'm hoping this happens, keeping some of the architecture from the last century alive is a good thing.

 

Completely true!  The city has a long way to go to become what it once was, but it angers me when I hear out of towners talk down the city even though they have never, or at least not recently, visited.  There's a lot of good going on in Detroit, often in small pockets.  The Redford Theatre where I volunteer is one such gem.  The immediate neighborhood has seen several small business start and grow, partially due to the theater.  A small bakery opened in one of our retail storefronts and quickly outgrew it.  They now own and operate their business in a larger building across the street and are always lined up with customers.  Other such things have happened nearby as well.

 Ford is currently putting a lot of money into redevelopment in Dearborn, MI as well with several large construction projects going on around the city.  They've even created office space in portions of the somewhat empty Fairlane Mall complex.  

Sent from my iPhone

1 Free Press Michhigan Station 3 21 2018

March 21, 2018,  Detroit Free Press

Ford Motor Company: “We are planting a special piece of our company's future in one of the city's great neighborhoods, because we believe in Detroit, its people and what we can build together.

To Learn More: Click here   •    Maybe we will get the Big News Today

Gary: Having my morning cup of coffee and reading the Detroit Free Press at my local Speedway.

PS: Earning points for my next free lunch or fuel discount. 

images

Attachments

Images (2)
  • 1 Free Press Michhigan Station 3 21 2018
  • images
Last edited by trainroomgary

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×