Ford's Plan to Buy Towering Detroit Pigeon Coop Isn't BS

by Steph Willems

April 30th, 2018 3:45 PM

We’re committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using links in our articles. Learn more here

ford s plan to buy towering detroit pigeon coop isn t bs

There’s been much made about Ford’s secret/not-so-secret plan to purchase a major chunk of Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, including its greatest landmark — the monstrous, long-abandoned Michigan Central Station. Until now, however, the only words we had to go on were whispered by sources who preferred to keep their names out of the media.

Thankfully, Edsel B. Ford II decided to pipe up today.

Questioned by media at an event, Henry Ford’s great-grandson, who sits on the Ford Motor Company board of directors, confirmed that the automaker is considering purchasing the 18-storey monolith.

The board “has been briefed” on the purchase plan, he said. Ford’s comments featured in a tweet by Crain’s Detroit Business reporter Chad Livengood.

A discussion of the plan, as well as a potential vote, could come as early as a board meeting scheduled for next week, Ford added. That jibes with the date listed in a recent report from Crain’s, in which the publication detailed the automaker’s attempts to buy up land in the area near the station. The property amassed could total more than 1.1 million square feet.

The station itself, which last saw a train pull away in 1988, contains roughly half a million square feet of floor space. As anyone with internet access knows, it isn’t in the best state of repair (see recent photos here). The Moroun family, longtime owners of the property, only recently installed glass in the building’s windows. As of last year, the figure floated for what it would cost to complete the renovations stood at $100 million.

It’s likely Ford would get a lucrative helping hand from the city of Detroit were it to snatch the property away from the Morouns.

Acording to multiple media reports, it’s believed Ford wants this property, and those surrounding it, to house employees working on the next phase of motorized transport. “City of Tomorrow” kind of stuff. Known as Auto 2.0, the effort loosely groups together teams working on autonomous vehicles, ride-sharing, and other mobility efforts.

What isn’t known is whether Ford’s planned campus, seen as a hub for all things futuristic, will serve as a satellite locale or something larger.

[Image: Wikimedia Commons ( CC BY-SA 3.0)]

#Detroit #EdselB.FordII #Ford #FordMotorCompany #Infrastructure #MichiganCentralStation

Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 37 comments

Roberto Esponja on May 01, 2018

This building was a bad idea when new and never got better. Yes, it's pretty, but I think renovating it is throwing good money after bad. It shouldn't have been built where it was, period. A prime example of a government boondoggle.

Like Reply
Jeff S on May 01, 2018

How about some aluminum siding on that building.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Carsofchaos Bike lanes are in use what maybe 10 to 12 hours a day? The other periods of the day they aren't in use whatsoever. A bike can carry one person and a vehicle can carry multiple people. It's very simple math to figure out that a bike lane in no way shape or form will handle more people than cars will.The bigger issue is double parked delivery vehicles. They are often double parked and taking up lanes because there are cars parked on the curb. You combine that with a bike lane and pedestrians Crossing wherever they feel like it and it's a recipe for disaster. I think if we could just go back to two lanes of traffic things would flow much better. I started coming to the city in 2003 before a lot of these bike lanes were implemented and the traffic is definitely much worse now than it was back then. Sadly at this point I don't really think there is a solution but I can guarantee that congestion pricing will not fix this problem.
Charles When I lived in Los Angeles I saw a 9-5 a few times and instanly admired the sweeping low slug aerodynamic jet tech influenced lines and all that beautiful glass. The car was very different from what I expected from a Saab even though the 900 Turbo was nice. A casual lady friend had a Saab Sonnet, never drove or rode in it but nonetheless chilled my enthusiasm and I eventually forgot about Saabs. In the following years I have had seven Mercedes's, three or four Jaguars even two Daimlers both the 250 V-8 and the massive and powerful Majestic Major. Daily drivers of a brand new 300ZX 2+2 and Lincolns, plus a few diesel trucks. Having moved to my big farm in central New York, trucks and SUV's are the standard, even though I have a Mercedes S500 in one of my barns. Due to circumstances with my Ford Explorer and needing a second driver I found the 2006 9-5 locally. Very little surface rust, none undercarriage, original owner, garage kept, wife driver and all the original literature and a ton of paid receipts and history. The car just turned 200,000 miles and I love it. Feels new like I'm back in my Nissan 300ZX with a lot more European class and ready power with the awesome turbo. So fun to drive, the smooth power and torque is incredible! Great price paid to justify going through the car and giving her everything she needs, i.e., new tires, battery, all shocks, struts, control arms, timing chain and rust removable to come, plus more. The problem now is I want to restore it and likely put it in my concrete barn and only drive in good weather. As to the writer, Alex Dykes, I take great exception calling the 9-5 Saab "ugly," finding myself looking back at her beauty and uniqueness. Moreover, I get new looks from others not quite recognizing, like the days out west with my more expensive European cars. There are Saabs eclipsing 300K rourinely and one at a million miles and I believe one car with 500K on the original engine. So clearly, this is a keeper, in love already with my SportCombi. I want to be in that elite club.
Marky S. I own the same C.C. XSE Hybrid AWD as in this article, but in Barcelona Red with the black roof. I love my car for its size, packaging, and the fact that it offers both AWD and Hybrid technology together. Visibility is impressive, as is its small turning circle. I consider the C.C. more of a "station wagon" by proportion, rather than an “SUV.” It is fun to drive, with zippy response and perky pick-up. It is a pleasant car to drive and ride in. It is not trying to be a “Butch Off-Roader”, or a cosseting “Luxury Cruiser.” Those are not its goals or purpose. The Corolla Cross XSE Hybrid AWD is a wonderful All-Purpose Car (O.K. – “SUV” if you must hear me say it!) with a combination of all the features it has at a reasonable price.
Ernesto Perez There's a line in the movie Armageddon where Bruce Willis says " is this the best idea NASA came up with?". Don't quote me. I'm asking is this the best idea NY came up with? What's next? Charging pedestrians to walk in certain parts of the city? Every year the price for everything gets more expensive and most of the services we pay for gets worse. Obviously more money is not the solution. What we need are better ideas, strategies and inventions. You want to charge drivers in the city - then put tolls on the free bridges like the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges. There's always a better way or product. It's just the idiots on top think they know best.
Carsofchaos The bike lanes aren't even close to carrying "more than the car lanes replaced". You clearly don't drive in Midtown Manhattan on a daily like I do.