New windows for Michigan Central Depot confirmed

[paddlebobb]

The Windows Announcement II this time is really heartfelt by Matty. From his perch atop the MCS penthouse, he'll have a perfect view of the new bridge down the river being erected. At one time, the MCS was envisioned as being the crown jewel of Morounville in the southwest. Now, as the new bridge rises, that dream disintegrates among the swells of the water, flowing downriver under the Ambassador and toward that dreaded construction site.

[MAcc]

Windows? Really? Why is this something people care about? I can't think of a sadder story to be seized with.

[mikeg19]

I wonder if Matty ever had the idea of running his Central Transport operations out of the MCS. I'm not sure what his current headquarters looks like in Warren, but I'd imagine he has quite a bit of employees on his payroll that could fill out some of the office tower with the rest being rented out. Anyone ever heard of any rumblings of that being an option?

With the windows, I think anyone who has a remote interest in the building wants to see some sort of progress, and we are so starved for it that an announcement like that garners a lot of interest. But hell, if a freight elevator is installed and windows are going in, I won't complain. I just hope this thing isn't more bullshit spewing from that family's mouth.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

For what its worth, according the this article the company involved "expects to start installing windows by June", and the needed elevator work should be done in a few weeks.

http://www.thetimesherald.com/story/...ding/23996173/

I would love to see the windows installed, if only to make the place less of a ruin porn site.

[Dbest]

some interesting tidbits from the above article posted[[thnx westcoast):

Regarding the father/son company chosen to do the work:

"Since then the duo has supplied and installed windows for the Rosa Parks Transit Center in Detroit, the new addition to the Detroit Science Center and the new welcome center in Detroit's Mexican Town."

what the windows will look like:

"The windows will have historical trim and be a tan color to match the stone of the building."

Quote from Chamberlin regarding sealing up the building, seems as if all it needs is windows:

"Once the windows are on — making it air tight and safe from weather — they can start doing work inside of the building," Chamberlain said.

The long wait since installing the one demo window:

"All we have to do now is measure the windows, send the window drawing to the family to be approved and then make sure we have a crew on site to do the work," Gary Chamberlain said. "What took so long for work to start is that an elevator needed to be installed first so we could get materials up to the floors."

He said the elevator work will be done in the next few weeks.



This all pretty encouraging in my opinion. These window guys have done some solid work on in the city. I have a hard time believing these would be the guys they would choose to give the circle jerk if that is their intention. The article says the son is recovering from Leukemia. I won't forget the story, especially if Matty never follows through. It's also encouraging that the window design is already in place for the family to approve if they choose...

[Zads07]

I wonder if Matty ever had the idea of running his Central Transport operations out of the MCS. I'm not sure what his current headquarters looks like in Warren, but I'd imagine he has quite a bit of employees on his payroll that could fill out some of the office tower with the rest being rented out. Anyone ever heard of any rumblings of that being an option

I've driven by his office it's small, gated and they don't want anyone around there. Highly unlikely that's ever been considered just based off of that alone.

[stinkytofu]

I don't find any of this encouraging until they announce they have an actual tenant/purpose lined up for the building. It's all a bunch of smoke and mirrors until then.

[Dan_the_man]

"The windows will have historical trim and be a tan color to match the stone of the building."

Not a big fan of this information. There is no way that that is a historically accurate color and I don't think it will look good at all. I don't know if the building is in a historic district, but tan windows would definitely not meet preservation standards. That said, windows are better than no windows.

[PeachLaser]

A few comments from afar. Seeing the MCS for the first time was a shock. It reminded me of videos from heavy bombing in WWII. That's the only way I can describe it.

Hearing that it will have windows, however long it takes sounds like positive progress to me. Glass shines, glass reflects and windows in that shell of a building will give the impression that someone cares. People notice things like that. From afar, it seems that new projects like this and the major announcements all add up to good news for Detroit. A lot of little steps eventually add up to major steps forward.

Putting windows in this building may be more symbolic than practical, but that symbolism can spark a lot of new good things. Hoping it happens for Detroit.

[night-timer]

Maybe I'm wrong, but the MCS building and the Book Tower downtown are the two most promising buildings with a future in Detroit.

Is it true Matty paid only $80k for MCS?

If and when trains ever start running through MCS again [[and I have no idea if they ever will) MCS will be no joke. Restaurants, hotel, casino and convention center, close to Downtown and Corktown and more.

[Honky Tonk]

Maybe I'm wrong, but the MCS building and the Book Tower downtown are the two most promising buildings with a future in Detroit.

Is it true Matty paid only $80k for MCS?

If and when trains ever start running through MCS again [[and I have no idea if they ever will) MCS will be no joke. Restaurants, hotel, casino and convention center, close to Downtown and Corktown and more.

If and when pigs fly, and I'm not sure they ever will, we won't have to drive them to market.

[night-timer]

When I quizzed the construction workers leaving MCS, one said he doesn't speak English and the other was very vague. Something's happening. Maybe only Matty knows. I sure don't. I'm a lot younger than Matty. Hopefully I'll live long enough to find out what's happening.

[SpartanDawg]

https://twitter.com/DrFresch/status/619641817328390144

this picture appeared on my twitter feed.

seems as though it gained almost an entire row of windows? good lord this is going slowly..

[detroitpride313]

https://twitter.com/DrFresch/status/619641817328390144

this picture appeared on my twitter feed.

seems as though it gained almost an entire row of windows? good lord this is going slowly..

Last time I drove past there were also some windows on the back of the building too, but yeah it's moving slowly... but I'm glad something is at least happening

[rjlj]

This is the biggest sucker thread on detroityes.
Funny how work on MCS ebbs & flows in correlation with what Matty gets & doesn't get.

[buckster1986]

I drove down there after work yesterday to take a few pictures but it seems window installation is in full swing... I added more photos to the album for MCS at Facebook.com/woodwardspine

[TheUsualSuspect]

Maybe this question has already been asked. Is this new glass unbreakable?

What's took keep the new windows from meeting the same demise as the old windows?

Additional security measure in the building probably eh?

Or are the scrappers licking their chops?

[esighed]

Wouldn't it make sense to clean the brick or sandblast before putting in new windows?? I would love to see the facade cleaned from decades of soot, especially those corinthian columns and the stone dentil work.

[warsaw7]

I drove down there after work yesterday to take a few pictures but it seems window installation is in full swing... I added more photos to the album for MCS at Facebook.com/woodwardspine

Wow the windows actually make the building look so much more appealing, although there is a lot of work to go. Can't wait to see the old beast once the rest of the windows are up.

[downtownguy]

I agree, Warsaw7. Those few windows already make it look better. As esighed said, it would seem to make sense to clean the brick before installing the windows, but that would assume that this was truly the beginning of a restoration and not just a public relations ploy.

[mikeg19]

Powerwash that Bitch. Lighting, windows, and a wash down would make that place actually look appealing.

[bust]

I agree, Warsaw7. Those few windows already make it look better. As esighed said, it would seem to make sense to clean the brick before installing the windows, but that would assume that this was truly the beginning of a restoration and not just a public relations ploy.

Unfortunately, based on past evidence, I expect nothing more from Maroun than a public relations ploy. I'd love to see this building rehabbed. But I have no faith it will happen while in Maroun's hands. He wants his bridge, and his bridge only. He makes occasional PR gestures here -- for his bridge.

[One Shot]

Appealing for what/who? This is just a public perception campaign.

[warsaw7]

Appealing for what/who? This is just a public perception campaign.

It looks more appealing than no windows. I don't recall saying anything hinting it wasn't but a pubic relations ploy.

[MSUguy]

Wouldn't it make sense to clean the brick or sandblast before putting in new windows?? I would love to see the facade cleaned from decades of soot, especially those corinthian columns and the stone dentil work.

Not really, windows keep the elements out of the building I would say that is more important than cleaning the facade.