Packard Plant owner to walk away from abandoned ruins

[JVB]

I've always thought it would make a great paintball place. You could never get insurance, but can you imagine how many people something like that would attract?

[Honky Tonk]

I've always thought it would make a great paintball place. You could never get insurance, but can you imagine how many people something like that would attract?

I agree, and it SURE would, from all over the planet! Lately though, I've been reading more and more, [[I think in Motor City Muckraker), that walls and ceilings are collapsing. This might be the beginning of the end.

[Packman41]

I've always thought it would make a great paintball place. You could never get insurance, but can you imagine how many people something like that would attract?

The PMCC building DID have a paintball place as a tenant.

But they were forced out by the City of Detroit along with 98 other rent paying tenants when they tried to confiscate the buildings back in 1998. At that time the CofD sent in the Gang Squad to physically remove the tenants that were in place. It was previously reported that in the mid 1990s that Cristini was grossing $200,000 a month in rent.

The City of Detroit took that away from him and then started to demolish the buildings they did not own.

[Honky Tonk]

The PMCC building DID have a paintball place as a tenant.

But they were forced out by the City of Detroit along with 98 other rent paying tenants when they tried to confiscate the buildings back in 1998. At that time the CofD sent in the Gang Squad to physically remove the tenants that were in place. It was previously reported that in the mid 1990s that Cristini was grossing $200,000 a month in rent.

The City of Detroit took that away from him and then started to demolish the buildings they did not own.

I KNEW I remembered that story! I heard it was for the casinos, much like what happened to Rivertown. Why did the City stop the demolitions?

[JVB]

The PMCC building DID have a paintball place as a tenant.

But they were forced out by the City of Detroit along with 98 other rent paying tenants when they tried to confiscate the buildings back in 1998. At that time the CofD sent in the Gang Squad to physically remove the tenants that were in place. It was previously reported that in the mid 1990s that Cristini was grossing $200,000 a month in rent.

The City of Detroit took that away from him and then started to demolish the buildings they did not own.

Holy shit. Can you post a couple links on that, I've never heard that story. How could they begin demolition without seizing the property?

[Packman41]

Holy shit. Can you post a couple links on that, I've never heard that story. How could they begin demolition without seizing the property?

How could they start demolition before they owned it???

This is because the CofD screwed up as usual. Their “ace” legal department THOUGHT they got it back for unpaid taxes and failed to do a simple title search to determine who exactly owned the site. So they stole his assets and started to tear down the buildings.

Why did the City of Detroit stop demolition?

Because the CofD lost in court when sued by Cristini.

But, I’ve told this story here before.

Look at my post [[#43) from August 12, 2012 here:
http://www.detroityes.com/mb/showthr...460#post337460

Here is part of that post that you need to read and understand with a quote I saved from a Detroit Free Press article:

“In the late 1990s, the plant had scores of rent- paying tenants who stored their cars and boats there, operated small businesses and staged paintball war games inside the tattered warren of buildings that straddle East Grand Boulevard.

It was also a time when the city believed it had title to the property [[edit: they did NOT) through foreclosure for unpaid taxes. The state, meanwhile, planned to tear down the plant and remove hundreds of thousands of tires.

Cristini was collecting rents and managing the property. The city tried to evict him that fall, but he holed up inside while the city's gang squad stood guard.

In 1999, Cristini and his lawyers sued the city, saying it failed to give notice to mortgage holders when the city sought to foreclose on the property. Cristini's lawyers thwarted the state's demolition plans and launched what would become a decade-long legal battle.”

I also said:
Cristini has won in court and at every appeal process. It has been rumored that an arbitrator sided with him and thought the CofD owed him a multi-million dollar settlement for illegally seizing his property.

So when Cristini’s real estate tax bill comes due he probably turns around and tells the CofD to “take it off the money YOU owe me.”

Most of the links I gave are now removed from the Internet and I can only save so much. But you still might find something here:
http://www.propertytaxrights.com/ind...=32&Itemid=107

[Bad Brains]

Holy shit. Can you post a couple links on that, I've never heard that story. How could they begin demolition without seizing the property?

Packman is correct.

Not a personal attack, but I'm amazed at how many people here don't know this story. I always thought it was common information. The city is completely and directly responsible for the condition the Packard Plant is in today. That's why I'm amazed at people who attack the owner. Not speaking of his other issues and problems, but with the Packard he did nothing wrong. Personally I hope he sues the city and wins.