Packard Plant Demo

**izzyindetroit** · March-01-12, 11:51 PM

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I'm not sure if I should be happy or sad about this news...

**stinkytofu** · March-02-12, 12:06 AM

Sad, but completely necessary. IMO, there is absolutely no chance that structure could be relatively usable in the future and is a complete eyesore. A building like MCS has actual potential...the Packard not so much.

...then again we'll see if this demo actually happens.

**Hamtragedy** · March-02-12, 12:25 AM

The scrappers have been systematically, if not slowly, demolishing one of the buildings, floor by floor, for over two years now. Unfortunately, [[or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) there are 26 buildings, and the $6 M pricetag is barely going to make a dent in the 2.3 million square feet of structure that actually need to be razed.

And, as with most news regarding Detroit, treat this with skepticism. Personally, I believe none of this till I see it actually happen.

**Lowell** · March-02-12, 12:49 AM

"Purported Owner"? I thought there are only owners with title, not purported owners. Does he really own it?

**Richard** · March-02-12, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by Lowell

"Purported Owner"? I thought there are only owners with title, not purported
owners. Does he really own it?

He is the only one that can leagly sell it and going down the road of steel mining via demo was already proved to not be a viable prospect .

Really , with all of the advailable land who is going to pay 6 mil to demo,the urban legend of being 3.5 mil sqft was long gone its more like 2.2 at best.

**Lowell** · March-02-12, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

Really , with all of the available land who is going to pay 6 mil to demo,the urban legend of being 3.5 mil sqft was long gone its more like 2.2 at best.

Excellent point. Are those 37 acres worth $6 million? Lord knows what pollution surprises awaits. The site remediation has to be far, far more than that, unless we the tax-payers donate to his enterprise.

**Richard** · March-02-12, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by Lowell

Excellent point. Are those 37 acres worth $6 million? Lord knows what pollution surprises awaits. The site remediation has to be far, far more than that, unless we the tax-payers donate to his enterprise.

My offer was 1.6 they tried for 2 ,it was barley worth the 1.6 there was some offer for 10 mil but their approach was ummm shot down in congress ,greed will get you every time,I am leaning towards more as this is kinda a public push to move things along but unfortantaly untill the feds are done cleaning house things are slowed abit.

But on the other hand it is the largest assembled lot in the city or one of anyways.

I had inviromentals done with no problems and approving brownfield credits for the demo would not be a good politicial move. fair warning.

**WaCoTS** · March-02-12, 02:53 AM

i am skeptical of this as well. the only significant scrap left in there is the south water tower, which is iron. packard has been getting scrapped on for over a DECADE. there is not enough scrap left in there to offset the demolition of a Coleman 2-man tent, let alone the Packard, haha. either we're not getting the whole story yet, or this is going to be a pretty short project, lol. story is still hot off the presses, so its pointless to speculate too deeply into it yet.

personally, i have money on this stalling out. $6mill aint enough. if they had said some govt money was coming, i'd be more inclined to believe this, but for now i am skeptical. the cost of constructing this "fence" that they are saying is going to keep people out will cost about a hundred thousand, ahahahahahha....

**WaCoTS** · March-02-12, 03:05 AM

well actually i guess Buildings 40-45 and the Truck Ass'y wing are still standing, and made mostly of iron...that would offset the cost of demolishing THOSE blgs, but still...90% of what remains at Packard is concrete, which is basically worthless now.

i wonder if plans will include the demolition of Blgs 80-85 on the opposite side of the RR tracks.

**KJ5** · March-02-12, 04:25 AM

How many decades will this go on for?

**Packman41** · March-02-12, 08:12 AM

I'm not sure if I should be happy or sad about this news...

+1 Yes, sad - but completely necessary.

**hamtown mike** · March-02-12, 10:23 AM

Does anyone know if there are brick pavers on the streets and or alleyways in between the buildings?

**Flintoid** · March-02-12, 10:23 AM

It's about time. I'm so sick of ruin porn. This building doe snot have potential for redevelopment [[like MCS does) so get it out of here. At this point it's already half demolished anyways. One less thing to throw up on a magazine cover. Thank god.

**ordinary** · March-02-12, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Hamtragedy

treat this with skepticism. Personally, I believe none of this till I see it actually happen.

That's the way I look at it also.

**Detroitnerd** · March-02-12, 10:53 AM

What's the problem with just letting it fall apart over time? I mean, I live a few miles from it and drive by it all the time. I don't feel it's an "eyesore." It's just a relic of our economic life, a piece of used-up property. It would cost too much to demolish, and the land underneath it won't be worth more until it's cleared and remediated, sure. But I don't see any special urgency to demolish now.

Even if it were slated for demo, like others here, I'll believe it when I see it.

**Johnnny5** · March-02-12, 11:28 AM

My guess is that the "Owner" will be using the guise of a complete demolition to salvage the valuable materials and leave the worthless rubble and contaminated soil behind. There's probably a lot more value in the remaining scrap than one would assume. Even the concrete structures contain massive amounts of steel reinforcements. Once any value is pulled from the site the taxes will again go unpaid and we'll be left with the mess.

Most importantly let's not forget who we're dealing with here. Dominic Christini and Romel Casab are no strangers to participating in ethically questionable activities. With their track records I don't expect any of this will end on a positive note.

**mikefmich** · March-02-12, 11:32 AM

No way is that going to happen for 6 mill. Hell, I wonder if 6 mill would even cover the cost of hauling and disposing of the rubble.

**WaCoTS** · March-02-12, 12:32 PM

there are tons and tons of iron reinforcement in the concrete, but that has to be laboriously separated out. the cost effectiveness is much lower than scrapping regular clean iron.

otherwise, you'd see scrappers taking rebar....but you DONT see scrappers taking rebar, do you? it is the lowest value of all scrap, and at this point that is the majority of what is left on site.

**Traxus** · March-02-12, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Flintoid

It's about time. I'm so sick of ruin porn. This building doe snot have potential for redevelopment [[like MCS does) so get it out of here. At this point it's already half demolished anyways. One less thing to throw up on a magazine cover. Thank god.

Every time I see some TV crew or magazine photograph the place with no regards to lighting, angles, or context and otherwise used as a symbol of a tired message, I get a knot in the pit of my stomach and I'm right there with you, tear the bitch down.

But then, every year or so this discussion comes up, and I start to think about how much I and others have developed as a photographers by shooting there, or how many times I've needed a place to get away from it all for a few hours and I get awful sentimental. The place is almost like belle isle to me in that regard. I know its ugly as compared to MCS or Broderick but I enjoy the place and it's history.

I agree that it needs to go, sort of like putting down an old tired dog you've grown to love.

Occurrence · March-02-12, 01:18 PM

The place lost most of it's photographic interest to me years ago after the city guards were removed and the major scrappers tore the place apart.

Met a lot of my friends roaming this place. It will be missed.

Why would they put out an article saying the fences are going up next week? That's basically saying scrap out what you can before we do this.

**old guy** · March-02-12, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Occurrence

Why would they put out an article saying the fences are going up next week? That's basically saying scrap out what you can before we do this.

Maybe that's their plan.

**Hypestyles** · March-02-12, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Hamtragedy

The scrappers have been systematically, if not slowly, demolishing one of the buildings, floor by floor, for over two years now. Unfortunately, [[or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) there are 26 buildings, and the $6 M pricetag is barely going to make a dent in the 2.3 million square feet of structure that actually need to be razed.

And, as with most news regarding Detroit, treat this with skepticism. Personally, I believe none of this till I see it actually happen.

The current "owner" should be arrested [[again) on principle. Where was he when the place "could" have been rehabbed? Why all of a sudden now the impetus to finally demolish? I'm not buying his talk about being a conscientious property owner.. he still owes thousands in fines/taxes.
..What exactly could/would be done with all the debris there? How much of it involves asbestos and other harmful substances?

**Traxus** · March-02-12, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

Where was he when the place "could" have been rehabbed? Why all of a sudden now the impetus to finally demolish? I'm not buying his talk about being a conscientious property owner.

Maybe he wants to build a bridge to Canada.

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

..What exactly could/would be done with all the debris there? How much of it involves asbestos and other harmful substances?

I don't know if anyone can answer that completely, but I remember developing a wicked cough that lasted several months after frequenting the place one summer

. Trekking all those stairs dehydrates you and gets you breathing pretty hard. No way of knowing that was the cause but I always wondered.

**CLAUDE G** · March-02-12, 02:24 PM

Hey why don't they just hire the guys who did the Tiger Stadium demolition. Im sure they would love to do this job for Free.

**Lowell** · March-02-12, 02:48 PM

The question will be... Will the the place be demolished before their fence is scrapped? I still don't see the math on the numbers working out.

I'm with those who find that place sensational and awe-inspiring. Sure it has become hackneyed by scads of visitors taking zillions of picture. I blame that more on the rise of cheap digital photography than anything else. But it is still and always will be incredibly spectacular. There is absolutely nothing like it and that gives it value alone.

One part of me wishes it could stay and crumble to the elements and the scrapers as a giant lesson in economics and change. Perhaps a ruins park in the vision of Camilo Vergara.

However, and I hold this to be the same for any structure, if it can be removed and something in its place rises that betters Detroit and creates jobs... bring on the wrecking ball!