Michigan Central Depot is now lit up at night

**CLAUDE G** · October-01-12, 09:28 PM

Not sure if this is old news, but was going to MGM Grand last night and noticed the Central Depot all lit up last night.

Check out the picture I took...

**gthomas** · October-01-12, 09:32 PM

Yea, I rode past it yesterday and was amazed how beautiful it look at night lit up, but it will look much better occupied.

**MidTownMs** · October-01-12, 10:08 PM

Who's paying the light bill...

**Lowell** · October-01-12, 10:29 PM

Look! We are lighting up our blighted eyesore. Can we keep our bridge monopoly now?

**wolverine** · October-01-12, 10:44 PM

Looks pretty awesome lit up.

**Gistok** · October-01-12, 11:26 PM

MCSdetroit said that the station was a pet project of Mrs. Maroun. We can criticize him all we want, but until someone can substantiate something bad about her [[we don't even know anything about her, except her poor taste in spouses...), I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Even if this is part of the campaign for a 2nd span... it's the only part that has been a plus, and even then the Canadians don't give a rats ass... so it is an effort in futility if it was only as a ploy.

The MCS is to I-75 [[Fisher) what the Uniroyal Tire is to I-94.... sort of a gateway... so it's nice it's being spruced up.

**Kathleen** · October-02-12, 05:19 AM

WDIV mentioned something about sprucing it up as part of a Centennial celebration for the train station.

**Zacha341** · October-02-12, 05:46 AM

Thanks for the photo. I've wanted to see it lit up, yet when I drove by at night it seemed to never be lit.

**dmike76** · October-02-12, 07:19 AM

I'm not giving her the benefit of the doubt. This is clearly a PR move by that lying dirtbag Maroun. If the bridge proposal fails, and I hope it does, the MCS will be mothballed again.

**Honky Tonk** · October-02-12, 07:22 AM

It might even be mothballed if his proposal DOES pass.

Originally Posted by dmike76

I'm not giving her the benefit of the doubt. This is clearly a PR move by that lying dirtbag Maroun. If the bridge proposal fails, and I hope it does, the MCS will be mothballed again.

**Lowell** · October-02-12, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by Gistok

MCSdetroit said that the station was a pet project of Mrs. Maroun. We can criticize him all we want, but until someone can substantiate something bad about her [[we don't even know anything about her, except her poor taste in spouses...), I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Hmm... He as had this building for what? Twenty plus years? While it decayed and underwent severe damage blighting the surrounding neighborhoods and presenting a public safety hazard?

And suddenly it is Mrs. Moroun's pet project?

That strikes me with all the sincerity of a deathbed [read election time] conversion.

Nonetheless, I am happy for anything that protects the building even if it comes from guile or guilt.

**rex** · October-02-12, 09:22 AM

so uh... with a shit ton of money could that be turned into lofts?

**dmike76** · October-02-12, 09:37 AM

That would be pretty sweet.

**Gistok** · October-02-12, 10:54 AM

.... um the MCS was never mothballed before... only left open to scavengers, urban explorers, et al. Being mothballed is ALL that is currently being done to it.... nothing more. There are NO plans for any use for it... so I am happy that it [[like Mike Ilitch's United Artists Building) is merely being mothballed for some "potential" future use. And the lighting is just icing on the cake.

As much as people seeing this as an ulterior motive for Maroun's 2nd bridge attempt.... I'll stick to having further deterioration halted... and it just being put into limbo for now. As for the bridge... meh.... he's not getting one, so I'm just happy that this much is being done.

**cramerro** · October-02-12, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

.... um the MCS was never mothballed before... only left open to scavengers, urban explorers, et al. Being mothballed is ALL that is currently being done to it.... nothing more. There are NO plans for any use for it... so I am happy that it [[like Mike Ilitch's United Artists Building) is merely being mothballed for some "potential" future use. And the lighting is just icing on the cake.

As much as people seeing this as an ulterior motive for Maroun's 2nd bridge attempt.... I'll stick to having further deterioration halted... and it just being put into limbo for now. As for the bridge... meh.... he's not getting one, so I'm just happy that this much is being done.

From a more positive viewpoint, mothballing is the first phase of a redevelopment project. Especially if he does actually replace the roof and windows and secures the property from the elements, that is a pretty huge first step in attracting a future use of the property.

I'm really interested to see the project for the underpass behind the train station to be completed with lighting and beautification... that will really add to the whole area when added in with the lighting and stewardship of Roosevelt Park.

**Gistok** · October-02-12, 01:02 PM

I agree Cramerro... and in both Ilitch and Maroun's case [[they both being octogenarians now), they may never live to see the day that their buildings are redeveloped, but the expense of mothballing does not come cheap [[new windows, new roof, interior cleanup work, etc), so I am thankful for that in both cases.

Even if the case of mothballing of the MCS is merely propaganda for getting his bridge [[which seems unlikely), it's still a positive step. I try to keep my contempt for the man separate from my love for the building, no matter how intertwined they are....

**Hypestyles** · October-02-12, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by MidTownMs

Who's paying the light bill...

I hope they aren't directly siphoning a city power line... that would be dishonest

I suppose this puts the spotlight on any would be scrappers [[what's left?) or explorers.. unfortunately, I suspect any actual plans to sell & fully renovate aren't happening any time soon, if at all..

**bailey** · October-02-12, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

I hope they aren't directly siphoning a city power line... that would be dishonest

I suppose this puts the spotlight on any would be scrappers [[what's left?) or explorers.. unfortunately, I suspect any actual plans to sell & fully renovate aren't happening any time soon..

What's left? Looks to me like there are some brand new lights and miles of wire. Plus whatever else in materials that are being put into mothballing...windows, doors, insulation, support beams.. etc. seems like the recent efforts were/are an infusion of scrappable materials.

over/under on how long the lighting is functional?

**Gistok** · October-02-12, 01:24 PM

Nothing may ever come of the MCS... but putting a new roof and windows/security will prevent the excuse that buildings like the Lafayette and Fine Arts [[Adams Theatre) Buildings got.... "they're too far gone to save". A new roof 10 years earlier would have prevented the National Theatre from still being an empty [[decrepit on the inside, but beautiful on the outside) hulk.

And mothballing/security could have cut of renovating the Book-Cadillac Hotel by quite a bit.

Mothballing is what we complain isn't being done enough of in Detroit's supply of empty old buildings [[as well as securing the building).... so just because no current use has been found, doesn't mean it shouldn't be done.

**jackie5275** · October-02-12, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

I suspect any actual plans to sell & fully renovate aren't happening any time soon, if at all..

They will mostly cease if Proposal 6 loses.

**begingri** · October-02-12, 03:13 PM

Michigan Central Terminal lights back on as restoration progresses

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121001/METRO01/210010421#ixzz28At1Xaey

**Islandman** · October-02-12, 03:13 PM

The only way this building ever sees reviving is if they take a "baby steps" or phased approach to the renovation. Converting some of the building a bit at a time could work. 3/4 floors commercial, 5/6 floors redidential, etc.

I'd murder for a loft in that building. [[not really, enough of that going on).

**mikeg19** · October-02-12, 04:24 PM

Is that lighting temporary or is it on every night? Certainly reminds me of ancient Greek ruins being lit up. Either way you cut it, work is being done to the building. That's all most of us asked for, no matter the motivation, right? So if he thinks this will convince the public to back his bridge vote, so be it. Let the work continue. I highly doubt that the second the vote comes in, cranes outside the MCS will stop moving, the roof left half completed, and the rose bushes ripped out of the ground. Like it was mentioned, baby steps.

**wolverine** · October-02-12, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

I agree Cramerro... and in both Ilitch and Maroun's case [[they both being octogenarians now), they may never live to see the day that their buildings are redeveloped, but the expense of mothballing does not come cheap [[new windows, new roof, interior cleanup work, etc), so I am thankful for that in both cases.

Even if the case of mothballing of the MCS is merely propaganda for getting his bridge [[which seems unlikely), it's still a positive step. I try to keep my contempt for the man separate from my love for the building, no matter how intertwined they are....

The invested materials, time and money into mothballing would technically be wasted. It's not a matter of installing windows and patching holes in the floor. That facade needs a ton of work. Whole sections will have to be removed, clean, repaired, and reattached. You'd want to do all the masonry repairs before installing windows. I'm sure the building is entirely constructed of steel and clay tile. Though very strong, the places where repairs need to be made are extremely complicated since there's plenty of spots for water to seep in. You really don't know the extent of the damage unless you cut a hole...and if you do that, you might as well gut it all to the steel and throw on a new concrete deck.

I don't think the Maroun family really knows what to do with this building. They'll sweep away the dirt from time to time to keep us thinking something is moving forward, but really the future is still cloudy and uncertain.

Any sort of solution in Detroit's case would be unprofitable. My only two thoughts for this building were.

1. Casino
2. New Convention Center + Train Station

Both aren't happening so onto a completely different alternative:

Maroun eventually dumps the property, a non-profit gains control. Get some grants and donations and slowly start to fix the building where they can. I use Buffalo's station as an example. There would really be no progress for over a decade...but it would be along work in progress. Eventually the right time would come and it would find a use....maybe a train station...making Detroit the third city in the midwest after Cleveland and Cincinnati to use their stations for their original intended purpose.

**grumpyoldlady** · October-03-12, 04:05 AM

Anyone know Mrs. Moroun's first name? Does he still own the nursing home on E. Jefferson?

I worked for one of his trucking companies...Central Transport...when it was over near 6 mile and Conant. I remember his dad T.J and sister Agnes, and his secretary "Margie". Just wondered if Margie became Mrs. M.