The Packard Plant is on fire, again!

[kraig]

It's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt. If anything needs to come down, it's this building.

June 28, 2009

Detroit firefighters working on blaze at Packard plant

By BILL McGRAW
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERDetroit firefighters are battling a two-alarm fire tonight at the virtually abandoned Packard plant on Detroit's east side.
Thick black smoke poured out of the top floors of the five-story structure near the corner of Concord and East Grand Boulevard.
Earlier this month when another blaze broke out at the plant, fire officials decided to let it burn. It smoldered for more than 24 hours.
Tonight's fire was more accessible, and it began at about 7:30 p.m., in full daylight.
"If we let this burn, it would burn for days," said Battalion Chief Greg Best.
"It's spreading through the whole top floors."
The plant has 3.5 million square feet of space and is composed of 43 interconnected buildings, all of which are dilapidated and decaying.
Firefighters are called to the plant at least a couple times a month.

[LeannaM]

Firefighters are called to the plant at least a couple times a month

So they are demolishing the Lafayette instead of the Packard Plant? Wouldn't it make more sense to demolish the Packard Plant?

[daddeeo]

Packard Plant is probably more toxic and harder to clean up for any type of urban renewal.

[kraig]

So they are demolishing the Lafayette instead of the Packard Plant? Wouldn't it make more sense to demolish the Packard Plant?

When the City tried to in 1997, the building was saved by the owner. So instead of any Empowerment Zone development, we're stuck with this.

[dexterferry]

if they tear down the Packard plant, what will visiting journalists use as a symbol of the crisis in the American auto industry?

[Russix]

When the City tried to in 1997, the building was saved by the owner. So instead of any Empowerment Zone development, we're stuck with this.

Speaking of the owner, since they won their case, do they have any plans or any clue what to do now with the building?

[Diehard]

I used to share a space there up until 1998, when the esteemed City Council succeeded in kicking all the businesses out so they could tear the place down. No plan, no ideas, no intention to listen to anyone's redevelopment concepts... they just decided they'd kick everyone out and tear it down.
Turns out the chosen demolition company [[who just happened to be owned by someone's son who was a major campaign donor) realized way after the fact that it couldn't be taken down for anywhere near what the city was offering. The allotment was something like $5 million, but when they ...finally... thought to evaluate the place, they realized it was a superbly built Albert Kahn building that was too solid to implode and would have to be dismantled, piece by piece, for more like $25 million.
So it's still there. Empty except for the bums, crackheads and vultures. And our overwhelmed Detroit firefighters have to go out there and risk their lives to put out yet another pointless fire.
Dumbass politicians. If only we could sue them for all the damage they've done.

[56packman]

I used to share a space there up until 1998, when the esteemed City Council succeeded in kicking all the businesses out so they could tear the place down. No plan, no ideas, no intention to listen to anyone's redevelopment concepts... they just decided they'd kick everyone out and tear it down.
Turns out the chosen demolition company [[who just happened to be owned by someone's son who was a major campaign donor) realized way after the fact that it couldn't be taken down for anywhere near what the city was offering. The allotment was something like $5 million, but when they ...finally... thought to evaluate the place, they realized it was a superbly built Albert Kahn building that was too solid to implode and would have to be dismantled, piece by piece, for more like $25 million.
So it's still there. Empty except for the bums, crackheads and vultures. And our overwhelmed Detroit firefighters have to go out there and risk their lives to put out yet another pointless fire.
Dumbass politicians. If only we could sue them for all the damage they've done.

Diehard--the story is actually better than that, the demolition company was owned by the son of a speculator who was going to demo the plant using federal brownfield money administered by the state, they actually started demolition without securing sign-off by the building's leinholders, a big problem. The condition of the complex today is squarely the fault of city hall, and the mayor's office [[Archer) aided and abetted by the State of Michigan, all very slimey and underhanded.
The complex needs to go now, it is so far gone. I suggest the city pay for the demolition, not that they can begin to afford this, but they started this problem, they need to finish it.

[Gannon]

I imagine a holding place unto eternity for ALL of the wrong-doers in politics in this town...turn this into a work program for those convicted of stealing from and harming the city.

Like Sisyphus, we could bind them to this frustrating and endless work for the rest of their days...and thusly yield them as eternal a fitting punishment as could be delivered.


Let Kwhyme and his gang tear down the Packard, piece-by-piece. Oh wait, McNamara's, too. Let's not forget the generation that TAUGHT the most-recent obvious problem how to be so.


Cheers, where's that coffee?!

[Russix]

Or how about a Corruption Hall of Fame? It's just large enough and plus the building itself adds to the story the museum is trying to convey.

[Hypestyles]

can't the Packard grounds be sold to a Michael Bay production?

[kraig]

Speaking of the owner, since they won their case, do they have any plans or any clue what to do now with the building?

I doubt it. They should build a hundred foot wall around it and throw a bunch of prisoners inside it like in Escape from New York.

[Russix]

^that ties in nicely with the other thread about California outsourcing prisons to Michigan. Or what about a prison factory?

[Traxus]

Caught these from my apt. Looks like the South End this time, just south of the Blvd.

Attachment 2208

Attachment 2209

Attachment 2210

[Traxus]

These are some photos from the first [[of three so far) fires. While the News made a big deal out of this, there didn't seem to be much that burned. You can see the smoke stains on the ceiling, but it looks like some kids just set a couple of these barrels of plastic pellets on fire [[visible in the foreground):

Attachment 2213

Looked like about 8-10 of these barrels burned. The plastic probably caused some dramatically dense smoke, but the actual fire didn't touch this stack of wooden pallets:

Attachment 2212

More of the pellets:

Attachment 2211

[cman710]

Traxus, are those pellets paintballs?

[Traxus]

Traxus, are those pellets paintballs?

No, they are some sort of plastic pellets for molding, much smaller than a paintball, maybe the size of a BB. That indentation is a footprint, you can use that for perspective. I'm not sure that paint balls would burn that well anyhow...

[MADDOG]

Sec. 38-4-1. Trespassing.
It shall be unlawful for any person; except an officer, employee or contractual agent of a governmental agency in the performance of a public duty; to enter a vacant building or the property it is on without the express written authorization of the property owner, lessee, agent or trustee thereof.

[[Code 1964, § 39-1-92)

State law references: Trespassing, MCL 750.546 et seq., MSA 28.814 et seq.

[Bearinabox]

Sec. 38-4-1. Trespassing.
It shall be unlawful for any person; except an officer, employee or contractual agent of a governmental agency in the performance of a public duty; to enter a vacant building or the property it is on without the express written authorization of the property owner, lessee, agent or trustee thereof.

[[Code 1964, § 39-1-92)

State law references: Trespassing, MCL 750.546 et seq., MSA 28.814 et seq.

I'd be mad as hell if the city wasted even one police officer on enforcing trespassing laws at the Packard plant. They have much more important things to worry about.

[Lowell]

Trespassing in the Packard Plant. LOL

[Blarf]

With nearly every door wide open at the Packard, and zero "no trespassing" signs in sight, it's technically not trespassing.

[Gsgeorge]

Not to mention no one knows who even owns the freaking place.

[MADDOG]

I'm just saying NO one has any business going in ANY building that dosnt belong to them for ANY reason. We have had alot of fires in that building, And there not starting themselfs. That is how us firefighters get hurt or worst. Not to mention that is a VERY dangrous building. The Arson Squad/DPD will write you a violation if they see you in that building.

[wolverine]

^ Maybe not. I know a couple of people who have visited the place recently. Upon exiting a cop drove by, rolled down the window and told them that they should be careful because the building was dangerous and so was the neighborhood. Nothing was ever mentioned to them about the legality of entering the plant.

Whether you are holding lighters or cameras will determine how the law is enforced [[that's if it is ever enforced, or can be enforced without a known owner present)

[Traxus]

I'm just saying NO one has any business going in ANY building that dosnt belong to them for ANY reason. We have had alot of fires in that building, And there not starting themselfs. That is how us firefighters get hurt or worst. Not to mention that is a VERY dangrous building. The Arson Squad/DPD will write you a violation if they see you in that building.

If you want to chase someone through 3.5 million square feet of abandon factory to write a citation, by all means, put on you're running shoes. [[Watch out for nails though). Those of us who enter the building understand the risks, and a large majority of us, especially the experienced, make a point not to start fires or fall into holes. In fact, it might be wise to stop preaching as nothing is going to spark a curious, irresponsible and more importantly inexperienced kid's interest more than an over protective adult telling people not to do something.

I'd be mad as hell if the city wasted even one police officer on enforcing trespassing laws at the Packard plant. They have much more important things to worry about.

That about hits the nail on the head.