Abandoned DPS Book Repository: What's Matty Up To?

**mikeg19** · December-19-14, 07:55 AM

It appears, according to Curbed, that the abandoned DPS book repository has seen some activiety recently in the form of freshly boarded up windows, which begs the question, what is Matty up to? Could it be the Mouron family finally sees interest in the area with the Tiger Stadium site finally on deck for redevelopment? Maybe.

I can't quite figure this guy out. He cleans up MCS [[finally) and starts to dump [[minimal) amounts of cash into it. We get teased with some windows being fitted into the hulking structure and some accent lighting at night. A ploy to the city to support his doomed bridge project? Probably. But why bother with the book repository now? I've never quite understood why the Mouron family doesn'y actively market the buildings, especially with the surge of activiety in Corktown.

The area of Roosevelt Park, with Slow's and other nearby establishments, the Tiger Stadium development, Hopcat, and a renewed MCS and rehabbed book repository, could make that area as lively as Campus Martius is downtown.

**Scottathew** · December-19-14, 08:27 AM

Probably a big nothing. Matty would gladly shit on Detroit and Windsor if it meant he could get more money from his bridge empire.

**Gannon** · December-19-14, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by 48307

Probably a big nothing. Matty would gladly shit on Detroit and Windsor if it meant he could get more money from his bridge empire.

Perhaps, but he is only getting older and more frail...and most certainly must be turning some of his empire over to his son.

I can see his son capitalizing on some of the lingering 'duds' in dad's portfolio. Think about the stuff they own along Fort Street alone...

I cannot believe I just defended the Marouns...but we've GOT to keep some degree of hope that they can learn and grow, too. It all depends on their reaction to the multifaceted opposition to their single-minded bridge deal. Will they continue to look at dollars, or will they finally gaze at the family legacy?! I remember an interview with Matty's wife, and she sounded like she had a bit of reason and concept of making good after all the jagged loose ends of decades of SW side abuses.

Cheers

**mikeg19** · December-19-14, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

Perhaps, but he is only getting older and more frail...and most certainly must be turning some of his empire over to his son.

I can see his son capitalizing on some of the lingering 'duds' in dad's portfolio. Think about the stuff they own along Fort Street alone...

I cannot believe I just defended the Marouns...but we've GOT to keep some degree of hope that they can learn and grow, too. It all depends on their reaction to the multifaceted opposition to their single-minded bridge deal. Will they continue to look at dollars, or will they finally gaze at the family legacy?! I remember an interview with Matty's wife, and she sounded like she had a bit of reason and concept of making good after all the jagged loose ends of decades of SW side abuses.

Cheers

Gannon, I wish more shared your optimism on this subject, but the track record is telling and uninspiring. Hopefully this family sees the positive actions in the Corktown area and has decided to, at the least, clean up MCS and the DPS repository to market to others interested in investing in the area. With the Mourons at the helm, I don't think we can expect much.

**canuck** · December-19-14, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Gannon

Perhaps, but he is only getting older and more frail...and most certainly must be turning some of his empire over to his son.

I can see his son capitalizing on some of the lingering 'duds' in dad's portfolio. Think about the stuff they own along Fort Street alone...

I cannot believe I just defended the Marouns...but we've GOT to keep some degree of hope that they can learn and grow, too. It all depends on their reaction to the multifaceted opposition to their single-minded bridge deal. Will they continue to look at dollars, or will they finally gaze at the family legacy?! I remember an interview with Matty's wife, and she sounded like she had a bit of reason and concept of making good after all the jagged loose ends of decades of SW side abuses.

Cheers

Who's to say Moroun aint turning the Michigan Central into a new MCS: Moroun Columbarium Site; thereby providing Detroit with the largest family Mausoleum after the Pyramids at Gizeh, Egypt. That's quite the legacy right there.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · December-19-14, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by canuck

Who's to say Moroun aint turning the Michigan Central into a new MCS: Moroun Columbarium Site; thereby providing Detroit with the largest family Mausoleum after the Pyramids at Gizeh, Egypt. That's quite the legacy right there.

Have there been any more windows installed in the MCS? I haven't heard of any for some time.

**Honky Tonk** · December-19-14, 03:09 PM

I think things have gotten rough for the Moroun family lately. I noticed there are no lit snow flakes in the empty MCS windows this year. Sad...

**ABetterDetroit** · December-19-14, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by canuck

Who's to say Moroun aint turning the Michigan Central into a new MCS: Moroun Columbarium Site; thereby providing Detroit with the largest family Mausoleum after the Pyramids at Gizeh, Egypt. That's quite the legacy right there.

I could never understand being as wealthy as he is and making the bulk of his fortune out of the Detroit area and caring so little about his legacy in this town. He reminds me of Mr. Burns in the Simpsons.

**Kevgoblue** · December-19-14, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by ABetterDetroit

I could never understand being as wealthy as he is and making the bulk of his fortune out of the Detroit area and caring so little about his legacy in this town. He reminds me of Mr. Burns in the Simpsons.

I can't understand how you can have a BILLIONAIRE slumlord holding on to a bunch of empty, rotting, unmaintained properties sitting next to one of the few areas that should be poised for major growth in the city. Well, I guess what I can't understand is why the city isn't tagging him with blight and ordinance violations every friggin' day! Up and to the point where they take his properties from him.

**sumas** · December-19-14, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by canuck

Who's to say Moroun aint turning the Michigan Central into a new MCS: Moroun Columbarium Site; thereby providing Detroit with the largest family Mausoleum after the Pyramids at Gizeh, Egypt. That's quite the legacy right there.

Intriguing thought and may his body and his pervert brother who runs a string of substandard nursing homes and likes to snap shots of little boys be the first in. Then implode the building

They are truely evil & souless. That is one tainted bloodline. Make sure the family is doing visitation to include them in on the implosion.

**sumas** · December-19-14, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by Kevgoblue

I can't understand how you can have a BILLIONAIRE slumlord holding on to a bunch of empty, rotting, unmaintained properties sitting next to one of the few areas that should be poised for major growth in the city. Well, I guess what I can't understand is why the city isn't tagging him with blight and ordinance violations every friggin' day! Up and to the point where they take his properties from him.

One would think so indeed, but you forget, Maroun buys politicians and whoever he wants.

**renf** · December-19-14, 08:03 PM

Am I correct in thinking that this building was built for the postal service and sited
here because of its location close to the Michigan Central depot and,also, was
designed by Albert Kahn? Thanks

**Hypestyles** · December-19-14, 11:46 PM

This should be knocked down and the land donated to the public.

**canuck** · December-20-14, 12:00 AM

I think the major problem with Moroun is he is surrounded with yes men and women as others have mentioned before. You can criticize Gilbert on many fronts but he seems to thrive on getting opinionated collaborators on his team, otherwise his investments wouldn't find the takers he has attracted so far. It must have been quite a challenge to convince some corporate players to move downtown but all this might seem as remote.as 1950's Detroit in 10 years.

So the main problem with Moroun's crew is their lack of imagination. They are running an important business and the connectedness this implies should provide enough opportunity for projects to ensue.

**Honky Tonk** · December-20-14, 05:03 AM

Originally Posted by canuck

I think the major problem with Moroun is he is surrounded with yes men and women as others have mentioned before. You can criticize Gilbert on many fronts but he seems to thrive on getting opinionated collaborators on his team, otherwise his investments wouldn't find the takers he has attracted so far. It must have been quite a challenge to convince some corporate players to move downtown but all this might seem as remote.as 1950's Detroit in 10 years.

So the main problem with Moroun's crew is their lack of imagination. They are running an important business and the connectedness this implies should provide enough opportunity for projects to ensue.

The problem is you're assuming his business is a democracy when in fact it is a dictatorship.

**canuck** · December-20-14, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

The problem is you're assuming his business is a democracy when in fact it is a dictatorship.

That's pretty much what I think too; he is a one-man-show.

**gnome** · December-20-14, 07:22 AM

Only in Detroit, and only with Matty, would fresh plywood on a warehouse be worthy of speculation. That is an indication of the psychic bruising Maroun has inflicted on the community.

My bruises tell me, he got a nasty note from Mike Duggan. Matty will do just enough work, and stretch it out over a long period of time, until the Building Department starts looking somewhere else.

S. O. P.

**Bro Greg** · December-21-14, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

I think things have gotten rough for the Moroun family lately. I noticed there are no lit snow flakes in the empty MCS windows this year. Sad...

Snow flakes now lit..

**Honky Tonk** · December-21-14, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Bro Greg

Snow flakes now lit..

Thanx Bro'.... You know what this means, don't you? Matty Moroun reads this forum. He probably saw my post, called his accountant, and said "Quick, get over to the train station and plug in the extension cord for the snowflakes". "I don't care what it costs". [["damn Honky Tonk......")

**Scottathew** · December-21-14, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

Thanx Bro'.... You know what this means, don't you? Matty Moroun reads this forum. He probably saw my post, called his accountant, and said "Quick, get over to the train station and plug in the extension cord for the snowflakes". "I don't care what it costs". [["damn Honky Tonk......")

Yup, the snowflakes are one of the biggest investments he's made in the Detroit area since he put the windows into the MCS.

**Richard** · December-21-14, 03:57 PM

70,000 abandoned properties in the city meaning somebody walked away and left it to the taxpayers to clean up.

Anybody with a report that he owes taxes on any of his properties?

A billionaire with politicians in his pocket,name one that does not,money and politics make the world go around.

Even the average Joe can contribute to a city council members campaign which in turn helps their neighborhood in return,does that meen they in return are in your pocket?

It seems as though he is a private corporation which means his investments need a return,a bit different when you are gambling with taxpayers and others monies while waiting for a long term return.

He is a speculator no doubt but if one looks at the recent report on speculators and how they own thousands of properties without paying taxes he is minute in comparison,maybe he just holds high profile properties so is in the limelight more.

The most troubling thing to me are the comments that say he is a dictatorship but also the city should seize his properties.

The thing is the same laws that would apply to seize his properties could be used to seize yours.

There seems to be a heavy leaning in many threads towards a socialist society where everybody is equal and resources are a given right and everybody should make and have the same,there are some countries that may allow you to move there but in this country people work hard and sacrifice
to get ahead and are really under no obligation to share according to public wants.

The gentleman that built Penn Station wanted to have a private company that built for public good,he did it and when he passed the company said we built it so we can demolish it now.

Kinda explains why somebody with wealth would even spend millions towards public good and in the end all for naught.

**southen** · December-21-14, 04:50 PM

thats one of the dumbest things ive ever read regarding moroun. thanks richard!

**Gistok** · December-21-14, 05:39 PM

I'm with you Southen... I can't make sense of Richard's rambling either??

If his point is that he's just like any other Joe... then that point is lost in his deep pocket attempts at litigating things his way... which most of us can't even afford.

Also... last time I checked... he didn't build either the Ambassador Bridge or the MCS... and his maintenance work on either is shabby at best... regardless at how few windows he's put into the tower.

He's playing the public for a fool... and well at least most of the public sees thru his ruse....

**southen** · December-21-14, 06:57 PM

anyone complaining about a billionaire neglecting his property and in turn hurting the community is a socialist apparently... he is rich therefore he should be able to do what he wants with no consequences or complaints.