Heard this on NPR this afternoon.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/mi....Central.Depot

Saving Detroit's Central Depot Laura Weber [[2009-08-31)

DETROIT, MI [[MPRN) -

State lawmakers say there may be federal stimulus dollars available to renovate and restore an old Detroit train station into an international trade hub.

A state Senate hearing in downtown Detroit focused on possible future uses for the run-down Michigan Central Depot. Senators on the panel sent a letter to the building owner, listing potential uses for the property. Ideas included a Michigan State Police lab, a Homeland Security border protection office and an international trade processing center.

State Senator Cameron Brown chaired the meeting. He says it would be nice to see the train station used for transportation again. But he says that might be hard to do because current plans for a future light rail line bypass the station.

"Let's begin by getting the depot up and running, so to speak, and then we'll deal with the complete transportation nexus as step number two," says Brown.

Brown says the station's owner is willing to discuss renovating the building if there is a plan in place for its use. © Copyright 2009, MPRN