A visit to the Jason Hargrove Transit Center on former State Fairgrounds

[Lowell]

For decades, I recall driving along Woodward past the State Fair grounds and seeing the miserable mud lot where bus riders boarded and transferred buses, often unsheltered from the elements.

So it is a delight to see the dignity of bus riding restored by the opening of the Jason Hargrove Transit Center on the former Michigan State Fairgrounds.

Let's take a look.

The preserved entrance of the former Michigan Sate Fairgrounds Coliseum now severed from the remaining arena.
-> Compare with what it was.


Work was being completed when I took these pictures on October 3, 2024.


Detail of a preserved mural.






Interior of bus boarding area.


Dignified seating and ticket booths.


Side view looking west.


The area now includes this massive Amazon warehouse.


An elevated panorama from a large berm along State Fair Ave. shows the Jason Hargrove Transit Center in the distance. On its left is a Target Warehouse and package drop-off /pick-up center. To its right is an undetermined warehouse, and on the near right is the Amazon warehouse.

[CassTechGrad]

My mother won the blue ribbon one year for her needle-work, she was very proud.

[phin]

That reuse of the main building is great. I burnt quite a few braincells in that building in the late 90's.... I know it has a far more storied past than that though.

[Richard]

That was where the “high speed “ connector rail was supposed to stop ,although I have not seen much on if it is still progressing.

There is a map here,then branches up to Toronto.

https://www.hsrail.org/michigan/

All of that is a part of the renamed Detroit Region Aerotropolis master plan,hotels,distribution center,convention center etc once the new bridge is completed.

Which is also why hotel development within the city is somewhat neutered.