Packard Plant Vandalism

[Laughsmith]

The following videos are tragic, a prime example of ignorance. More, they illustrate the complete lack of respect that many youths have for Detroit history.

YouTube - TV Land

YouTube - Chaos in TV Land

They destroyed thousands of dollars worth of vintage televisions!

Morons.

[rid0617]

I collect antique television sets. I'd love to get my hands on a few of those

[Hypestyles]

the old Packard grounds in its entirety just needs to go.. period.. same as with the Michigan Central Depot-- if there isn't a substantive redevelopment plan.. it just needs to be demolished.. as far as turning part of it into a museum or whatever-- again-- where were these plans, 5, 10, 15, 20 years ago? it's now or never..

[CFABDETROIT]

the old Packard grounds in its entirety just needs to go.. period.. same as with the Michigan Central Depot-- if there isn't a substantive redevelopment plan.. it just needs to be demolished.. as far as turning part of it into a museum or whatever-- again-- where were these plans, 5, 10, 15, 20 years ago? it's now or never..

So in your way of thinking, if a building is not in use tear it down???

[buildingsofdetroit]

So in your way of thinking, if a building is not in use tear it down???

In this case, absolutely. There is no way the Packard will ever be anything. It's been abandoned for nearly half a CENTURY. Not a decade. Century. There are a lot of naysayers who say the Lafayette Building or the Book Tower or whatever don't have a future. I disagree with them. But on the Packard? C'mon. Tear that schitt down.

[CFABDETROIT]

And what do you propose they do with the empty lot that will be left?

[56packman]

In this case, absolutely. There is no way the Packard will ever be anything. It's been abandoned for nearly half a CENTURY. Not a decade. Century. There are a lot of naysayers who say the Lafayette Building or the Book Tower or whatever don't have a future. I disagree with them. But on the Packard? C'mon. Tear that schitt down.

Wrong-O BofD--the Packard plant ceased to be the production plant for the Packard Motor Car Company in the summer of 1954. After the collapse of Studebaker-Packard in June of 1956 the building was sold and became a multi-use facility much like the Russel Industrial center [[formerly Murray body co.) and the Ford Highland Park plant. Sewveral businesses operated out of ther between 1957 and 1999. In 1999 the city of Detroit [[Dennis Archer, Mayor) worked in conjunction with a speculator who dealt in commercial real estate to sieze the Packard plant from its owner, who was in arrears for back taxes. The normal procedures giving due process to property owners was ignored, there was implicit help form the state of Michigan, who took the title to the property under the EPA brownfield reclamation act and after the owners satified the back tax minmum payment turned the title over to the City of Detroit. There were 117 tenents in the Packard plant prior to the city's eviction of same, they effectively removed the owner's abilty to pay the back taxes by removing their income. There were some very big tennants in the Packard plant, Essex wire being one. Until the late 90s the plant was clean, safe and orderly, and a bargan for storage or light manufacturing.
So don't spout off about the plant having been "abandoned" when you don't know what you are talking about.
So don't spout off about the

[vintagesoul]

The following videos are tragic, a prime example of ignorance. More, they illustrate the complete lack of respect that many youths have for Detroit history.

YouTube - TV Land

YouTube - Chaos in TV Land

They destroyed thousands of dollars worth of vintage televisions!

Morons.

Ok, have you been in there? Have you read up on that place? If you have, then you would know that those TV's were dumped there because they contain parts made from materials that are now banned. There are also stripped cars in there, and the last time I was in there I saw piles and PILES and PILES of shoes.

People dump things there. Things that are of no value because they are destroyed or damaged or defective or contaminated. The kid was kicking in a TV set that was already broken. They did not do that damage that you saw in that video. That was done by the people who dumped those there probably.

Besides, I would say that most of the real damage done in there is by scrappers and the biker gangs and drug addicts. It's not like kids are just hanging out there and breaking stuff.

[Laughsmith]

Ok, have you been in there? Have you read up on that place?

People dump things there. Things that are of no value...

I respectfully disagree with you, VintageSoul, everything has value to someone.

And you miss my point entirely. Yes, the Packard Plant is a dumping ground. Yes, there are all sorts of vandalism, architectural theft, drug use and squatting going on there. That's what happens when buildings are abandoned and left to rot. What irritates the hell out of me is that some punk kid doesn't have enough common sense to recognize the remaining value in any those things. I know a dozen people who would have given their eyeteeth for just a few of the parts from those sets.

But it goes even deeper than that. Many kids, though not necessarily all, have little respect for ANYTHING vintage. To them, it's all just old junk that doesn't mean anything to anyone. Well, they are wrong. They are trespassing vandals. More to the point, they are stupid trespassing vandals as they actually thought it was a good idea to videotape themselves breaking the law and then posting it on YouTube for the rest of the world to see.

I'm sorry, but I cannot see how this is any different from scrapping. The end result is the same.

Upon further consideration, however, my ire may be directed more toward their ignorance of historical value than anything else...

[Blarf]

I know a dozen people who would have given their eyeteeth for just a few of the parts from those sets.

Well, than they should have gone to Packard Plant to get the parts before all the TVs were smashed.

[Gsgeorge]

What are you guys even blathering about? Worried about some old TVs? They are still there if you want to scrounge through them for parts. Not all of them are destroyed. What we really should be worried about is the REAL damage being caused at the Packard Plant by careless scrappers who are removing entire steel support beams, causing massive collapses. At least three areas of the plant have collapsed [[the south double-level bridge has fallen out, the train sheds have collapsed, and an interior building on the north side has collapsed, all because scrappers have removed steel beams) and several other parts of the plant have been severely compromised due to scrapping. Not to mention the elements have taken its toll on the southernmost & tallest building of the complex, nearest to the cemetery, where almost the entire roof has fallen in. This has all happened in the last six months or so.

And you guys are arguing about bloody TVs?

PS - I am an advocate of the demolition of the Packard Plant with the exception of the buildings that front Grand Boulevard its historic Grand Boulevard footbridge. The complex is far too large, non-functional, outdated, and in the poorest of the poor condition to save. It is also a stunning embarrassment for the city & its people.

[Burnsie]

buildingsofdetroit-- Actually, much of the Packard Plant was in use for warehousing and small businesses until Archer kicked them out.

[Detroit]

I miss the old main doorways on the North side of E. Grand Blvd. As a child going past there each weekend I always enjoyed them and the rest of the complex. I am surprised there has not been any effort to board/brick up the entry ways since the removal of originals. If there was, you sure cannot tell.

[4real]

I like the cass tech old school video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SkHd...eature=related
I can't believe how much schitt is still in this building,

[davemarc]

The doorways where sold at a collector auction last year,bought by a collector in texas,who donated them to the national packard collection in warren ohio.The doors where briefly boarded up as was the driveway to the west bldgs.That lasted about a week.