Duty Free with Bridges to Nowhere

**Lowell** · June-06-10, 06:54 PM

Enter the Ambassador Bridge and you enter a bleak conrete world woven with bridges and seemingly frozen in time.

[Above] A contruction-suspended bridge forms the gateway to a quarter-mile long snaking roadway that eventually coils onto the bridge.

[Below] A newly built vacant fueling station sits walled off by concrete barriers.

Looping into the complex you are ushered past the new duty free store and fueling station. A second bridge to nowhere looms in the background. Let's stop and take a look.

It is an immense facility but has few visitors. The fueling station does good businesss as Canadians fill up on the cheap-to-them gasoline.

Bad Eddie Francis!! Why doesn't he tear down those eyesores? How can he make the good people of Windsor live next to such ruins? By the way, is that the Michigan Central Depot in the background of the upper left picture? This is the first sign that greets you as you enter the store.

A giant alcohol stand dominates the east end.

Aisles of full perfume, toiletries and jewelry but void of people.

...and Liquor, candy, tobacco... all waiting for what?

**fastcarsandfreedom** · June-06-10, 09:15 PM

I noticed the "Eddie Francis" sign the last time I was in the store and was pretty disgusted by it. It's ironic that they post photos of "eyesores" they [[the bridge) have created themselves. When I was a student at the U of W [[10 or so years ago) -- that was a thriving neighborhood--a mix of older folks who'd owned their homes for decades and students--slowly the bridge bought those houses, evicted the tenants [[including those of two apartment blocks) and have left them to rot. Last week two of the vacant properties caught fire in the same day.

From the Michigan perspective their ought to be outrage over the Gateway Project--a multi-million dollar project that was funded primarily be state taxpayers to connect this privately owned entity to the freeway system--and the bridge ignored the terms of the contact and did their own thing...amazing.

**urbanoutdoors** · June-06-10, 09:36 PM

Lowell,
Thanks for documenting how ludicris the facility is! if anyone is interested here is a video from Fridays Bridge protest asking them to comply with the Gateway, Build the ramps, and get off of our Park!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/...5848797&ref=mf

I was over on Indian Rd. a few months ago and was disgusted at what Matty had done over there...

**Meddle** · June-06-10, 10:30 PM

Wasn't that ordered demolished? Or am I thinking of something else?

**fryar** · June-06-10, 10:40 PM

Are there actually deals to be had there?

**fastcarsandfreedom** · June-06-10, 11:14 PM

urbanoutdoors...the "problem" of these vacant properties is unforutnately no longer restricted to Indian Road. Despite the interim-control bylaw preventing demolition of the properties, the bridge continues to buy up properties and leave them vacant...Rosedale, a block west of Indian is the latest victim--there are now a significant number of abandoned houses on that street--as well as pockets of bridge-owned vacant houses on Edison, Felix, Bloomfield and other side-streets. An 8 story multi-unit apartment on Mill was cleared out and boarded up over the winter--and the Waterfront Villa--a large building with river frontage beneath the bridge on Riverside Drive which was a student apartment complex [[and at one time a nursing home) has also now been vacated. The bridge is relentless, and following the same pattern they executed over several years in Detroit--buy up properties and effectively drive-down the value of the remaining privately owned parcels.

The two arsons last week on the block of Indian between Mill and Wyandotte were surprising only because they took so long to happen.

Sadly it's really a no-win situation--no matter what happens with DRIC, this area of the city has been decimated.

**Gistok** · June-06-10, 11:33 PM

Thanks for all the info and pics all!!

Fastcarsandfreedom... it seems as though he's creating his own abandoned area around Huron Church Road just to be able to justify his 2nd span... but instead of a 2nd span impacting the neighborhood... he's decimating the neighborhood first to justify that it won't impact a neighborhood that has no residents.

No wonder the Canadian local/regional/national government is so dead set against him and his 2nd span.... they will not be intimidated by the machinations of a foreign billionaire.

Definition of "machinations":
1. The act of plotting.
2. A crafty scheme or cunning design for the accomplishment of a sinister end.

**vivadetroit** · June-07-10, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by Meddle

Wasn't that ordered demolished? Or am I thinking of something else?

yes, it was. But in true Bridge Co. fashion, they're not doing what they're supposed to do. I say the State of Michigan takes some of its bulldozers and just knocks em down. I don't see why Matty Maroun should be any different than any of us.

**Lowell** · June-07-10, 07:31 AM

My question in all cases is why do not both Detroit and Windsor slap code violations Moroun's abandoned eyesores? If you or I kept our property like he does his, we would not get a pass.

**467riverfix** · June-07-10, 08:21 AM

The duty free store is often busy; you just didn't go on the right day.

Retroit · June-07-10, 08:24 AM

How ironic that Maroun is being ordered to tear down perfectly good buildings, but the thousands of abandoned eyesores in Detroit are left standing.

Socialism at its best...

**GOAT** · June-07-10, 08:30 AM

There are no code violations to speak of. His buildings are secured. Typical Matty, the slumlord that he is, is doing to Windsor what he did to Corktown.

Granted, the by-law Windsor council introduced was stupid at best [[demolition control by-law) Matty is just playing his cards to do what he thinks best. But the residents suffer.

By the way, all of that concrete and the dumb way to get on the bridge just makes me go to the tunnel even more.

**GOAT** · June-07-10, 08:31 AM

Retroit, you mean the buildings that sit on land he doesn't own nor received approval for? The street closures where he doesn't have the power to close? Yeah, socialism at it's finest..whatever!

**ndavies** · June-07-10, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Retroit

How ironic that Maroun is being ordered to tear down perfectly good buildings, but the thousands of abandoned eyesores in Detroit are left standing.

Socialism at its best...

Sorry, Nothing to do socialisim here. Unless you consider the corporate welfare he received socialism.

He agreed to build according to the agreements he signed with MDOT. He made that agreement so he could get freeway exit ramps built to improve access to his privately owned bridge. If he didn't want to build they way the state wanted, he shouldn't have signed the agreement. He wouldn't have got the freeway access ramps. He didn't need to build his building on top of a city of Detroit street.

He was the one who failed to live up to the agreement. He has only himself to blame for having to tear down the duty free stores. He built on land he doesn't own. He took the chance of this ending this way. He needs to meet his end of the bargain his coproration signed with the MDOT.

**smogboy** · June-07-10, 08:55 AM

Thanks for the great photos Lowell.

I drive by this concrete jungle quite a bit and it just amazes me of how much jutting concrete goes absolutely nowhere. To a certain degree, it has a nice sculptural quality but functionality, where it stands now is a joke. To get anywhere, one is directed underneath all sorts of serpentine mazes and it could literally change within a few days.

Now granted I fill up my tank there at the Duty Free shop [[usually about a dime cheaper per gallon than anywhere else in the metro area) and that's usually a little busier than what you've got shown here from my experiences but I think depending on what time of the day, it might have peak and off hours. And I think the store is WAY too cavernous to be selling liquor, perfumes, beer, chocolates and smokes.

It really is kind of ridiculous that an international border like this is held up in litigation like this. Even for a casual visitor going to and from Canada through there, it must look like the set to the old movie Logan's Run.

Retroit · June-07-10, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by GOAT

Retroit, you mean the buildings that sit on land he doesn't own nor received approval for? The street closures where he doesn't have the power to close? Yeah, socialism at it's finest..whatever!

What would this land have been used for otherwise? The city should be giving land away to anyone who is willing to build on it. If they want to force Maroun to tear down a building, I would suggest the MCS.

**jams** · June-07-10, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Retroit

What would this land have been used for otherwise? The city should be giving land away to anyone who is willing to build on it. If they want to force Maroun to tear down a building, I would suggest the MCS.

Sure, just give it to me. I'll grow tomatoes, herbs, etc.

BTW it is "Moroun", not "Maroun."

**ndavies** · June-07-10, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Retroit

What would this land have been used for otherwise? The city should be giving land away to anyone who is willing to build on it. If they want to force Maroun to tear down a building, I would suggest the MCS.

The land should be used for the street that already existed there before he put a building on it. Obviously the city and state thought that street was needed otherwise they wouldn't be fighting to get it back. Once again He arrogantly took over land the state and city think they need for the proper traffic circulation around his little empire. He agreed to build to one spec and then built something entirely different. the courts have already ruled that what he did was wrong. The courts have told him he broke the agreement and has to go back and build according to the original agreement. What part of not sticking to a contract don't you understand?

**Detroitnerd** · June-07-10, 01:48 PM

Reminds me of old Robert Moses' techniques.

From an obit of him:

The key to Moses' power was his ability to get things done -- often by ignoring legal, political or personal obstacles. He boasted that "nothing I have ever done has been tinged with legality."
Committees that met to approve plans for playgrounds or park buildings regularly discovered that the projects were already well under construction -- or completed. Westbrook Pegler once referred to it as Moses' "oops -- sorry" technique.

In other words, don't obey the law, build as quickly as you can, and then you've driven the stakes for development that YOU want, and you play chicken with all the other stakeholders and get it done your way. Usually works. Not this time.

**ghettopalmetto** · June-07-10, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Retroit

What would this land have been used for otherwise? The city should be giving land away to anyone who is willing to build on it. If they want to force Maroun to tear down a building, I would suggest the MCS.

I suppose you believe anyone should be allowed to build anything they want in Detroit, huh? Maybe we can waive that pesky requirement to comply with building codes as well.

No worries. If worst comes to worst, DEGC will gladly find public monies to fund demolition of Matty's abandoned border crossing.

**Sandhouse** · June-07-10, 02:07 PM

Thanks, Smogboy, for posting the price differential at the Moroun duty-free gas station relative to other retailers. I'd been wondering about that, but don't use the bridge and so don't see for myself.

Ammex fought several long lawsuits to get itself exempted from state and federal fuel excise taxes, which are 18.7 and 19.4 cents/gallon respectively on gasoline and 15 and 24.4 cents on Diesel fuel. Neither, I believe, do they collect state sales tax of about 20 cents/gallon. So when you buy gasoline at the "duty-free" station, you're saving a dime a gallon but delivering almost 50 cents a gallon of pure profit directly into Matty's pocket, at the expense of state and federal road and transit funding.

The 10-cent discount is apparently all Moroun has to give to attract business from taxpaying competitors in both countries.

I have no idea how Ammex was able to win these lawsuits; the fuel-tax laws of both countries are based on the idea that fuel sales to gasoline cars average out across state lines, and that all Diesel fuel is taxed based on the state it was used in. The fuel-tax law does not contemplate any untaxed fuel, so the usual notion of "duty free" purchases for export doesn't apply. Maybe the state had incompetent lawyers. The Detroit tax-free gas station may be the only such place on the continent.

**econ expat** · June-07-10, 02:37 PM

In some states, the Indian owned gas stations on 'reservation land' are also exempt from many taxes. They draw a huge business offering maybe 5-10 cent a gallon savings over the other nearby stations. The consumer saves a few cents a gallon, the station operator much much more![[And quite often, the station is 'licensed' by the tribe- pays a percentage to the tribe, even though the operator might not be a tribal member.)

I saw a station near Spokane blow away their competition, stations closed all around. Noone seems to do the math. I saw a line down the street to get into one station. Pass. Drove another mile, paid 4 cents more a gallon- 64 cents more than if I waited 1/2 hour in line at the Indian station.

**MCP-001** · June-07-10, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

My question in all cases is why do not both Detroit and Windsor slap code violations Moroun's abandoned eyesores? If you or I kept our property like he does his, we would not get a pass.

Simple, Matty has money.

Lots and lots of money.

More money than the City of Detroit, City of Windsor,Wayne County, Windsor-Essex County, Province of Ontario or the State of Michigan has to prosecute cases like his.

His M.O. has always been to draw out these cases in court as long as his legal people can.

lincoln8740 · June-07-10, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by 467riverfix

The duty free store is often busy; you just didn't go on the right day.

Uh really dumb question---

Do you have to go to Canada to shop at the duty free?

Or can I just turn around and enter right back into the USA without going through customs?

**fastcarsandfreedom** · June-07-10, 06:46 PM

You cannot re-enter without going through Customs. All goods sold at Duty Free are for export only--meaning, once you're there, you have to go across the bridge to Canada. Alternatively, the Duty Free on the Windsor side works the same way--buy something there and you have to proceed to the U.S.