Matty Moroun proposes to sell Michigan Central Depot

**kraig** · May-01-09, 01:25 PM

May 1, 2009

Businessman proposes to sell Michigan Center Depot

By JOHN GALLAGHER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER Businessman Manuel [[Matty) Moroun is proposing to sell the dilapidated Michigan Center Depot to the United States government for redevelopment.

Morounâ€™s Detroit International Bridge Company issued a statement today saying it would submit its proposal to the U.S. General Services Administration next week for GSA to acquire and develop the site.

â€œWe are committed to finding a better use for the Michigan Central Train Depot as soon as possible,â€ said Dan Stamper, president of the bridge company. â€œWe hope to work with GSA to develop a project, whether their needs include an adaptive reuse of the Depot or the construction of a new facility.â€

The offer to GSA is the latest in a long line of potential ideas to salvage the depot after its days as a train station ended two decades ago. The depot has been touted as an international trade market, a Detroit police headquarters, and more, but nothing has survived the test of market reality.
â€œWe will be reaching out to the Detroit City Council and the community to join us in encouraging GSA to consider our proposal,â€ said Stamper.
Contact JOHN GALLAGHER: 313-222-5173 or gallagher@freepress.com.

Does anyone know of the history for these type of projects?

**michael** · May-01-09, 01:35 PM

Who is GSA?

**Gistok** · May-01-09, 01:38 PM

That would be the General Services Administration... the US Governments "building and property folks".... as well as being a governmental watchdog organization.

**Detroitnerd** · May-01-09, 01:43 PM

Notice how this happened a month after the Jobs Tunnel plan went kaput?

**daddeeo** · May-01-09, 01:46 PM

That Manny is as hard to pin down as a greased pig.
Amazing how the threat from the city to tear down the Depot and charge him finally made him try to unload the place.
He probably figures to turn a pretty penny from the feds for that dump. The guy will get rewarded for letting the place go for all these years.

**Irvine Laird** · May-01-09, 01:54 PM

The GSA is a vast agency, but one thing that caught my eye on the Website: GSA acquires and adapts historic properties for preservation. Read all about it here: http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/con...contentId=8059

**Gistok** · May-01-09, 01:55 PM

On previous threads I suggested that the MCS would make an ideal federal government office building [[sort of like the former GM headquarters in New Center is the State of Michigan office building in Detroit).

The major difference would be that the MCS would be the security and justice center... with the FBI, Homeland Security, Federal Courts, the Justice Department, the Treasury Departments Alcohol, Firearms & Tobacco division, Immigration Services, Customs, and other security related organizations.

Every time there's a "Code Orange" or higher federal government alert they partly close down the streets around the MacNamara and Federal Courthouse buildings.

They could consolidate all of the security and justice related federal agencies without disrupting downtown traffic. Plus those "Jersey Barriers" could be added around the complex to prevent an Oklahoma City type disaster.

The Federal Courthouse could be come the Main Post Office [[as it once was) with the existing PO building being their main sorting house. And they could move the opulent 1895 built "Chief Justices" courtroom to the MCS as well.

The MacNamara Tower could continue to be used, but just for the non-justice/security related federal offices.

Why build a new FBI campus, when this building could house all federal security. And the perimeter of the building could easily be secured with all the available land around the complex.

Detroit already has arguably the most monumental State Office Building in the country [[not including state capitols)... this would provide it with arguably the most monumental Federal Office Building as well [[outside of D.C.).

**raptor56** · May-01-09, 02:05 PM

Or this could just be a ploy by Big Matty to make it look like he's doing something with the property, thus buying time for the whole wrecking ball proposal to blow over. Then it's back to slum lord business as usual, as MCS continues to sit and deteriorate.

**Gistok** · May-01-09, 02:07 PM

IIRC... the GSA was not always so interested in Historic Preservation, but it has since become a major advocate of it today.

The Old Post Office HQ on Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington DC [[a beauty of a Richardsonian Romanesque Revival style building with a massive tower) was slated for demolition several decades ago because the GSA wanted to complete the Federal Triangle in a classic style. But they finally "saw the light", and the massive 13 story restored building [[housing other offices, plus retail under the building courtyard glass ceiling) is one of the most popular sites in Washington today.

**GREENTROIT** · May-01-09, 02:08 PM

Until I see it with my own eyes, I will never believe that MCS will be rehabbed.

**rb336** · May-01-09, 02:09 PM

With the apparantly scrapped plan for a brand new FBI hq, that would be an interesting repurposing

**kraig** · May-01-09, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

On previous threads I suggested that the MCS would make an ideal federal government office building [[sort of like the former GM headquarters in New Center is the State of Michigan office building in Detroit).

The major difference would be that the MCS would be the security and justice center... with the FBI, Homeland Security, Federal Courts, the Treasury Departments AFT division, INS and other security related organizations.

Every time there's a "Code Orange" or higher federal government alert they close down the streets around the MacNamara and Federal Courthouse buildings.

They could consolidate all of the security and justice related federal agencies without disrupting downtown traffic. Plus those "Jersey Barriers" could be added around the MCS to prevent an Oklahoma type disaster.

The Federal Courthouse could be come the Main Post Office [[as it once was) with the existing PO building being their main sorting house. And they could move the opulent 1895 built "Chief Justices" courtroom to the MCS as well.

The MacNamara Tower could continue to be used, but just for the non-justice/security related federal offices.

Why build a new FBI campus, when this building could house all federal security. And the perimeter of the building could easily be secured with all the available land around the complex.

Detroit already has arguably the most monumental State Office Building in the country [[non including state capitols)... this would provide it with arguably the most monumental Federal Office Building as well [[outside of D.C.).

I'm glad you said that, because if I said it I would have had a bunch of people coming up behind me saying I was Dan Stamper or working for Matty Moroun.

I hope people look at this matter objectively.

**GREENTROIT** · May-01-09, 02:13 PM

Make it into a casino! How's that for objectivity?

[sarcasm]

**kraig** · May-01-09, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by GREENTROIT

Make it into a casino! How's that for objectivity?

[sarcasm]

I thought by state law we could only have 3 casinos? But what the hell, I'm quite sure everyone on the Southwest Side would love a Casino over there. While we're at it, let's put one over where Tiger Stadium is. You don't even have to build any parking, because we all know how much the people in Corktown love having someone park in front of their home and block their driveway.

Now that's sarcasm.

**BShea** · May-01-09, 02:18 PM

Full story on the depot news today:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...E/905019975/-1

Link to the RFP in question:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportun...=core&_cview=1

Stosh · May-01-09, 02:34 PM

Interesting proposition. Only thing is, that Manny will still own the site. Also, the Crain's article mentioned that the 13 story station would be demolished, for a helipad.

So much for historic preservation, I suppose.

**dtowncitylover** · May-01-09, 02:52 PM

As much as I [[like most) distrust and dislike Matty Moroun, this could turn into a good thing. It is unforunate that the plan calls for the demolition of the tower, put at least some of the building will be perserved for a purpose that is for good. I don't want to see ALL of the building gone, but if just some if left for future generations I will be happy.

**buildingsofdetroit** · May-01-09, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

As much as I [[like most) distrust and dislike Matty Moroun, this could turn into a good thing. It is unforunate that the plan calls for the demolition of the tower, put at least some of the building will be perserved for a purpose that is for good. I don't want to see ALL of the building gone, but if just some if left for future generations I will be happy.

Note that the GSA guy said he was not familiar with this announcement. Could just be more hot air from Moron [[sic).

**GOAT** · May-01-09, 05:08 PM

Great job for the troll under the bridge. He lets the building rot and then now wants to sell it. Fuck it. Just level the thing already.

dexterferry · May-01-09, 05:48 PM

I don't understand why so many people are saying that the destruction of the tower is acceptable and inevitable. It's not like it's an unadorned modernist box dropped onto a beaux-arts masterpiece---there are many beautiful classical elements on the exterior of the top floors and the look and silhouette of the building will lose so much if the tower is leveled.

**dtowncitylover** · May-01-09, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by dexterferry

I don't understand why so many people are saying that the destruction of the tower is acceptable and inevitable. It's not like it's an unadorned modernist box dropped onto a beaux-arts masterpiece---there are many beautiful classical elements on the exterior of the top floors and the look and silhouette of the building will lose so much if the tower is leveled.

Oh most definately! But if that's what can save at least SOME of the building, I will be happy. I would not be surprised if the Tower cannot be rehabed. I would not want to work below a tower that can fall any minute. I would love to know if it is rehabable and would love for it to be used.

**E hemingway** · May-01-09, 11:07 PM

So the Bridge Compnany wants to turn MCS into 50,000 square feet of office space by tearing down the office tower portion and turning the train station on the ground floor into office space. Is it me or would the cavernous train station portion of the building be incredibly inefficient office space?

**Irvine Laird** · May-01-09, 11:58 PM

I don't understand why Maroun held onto the property for so long if he didn't intend to make some money from it. Rich people don't get rich by owning zero-occupancy dead property that doesn't generate income. Why would Maroun take on the monolithic liability of the depot for so many years unless he hoped to profit from it at some point? Most billionaires are right about opportunities more often than they're wrong. As some of my fellow DY'ers have it, Maroun only keeps the thing to cast a dark shadow over the land and to anger people on this forum.

Unless demolition of the depot is a bargaining chip in Maroun's attempt to build his second bridge, I expect he will lease it or sell it long before he demolishes it. Any way you look at this, he will make money from the depot.

Blarf · May-02-09, 12:08 AM

Maybe he just owns it because he thinks it looks cool. If you have that much money, you can afford to do things like that.

**gnome** · May-02-09, 04:23 AM

[quote=Irvine Laird;14541]I don't understand why Maroun held onto the property for so long if he didn't intend to make some money from it.quote]

I think Gistok knows the story behind the story, but Manny never bought the building; he aquired it through seizure for an outstanding debt. The reason he kept it was not for the building, but for the rail access and tunnel. The building has no value to Manny, never did.

The last time there was heat on Maroun, he toddled out some redevolpment plans, had models built, held public meetings ... blah.blah.

Again, I think Gistok is the guy with the info