Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News

http://tiny.cc/om5JQ

The Detroit City Council today delayed a decision on tearing down the Michigan Central Depot by three weeks after its owners asked officials to give them one more chance to redevelop the station.

Manuel "Matty" Moroun, owner of the Bridge Co. and the train station, has pitched saving the building from the wrecking ball by selling it to the federal government so it can be converted to a base for Homeland Security and Border Patrol operations in Detroit.

During a brief discussion this morning, attorney William Seikaly said the company wants more time to work on a proposal and update the council on the progress.

"We ought to be working together to figure out a way to develop, rather than destroy, an icon of the community," Seikaly said. "My client has been working aggressively for at least 10 years to try and come up with development projects. It is not a question of how long the city should wait, it's how long it will take. Our proposal is a reasonable proposal. Instead of throwing stones, we ought to be working together."

During today's hearing, the three-member Public Health and Safety Committee decided to continue discussing the issue after officials from the Bridge Co. said they weren't properly notified of the city's intentions.

Seikaly repeated assertions from the Bridge Co. that vandals break into the depot through property owned by the city.