Matty Moroun creating 250 new jobs in I-94 industrial park? Hmm

[belleislerunner]

Maroun may go down as the greatest slumlord in Detroit history when he dies due to the train station - but poor he is not. He's on the billionaire Forbes list because his companies [[e.g. Central Transport and numerous trucking/logistic companies etc) employ tens of thousands of people here in Detroit/Warren. If he's willing to spend X to build out a spec space for an automotive supplier in this park - I'd be the first to bet $20 it will get done on time and in budget. Think Gilbert and his data server hosting farm in Corktown. This will be no different. Let's celebrate his deep pockets, for at least this project, in getting development done. He won't need 83 layers of financing like certain pet projects in Midtown.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

Maroun may go down as the greatest slumlord in Detroit history when he dies due to the train station - but poor he is not. He's on the billionaire Forbes list because his companies [[e.g. Central Transport and numerous trucking/logistic companies etc) employ tens of thousands of people here in Detroit/Warren. If he's willing to spend X to build out a spec space for an automotive supplier in this park - I'd be the first to bet $20 it will get done on time and in budget. Think Gilbert and his data server hosting farm in Corktown. This will be no different. Let's celebrate his deep pockets, for at least this project, in getting development done. He won't need 83 layers of financing like certain pet projects in Midtown.

I think your point about Gilbert's data facility is spot on. It's amazing how that went from being announced to started to almost complete, seemingly in no time. If one has deep pockets and the ability to make plans before a project becomes public, it can actually happen soon after the public hears about it. That's just so rare in Detroit, where almost every announced project seems to be a "proposal" in its early stages, and with unsecured financing. For all we know, this could be a shovel ready project.

[belleislerunner]

If one has deep pockets and the ability to make plans before a project becomes public, it can actually happen soon after the public hears about it. That's just so rare in Detroit, where almost every announced project seems to be a "proposal" in its early stages, and with unsecured financing.

Have I told you that Magic Johnson has plans for the State Fair Grounds.

ha
ha
ha

[Wesley Mouch]

Have I told you that Magic Johnson has plans for the State Fair Grounds.

ha
ha
ha

I also heard he has plans for a movie theatre on Woodward, just about where the arena is going.

[bailey]

Maroun may go down as the greatest slumlord in Detroit history when he dies due to the train station - but poor he is not. He's on the billionaire Forbes list because his companies [[e.g. Central Transport and numerous trucking/logistic companies etc) employ tens of thousands of people here in Detroit/Warren. If he's willing to spend X to build out a spec space for an automotive supplier in this park - I'd be the first to bet $20 it will get done on time and in budget. Think Gilbert and his data server hosting farm in Corktown. This will be no different. Let's celebrate his deep pockets, for at least this project, in getting development done. He won't need 83 layers of financing like certain pet projects in Midtown.

The disticntion that causes the skepticism is Dan Gilbert isn't waging a pitched battle over large parcels of public land...and isn't rumored to be involved in closed door negotiations with Duggan over that public land at the same time this out of the blue proposal drops.

call me cynical, but I'm betting there is soon to be an announcement that riverside park is a danger to the Bridge and must be walled off to the public.