Michigan Central Station

Done deal:

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/busin ... 689879002/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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....The former Michigan Central Depot, long a symbol of Detroit blight, has been sold to Ford Motor Co.

“This is an exciting time for the city and an exciting time for Ford," Ford spokesman Said Deep said. "We look forward to sharing our plans for MCS and for Corktown. And we’ll do all that June 19."

Matthew Moroun, heir to his father's transportation and logistics businesses, provided details of the deal at a Monday morning press conference in front of the towering and blighted former station in the city's Corktown neighborhood.

The train station and the adjacent book depository building that's part of the purchase will be key parts of Ford Motor Co.'s goal to create a Detroit urban campus, according to multiple sources familiar with the plans. Its operations will remain centered in Dearborn. Ford has been amassing properties in Corktown to form a hub for its self-driving and electric vehicle divisions

Time to dispell any notions of any rail passenger service using the facility, but for myself, as one who visits Detroit "every year or two", it will be interesting, and exciting, to see this hulk (OK, it's secured; but still an eyesore hulk) restored to both physical presence and vitality last seen during the 1920's.

Now what remains; will Henry's signature (it really isn't, but makes for a nice story) adorn the rooftop?

Detroit's old train station sold to Ford for redevelopment

DETROIT — Owners of Detroit's vacant, hulking 105-year-old Michigan Central Station announced Monday that they've sold the iconic symbol of Detroit's fall from greatness to Ford Motor Co. for redevelopment.

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/re ... evelopment" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It’s really lovely to see reinvestment in Detroit from a company that symbolizes Detroit. Kind of makes me wish I’d invested in a vacant lot at the nadir, and makes me consider whether I’d like to live there in the future.

And Ford would do well to leave space for a small passenger platform & waiting room either in or next to the building, even if it has no immediate plans. It doesn’t hurt the company at all, and could be a big sign of goodwill to the community and across the border. They seem like a potentially strong supporter of LRT to downtown too.

Mod note: moved to Amtrak for merge with existing MCS topic.

Also, agreed.

Regarding Mr. Stephens' immediate, "there's talk" of a streetcar line from MCS (Corktown) to Downtown:

http://www.dailydetroit.com/2017/09/11/ ... s-detroit/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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..The latest hint of a new QLINE route would be from downtown to the old Michigan Central Train Station, as Matthew Maroun (the son of Billionaire Matty Maroun) hinted in a long interview interview with Crain’s as part of their coverage for their Homecoming event being held in said train station.

The basic idea is use the station for what it was built for – a train station – to connect Detroit to Metro Airport. Then the historic depot would be connected to downtown via streetcar..

Come to think of it, there is, or at least when I last checked, no jitney "Limo" service from the Airport to Downtown.

In Today's New York Times, this article appears front page Business section "below the fold" and is referenced with a photo on Page 1:

http://nytimes.com/2018/06/17/business/ ... ation.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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..DETROIT — For the past year, Ford Motor has been working on a plan to reinvigorate its operations and jump-start profit growth. Now, as that strategy is just being put into place, the automaker is taking on another big renovation project: the city of Detroit and the hulking remains of its dilapidated train station.

Ford has purchased the Michigan Central Station, the abandoned and graffiti-covered 18-story office tower and train station that looms over the Corktown neighborhood. With its smashed and darkened windows, the station had long stood as the most recognizable symbol of Detroit’s decades of decline

This is a heck of a photo from the article & shows you how far they have to go: I found it really interesting how much support that Ford says the state plans to give toward this renovation. Considering how helpful it will be to Corktown, Detroit, and the entire region, their contributions make sense.

Come to think of it, there is, or at least when I last checked, no jitney "Limo" service from the Airport to Downtown.

Actually if you don't mind your luggage in the seat next to you there is the FAST 261 bus.

http://www.smartbus.org/Schedules/Route-Schedules" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Works for Dearborn to DTW and Dearborn to Comerica for Detroit Tiger Games.

Tony

Uber is fast and cheap in Detroit from the airport. Traffic isn't all that bad, either. There's no real need for a jitney these days. You might find a casino shuttle to downtown however.

https://m.metrotimes.com/news-hits/arch ... d-for-free" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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..This weekend may be your first or last chance to peep at Michigan Central Station — ruin porn's favorite centerfold — before extensive renovations are underway.

As a part of Ford Motor Co.'s welcome celebration on the lawn of the newly purchased building on Tuesday morning, it was announced that the automaker will be offering free tours of the depot's Grand Hall this weekend. In addition to the tour, visitors will have an opportunity at a first glimpse at an unreleased documentary about the historic building and are encouraged to explore an exhibit curated by Ford and the Detroit Historical Society. It's the first time the train station has been open to the general public in... well, a very long time.

By the time I got to see MCS, the main hall had been walled off. I was there mid-70's on MILW business, but that was to the PC offices still located there.

Personally I don't think there will be passenger service to MCS again. However, it's worth noting that if Ford Motor wants to run a shuttle between Dearborn and MCS, then there will be a shuttle between Dearborn and MCS. Given the amount of $$ that Ford pays the Class I's, NS would probably happily send the OCS to provide the service if they wanted it.

This really caught my attention:

"That question is a lot bigger than I am," Dubensky said in an interview. "But one of the things I can tell you we will do for sure is that when we redo the station, we will ensure that we protect four passenger tracks. Right now, there's two freight rail lines that run behind the station, and when we redo the back of the station, we'll ensure that whatever we do, we'll have the capability to bring passenger rail through there again.

Welcome back, Mr. O'Keefe

Makes sense to protect the passenger capability, since that means another renter - either Amtrak or whatever passes for SEMTA these days. Now if FoMoCo has some sense, they’ll purchase a share of the Detroit River Tunnel at whatever price it bottoms out at, and prepare for the end of the trade wars.

Gilbert B Norman wrote:Welcome back, Mr. O'Keefe

Nice to be missed. My pleasure Mr. Norman.