Not a particularly profound point, but It’s pretty cool if the old train station does actually get restored finally.
It was one of the coolest buildings in the Detroit area, and it has been really depressing watch it slowly decay over the years. (Slowly is only because it has tons of heavily reinforced concrete).
It’s owned by an ancient billionaire who is a straight-up dick for the most part, and it seems pretty clear that he is only doing the minimum necessary at the slowest rate allowed to keep his absurd dream of a third bridge to Canada alive, but if it does get saved, or at the least stop deteriorating any more, that would be pretty sweet.
I have no idea what useful purpose it could serve these days, but saving the architectural gems from Detroit’s golden days is worth it of itself IMO.
Basic info:
It would be wonderful if this iconic building could be restored, but the whole neighbourhood needs to be renovated too. It’s a pity, because it’s on the main road between downtown Detroit and Dearborn, both of which are in pretty good shape and attract visitors. (And that situation is why I’ve driven many times past the station, and thought what a tragedy it currently is.)
a/ As recently as '09 the scoundrels of the City Council wanted to destroy it.
b/ The top floors were never used, so why were they built ?
c/ Why the hell are businessmen permitted to buy vast properties and leave them empty for decades, claiming money’s unimportant, they are striving for the right use ?
Mr. Maroun purchased it in 1996.
Why not turn it into a cultural centre for Detroitards ? Art Museum, Science Museum, History Museum, Crime Museum, Art Gallery, other commercial galleries, free artist studios at the top for $1 rents, jewellers, gallerias, craftsmen shops, bespoke gunsmiths, cafes and restaurants, chemistry demonstrations, balloon rides, local governance by the inhabitants free from the City, libraries, cinemas, a theater or two, fountains, lectures on fine art, visiting travelling exhibitions, bowling rinks…
It would probably pay for itself in a few years. Quicker if, whilst crime was discouraged by the local government ( such as mugging or shop-lifting ) a laxer policy was adopted to discreet private substance use.
Owning private property is a right, not something that has to be continually justified. That said…
Matty Moroun is a grade-A+++ asshole and every day he isn’t in a prison cell is some kind of curse wrought upon the earth for its wickedness. Hopefully his bridge monopoly being busted sends him on a spiral into bankruptcy.
Cities that are having serious trouble paying for things like teachers, firefighters, and running water don’t have the luxury of operating money pits like that. Even if such a shopping mall/museum/commune hybrid was profitable (which I seriously doubt), Detroit probably doesn’t have the money to float such enterprises loans of any term.
Even were that true, which is fairly doubtful if a corporation bought up 50% of a town centre and laid it waste, when it comes to 500,000 sq ft of building, a town would be justified in prodding the owner with threats of compulsory purchase over the long decades. Maybe Mr. Maroun should have had to find a use before being allowed to purchase it.
I’m sure the New York property market and authorities would not have tolerated this as long as has Detroit. I would agree with you, and not say a word, if Mr. Maroun had left it clear as a nature park because he liked the pretty birdies; or if he used it for storage; or if he just liked ‘The Pleasure of Ruins’, which is a very Detroit thing. But the fact he purchased it for commercial reasons and is too inept to find a use over 20 years means control should be wrested away with compensation. This is not a large shop.
Well, I see he’s 88, which indicates the care of time will take care of things, and I’d hate to send someone that old back to jail; on the other hand, he’s got children to continue his life’s work…
One thing from his wiki puzzled me: * Critics suggest that Moroun’s opposition is fueled by the prospect of lost profits from duty-free gasoline sales at the bridge. These are exempt from about 60 cents per gallon in taxes although the pump price to consumers is only a few cents lower*.
How is it worthwhile to buy duty-free if the profit is frozen on to by the seller ?
The City, or any other branch of government, need not be involved: just appoint one of those ‘City Managers’ America sometimes has in place of local government, part barker, part administrator, a cultured Trump if you will, and let him build it up through private finance, without thought of enriching himself. Many a skilled retiree wanting something to do would be adequate. * The only overheads should be maintenance and administration, without commercial profit.
I would point out that if doing this returned $1000 a year, that would be more than has come from leaving it empty for 20 years; and if those studios are let at $1 a year, that’s still more than has ever been made before, since those upper stories were never occupied.
Just trust the Detroitards not to turn it into Kowloon Walled City: have faith in the common people.
Whilst admiring much of Americana, I have never felt her bureaucracies were terribly efficient. Local government can be effective elsewhere, a la Joe Chamberlain and Birmingham ( England ), and even in America during the Progressive Era, but now it would be an encumbrance.
Mostly trucks. The bridge is heavily trafficked by trucks, and 5 cents a gallon makes a huge difference to fleets who buy thousands of gallons there a day. But those 55 cents per gallon into Matty’s pocket make it very profitable for the bastard.
I find it hard to call him a bastard for simply looking out for his own best interests. Yeah, publicity, opposition to the governments funded bridges, but it’s not like he’s done anything evil. His companies employ thousands!
New York has a property market. Detroit has acres upon acres of very cheap land that nobody wants.
So, find a random billionaire, appoint him to turn some building into a museum commune, and the great deal he gets is that it can’t turn a profit and “only” has to pay for maintenance and administration on a gigantic dilapidated building.
So, yeah, if you live in the trendy downtown core, it’s no longer a wasteland. But for the vast majority of the population, and the vaster, vaster majority of its area, it’s still a sad, depressing place. I know, you have to start somewhere, but if you’re only appealing to white trendsetters, it’s not a real improvement. I drive through “real” neighborhoods every day, and it depresses the hell out of me.