DETROIT – The Packard Plant in Detroit has been an eyesore for decades.
What was once a symbol of Detroit’s decline is finally coming down to the ground. A new phase of demolition began Monday, March 4. Due to its immense size, the 3.5 million square foot facility will be demolished in phases.
Projects for the land are already underway.
“It’s not enough to knock things down. And so our economic development department in the next two months is going to be putting out proposals for a new auto supplier for this site,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “We are just yards away from GM’s Factory ZERO and we are gonna covert this from an abandoned building to a vibrant employment center over the next two years.”
Money for the project came from the American Rescue Plan Act.
“Because of Joe Biden and the American Rescue {lan, Detroit has resources that it’s never had,” Duggan said.
The city is saving one portion of the Albert Kahn-designed facility to keep the legacy of the building alive. After all, the Packard Plant was a powerhouse decades ago before stopping production in 1956. But it soon became an eyesore and cruel reminder of the city’s blight problem.
“68 years ago, Packard Motors stopped operating in this plant and for 68 years, the ruins of this building have been a weight around the neck of Detroit’s recovery,” Duggan said.
After years of decay, the tear-down process started in September as an initial emergency demolition. Now people nearby are happy to see it making its way out of here.
“On behalf of the residents of District 5, we are proud to see the city’s commitment, our commitment, the council’s commitment, the demolition department, all that are here today to say that we’re going continue to redevelop this site and make delete that it is put to productive use,” said Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield
The city is planning to tear down more parcels after.