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New use floated for Michigan Central Station
Casino/hotel/convention center comes to mind. But then again, it’s in Detroit.
Detroit already has a convention centre and two casinos, so that market is probably oversaturated for now.
Still, anything has to be better than home base for the enemy technology.
Having a constant business purpose provides the security that will keep it from falling into disrepair again. I laud the Maroun family enterprise for making this commitment to the region.
This is one of the most amazing pieces of architecture in Detroit. It’s been an eyesore and a sad daily reminder of the status of the city since it was abandoned. Mr. Maroun Sr. in a billionaire, yes, that starts with a “b”. He could have cemented a legacy by restoring this building decades ago at a far lower cost. I’m glad to see his son at least considering doing something with it since his father won’t.
Anyone old enough to remember the great debate of the 1960’s prior to Amtrak, having to do with the comparison of USA and European passenger rail models, will recall the dollar figure for rail subsidy was the magic number of a billion, ie., that countries in western Europe, by nation, were spending that sum to maintain very complete service. Think about it. Go to the present, or the past decades of Amtrak. All the major, central cities terminals in the euro-zone are intact or have been restored after WW2 bomb (our bombs) damage. That is the primary reason why the magnificent structure in Detroit shames us.
I would love to see this old building fixed up.
These photographs indicate it might be an extremely expensive project.
http://www.citrusmilo.com/mcs/depot01.cfm
After many years of neglect, it is time to fix and use this beautiful building, keeping with the renewal efforts of the rest of downtown Detroit. Re-using this site both for offices, condos, hotel and street commercial projects, as well as restoring it as a train and transit center, makes a good mix with the potential to succeed financially.