Owner to demolish iconic Packard Plant

[LMich]

Finally, though, the $6 million price tag seems low. On second thought, so much of it is already on the ground in pieces, that they basically just have to haul it away. lol

Donna Terek | The Detroit News

Owner to demolish iconic Packard Plant

by Christian MacDonald & Louis Aguilar | The Detroit News

March 2, 2012

Detroit — The purported owner of the Packard Plant says he is days away from starting to barricade and fence off the 3.5-million-square-foot eyesore as a part of his plan to demolish one of the city's most iconic ruins.

Dominic Cristini said Thursday he has hired a demolition firm and plans on applying for permits in the next several days to secure the sprawling, dilapidated plant on East Grand Boulevard near Concord. Cristini, who claims he's the sole owner through his company, Bioresource, said he wants to start the demolition process within a month.

"I am going to demolish the building," Cristini said. "It's unsafe, and it's got to come down. I don't want anybody to get hurt. I am just trying to do the right and responsible thing."

He estimates it will cost $6 million to raze the Albert Kahn-designed plant built by the luxury automaker that went out of business in 1958, adding that recovered scrap metal will offset the cost.

A small crew from AVC Services based in Harrison Township was onsite Thursday, assessing ways to cut it off from the constant stream of scavengers, homeless and artists who have made it a popular underground site for years.

"We are going to see if it is possible to secure it," Mike Carlumsto of AVC said Thursday.

Cristini said they may try to save portions of the plant for historical value but isn't sure whether that is possible.

Detroit officials said Thursday the plant has already gone through demolition hearings and was ordered down in April 2011.

The sprawling plant has been ravaged by time, the elements and scavengers, but it continues to attract admirers.

"In a sick way, it's incredibly beautiful," freelance photographer Casey Carlton said Thursday as she explored the edges of Packard.

[fishrose]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Cleveland Brown]

Great! It's only been closed 50 years or so...

[DecoJim]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Brown

Great! It's only been closed 50 years or so...

Actually, while the Packard Company has been gone for that long, some of the buildings were in use until less than 5 years ago. The facility had been renamed "Motor City Industrial Park" after Packard went bankrupt and space was leased to a number of tenants who gradually dwindled in number. In 2010 that number became zero. Most of the damage to the plant was done in the last few years. Prior to that the windows were pretty much intact.