Michigan Central Depot article

[vonhammer_87]

Just was doing some research on the Michigan Central Depot, and came across this article in the Railway Age Gazette from January 9, 1914 about the depot and its construction, the neat thing is that they include some of the architectural drawings.

Note - the article is in PDF format.

http://www.michiganrailroads.com/RR...StationAtDetroit[RailwayAgeGazette010914].pdf

 

[LoudTrain]

Preservation Status?

I keep hearing that they are going to tear it down. An article I read about 2 years ago made it sound immanent. Has any progress been made on preserving (or better yet restoring it)?

-- Russ

 

[illinoiscentral]

I've heard there is a lot of gang problems in the neighborhood, most of the homes around it are burnt out and empty.
However, it would be neat to see the building turned into office space/condos and the neighborhood around it redeveloped.


My Thoughts,
Woody

 

[RooRocz]

I keep hearing that they are going to tear it down. An article I read about 2 years ago made it sound immanent. Has any progress been made on preserving (or better yet restoring it)?

-- Russ

The city tried to tear it down with federal emergency grants, then someone sued them to stop the demolition because you can't use federal money to demolish a building on the National Register of Historic Places. So they didn't demolish it.

It's unlikely that they would demolish the depot. It's too expensive, and pretty soon Detroit is going to need a hell of a train station what with this high-speed rail plan and all.

 

[UP5521]

if they had torn it down,that piece of railroad history would have been lost forever but it is great to see that did not happen!

 

[vonhammer_87]

Well, just wanted to say that the station is under private ownership by Manuel "Matty" Moroun (wiki link below)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Moroun

Anyway as RooRocz stated, it wouldn't be cost effective to demolish the structre. Besides it's all ready structurally sound. The one downside to the depots location is that there's limited parking available since at the time it was built you got there by interurban or trolley.