They're demolishing Michigan Central Depot- DAMMIT

From too many years of working with the government at the Federal, State and local levels. Diversions are very common.
 
Euphod said:
I have to wonder why the building is a target anyway, is the board just trying to do something to justify their existence?
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Politics. The owner of the building also owns the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor. He wants to build another privately owned bridge beside the existing bridge.
But the government wants to build a new bridge downriver which he would not own.
He's asked his Representative in Congress to block funding for the project in next year's federal budget.
The Representative serves on the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee.
The Representative in Congress is the mother of ousted mayor Kwame
Kilpatrick.
 
It would have made a nice hotel. Where does AMTRAK stop now in the Motor City? An Amshack? Didn't the long defunct GT commuter train to Pontiac use this station? The whole city is going to (insert choice words here). What do the Canadians think of us Americans when they cross the bridge or tunnel? How is Windsor, Ontario? Is it much nicer? They have a new casino. There is a Detroit-Windsor route for Trainz.

var geo_Partner = 'e4f5c72a-6083-499d-94f4-929aa4d23e06'; var geo_isCG = true;
 
Last edited:
Reduce - what else can unrecycled rubble do?
Reuse - you might think about turning it into a future Commuter rail station.
Recycle - What can the remains be recycled into?
 
I'm sorry to say this guys, but it's in no condition to be rebuilt.

detroit_01.jpg


michbooksepo1.jpg


michigan-central-station-interior-by-islandphotobug.png


As you can see in the above pictures, there's no earthly way that you could rebuild it, since the roof is simply GONE in many places, and floors have collapsed in on themselves. A large portion of the building is simply condemned, and not safe for entry by any standards; what's more several "urban explorers" have died trying to explore the building, the most recent one killed when a portion of the floor gave way and they fell through to the basement below.
 
rwk said:
It would have made a nice hotel. Where does AMTRAK stop now in the Motor City? An Amshack? Didn't the long defunct GT commuter train to Pontiac use this station? The whole city is going to (insert choice words here). What do the Canadians think of us Americans when they cross the bridge or tunnel? How is Windsor, Ontario? Is it much nicer? They have a new casino. There is a Detroit-Windsor route for Trainz.

var geo_Partner = 'e4f5c72a-6083-499d-94f4-929aa4d23e06'; var geo_isCG = true;
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The current DET Amtrak station:
http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/detroit.htm

peter
 
legolistic said:
Reduce - what else can unrecycled rubble do?
Reuse - you might think about turning it into a future Commuter rail station.
Recycle - What can the remains be recycled into?
Click to expand...


I agree. They should turn it into a commuter rail station and a Michigan Railroad Museum.
 
A bunch of Idiots a few years ago brought up a proposal to demolish Union Station of Denver, convert the area to Condo's. There was nothing in the plan about what to do with the California Zephyr, or the then operating Ski Train, or the UP excursions into town, including the the Annual UP Frontier Days Train with 844

Just knock it down and re-develop. Now mind you, this was a station IN USE by 2 Daily Amtrak Trains, 2 Daily Ski Train (depart, arrive) and numerous excursions.

And on top of that, the 1st Denver Union Station Burned down, the second one burned down, the third one had the middle demolished and rebuilt, so this is the 4th Union Station of Denver that currently exists.

Needless to say, there was very little support for the proposition, and it died a horrible lonely painful death.

RTD later bought the station, and a massive plan is currently underway for it to become the hub of all Rail Activity in and out of Denver, with more Light Rail Service, Rail Service to the Airport, Rail Service North to Golden and Thornton, and Bus Rapid Transit Service to Boulder, all of this going from Union Station.

Plus Amtrak is considering added 2 more daily trains through Denver, giving us 4 daily trains, and Daily Ski Train Service will hopefully come back before too long thanks to efforts by the San Luis and Rio Grande, but not this year
 
magickmaker said:
I'm sorry to say this guys, but it's in no condition to be rebuilt.

As you can see in the above pictures, there's no earthly way that you could rebuild it, since the roof is simply GONE in many places, and floors have collapsed in on themselves. A large portion of the building is simply condemned, and not safe for entry by any standards; what's more several "urban explorers" have died trying to explore the building, the most recent one killed when a portion of the floor gave way and they fell through to the basement below.
Click to expand...

Actually, I think alot of that damage is from when the Transformers were fighting in it!:p
 
magickmaker said:
I'm sorry to say this guys, but it's in no condition to be rebuilt.

As you can see in the above pictures, there's no earthly way that you could rebuild it, since the roof is simply GONE in many places, and floors have collapsed in on themselves.
Click to expand...

I just asked the preservation society about that, turns out that's all not true. The floors have not collapsed, the roof is repairable, and overall, the building is structurally stable.
 
A bit sad but I think all things considered that it is too far gone. I hadn't been aware there was much about Detroit that was outstanding especially in architecture but this was in it's day though. Here we have a system of Listed Buildings at A and B status which gives a better chance of restoration or keeping intact. In fact not that far from me is a church only built in the 1960's and although now empty is perserved as a B Listed. I also know of a minor railway station although still open the closed building is mantained as the oldest in that country of the UK home nations. Pity you folk over the pond don't have a system as we have. It doesn't cover every single building but has saved large numbers.
 
rjhowie said:
A bit sad but I think all things considered that it is too far gone. I hadn't been aware there was much about Detroit that was outstanding especially in architecture but this was in it's day though. Here we have a system of Listed Buildings at A and B status which gives a better chance of restoration or keeping intact. In fact not that far from me is a church only built in the 1960's and although now empty is perserved as a B Listed. I also know of a minor railway station although still open the closed building is mantained as the oldest in that country of the UK home nations. Pity you folk over the pond don't have a system as we have. It doesn't cover every single building but has saved large numbers.
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There is a system in place here in the US. It's called the National Register of Historic Places. There are 100's if not 1000s of buildings registered. The thing is the people need to register the buildings, and sadly if the building is in a crappy area, well that's when it's forgotten.

Still not knocked down yet is the old Buffalo NY NYC Terminal, which is supposedly being restored to its grand character many decades ago. No train stops there now, but I wonder if they may. Probably not, it'll become a shopping mall instead.

As I mentioned Worcester Union Station has been rebuilt, so has Mechanics Hall in Worcester. The famous Grand Central Terminal was renovated and the Tiffany glass was cleaned. Boston has its collection of historic buildings too such as Trinity Church in Copley Square. The Boston Public Library, Symphony Hall, and many other places.

It's all matter of civic pride, and how much the people feel about the place where they live.

John
 
JCitron said:
Still not knocked down yet is the old Buffalo NY NYC Terminal, which is supposedly being restored to its grand character many decades ago. No train stops there now, but I wonder if they may. Probably not, it'll become a shopping mall instead.

John
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At least it's not demolished! They should make it a train station and mall, like most big airports!
 
springtransit said:
At least it's not demolished! They should make it a train station and mall, like most big airports!
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I agree! They did that with Worcester Union Station which is a big inter-modal station with Amtrak, and the MBTA, plus local buses. There are a also a bunch of shops in there as well.

The same with the Providence Union Station

http://www.artinruins.com/arch/?id=stillinuse&pr=unionstation

which also was in bad shape a few years ago.

This is an interesting website.

http://www.artinruins.com/


It would be a shame to see the Michigan Central station go down.

John
 
MI Central, Detroit isn't going to be demolished. It's protected on the National Register of Historical places.

peter
 
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