Packard Plant

Everybody thinks of the ruins of the Packard plant when they picture the downfall Detroit. I love to showcase the good things going on in the city, but that’s no reason to hide the past.

First of all, on my way there was a mural for the MC5. I rarely meet anybody who knows who they are so it’s cool to see a bit of a memorial to them. They’re a local band who formed in 1964 and they are considered one of the most important American rock bands of their era. Their sound was regarded as sort of pre-punk, similar to Iggy Pop. They’ve been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame four times.

Anyway, I was headed to the Packard Plant. Albert Kahn designed the plant to build luxury Packards and later Studebakers. It was opened in 1903 and time hasn’t been kind.

The plant sits on 40 acres and hasn’t made a car since 1958. Scrappers and graffiti artists have had fun ever since. At one time raves and techno parties were held in the basements.

One side of the plant faces the Trinity Cemetery on Mt. Elliott.

It’s kind of sad to think that people are interred next to the decaying icon of Detroit’s past.

Earlier this year, on January 23rd, 2019, the bridge over Grand Boulevard collapsed. You can see the bridge in the start of the first episode of season 3 of Amazon’s Grand Tour.

There’s been talk of renovating the buildings and turning them into everything from offices to residences to retail. I’ve heard that there’s been a tour of the first phase of the project but I couldn’t figure out where that was when I visited. I think more research is in order.

~ Freddy