Bill Ford: Detroit train station will be place of possibility again
The purchase of the Michigan Central Station brings to life Ford's vision, a vision designed to navigate a changing future rather than falling victim to it.
DETROIT, Mich. - Ford Motor Co. intends to make a renovated Michigan Central Station "the next great anchor in Detroit's comeback" and the center that restores Detroit's place as the "mobility capital of the world."
The train station, long a symbol of the city's demise, will be transformed to be a symbol that "Detroit is open for business for good," company Chairman Bill Ford said Tuesday as thousands gathered for Ford's celebration of its purchase of the iconic building at the west edge of Corktown.
"For 76 years, the train station was our Ellis Island," Bill Ford said in assessing the importance of the depot to Detroit. "Once the last train pulled out, it became the symbol that hope left. ... It's time to remake the station into a place of possibility again."
He added: “Michigan Central Station is a place that in many ways tells the story of Detroit over the past century. We at Ford want to help write the next chapter, working together in Corktown with the best startups, the smartest talent and the thinkers, engineers and problem-solvers who see things differently — all to shape the future of mobility and transportation.”
Bill Ford Jr. talks about Ford buying the Michigan Central Station and his plans for its future. (Video: Eric Seals)
The acquisition of Michigan Central Station comes alongside the company’s purchase of the former Detroit Public Schools Book Depository, 2 acres of vacant land, the site of an old brass factory and the previous purchase of a refurbished former factory in Corktown, now home to Ford’s electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle business teams, a company statement said.
The release said Ford plans to have at least 1.2 million square feet of space in Corktown, three-quarters of which will be split between the company and its partners.
“We want this to be a community space," Bill Ford said. "We want to bring in local shops and restaurants, entrepreneurs and small businesses. We want everyone to be involved.”
But the business function of the station, besides its branding and recruiting value, will be as the hub of a campus for advanced automotive technology.
Ford will host a community open house on Friday, June 22-Sunday, June 24, for a rare look inside Michigan Central Station before renovations.
Details of the open house will be shared at the company's event at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the train station. The public will be admitted Tuesday on a first come, first served basis, officials said. Registration may be found at: https://fordcorktowncelebration.splashthat.com/
Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-222-6512 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid.
