Comments on: Knucklehead Politicians Want to Tear Down Beautiful Train Station

By: Abe

Abe — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:16:05 +0000

Nah, Brian there is no need to tear it down- if Detroit’s immediate needs are improving schools and basic services, they sure as hell don’t need to spend money leveling something because of image. Amazingly enough, the hulking thing is not structurally deficient. Detroit is already talking about downsizing anyways, and now they have an opportunity to reshape the city. Corktown isn’t completely deserted– take that three mile streetcar they want to build on the giant, now almost deserted main drag. Yes, I know, it’s ironic that it the proposed line is the same length as that silly downtown circulator, but what isn’t silly is that Portland, OR was able to completely revitalize a once (dead) industrial neighborhood by simply building. a. streetcar. It takes a good bit of imagination, and perhaps naivety to see the possibility, but that station doesn’t HAVE to be isolated from downtown in the future- downtown could come to it. If Detroit actually spends money tearing the giant thing down because it is scared of image, not only is the money wasted at a crucial moment on vanity, but there will be sincere regret in the future if it goes the way of Penn Station. We can’t build stuff like this anymore, and I’d say our culture in the long run is more important than the so called ‘practicality’ of the moment.

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:09:07 +0000

Tear the station down. Sure it was once grand but now it advertises Detroit’s advanced decline.

The problem is location. Its isolated location (away from downtown) limits the ability to attract office tenants. The owners of this building when it was still in use - had problems with profitably operating this building.

A massive subsidy to bring this building back is unlikely as local, state and federal governments are strapped. Detroit’s immediate needs are more important like improving schools and basic services.

Tear this one down.

By: dwbi

dwbi — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:55:55 +0000

politicians and there selfish minds..so lets start tearing down historical buildings..is the white house next, or how about the lincoln monument..i thought politicians work hard for their city.. i guess not since lets jus take the lazy and easy route o lets tear it down so we dont have to bother with it any more instead of putting hard work in and making something remarkable and could be a new chapter in history..basicly their saying fuk detroit and its people..well u know wat im one of those people

By: gabe

gabe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:27:21 +0000

Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, and LA, all have historic train stations , that are also some of the bissiest in the country, its crazy to tare down a building just beccuse its “2009″ when it can be restored to a station/office building, that will bring money in to your city. To bad you could not save Tigers Stadium.

By: Brandy

Brandy — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:27:09 +0000

This building is a part of this city’s history & Identity it would be a shame if they destroyed some thing that is so beautiful. To be honest its tragic & appalling

By: cevemeve

cevemeve — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:41:29 +0000

Is Trey opinion representative? Is this how americans look at life? Instead of caring, abandone it and then, instead of cleaning and restore, put it down? Childish… Is this the reason why they need to go to Europe to see the roots of culture, or go to Las Vegas or Disney to see faked buildings? Because they turn down everything that is older than some decades? Is that the way they decide how to manage urban spaces? By saying “I”? “I want it down” “I don’t like it so put it down”… There must certainly be a reason, an economic one, somebody in Detroit is trying to take advantage… Otherwise I can’t understand how destroying can be better than restoring.

By: Demolished! 11 Beautiful Train Stations That Fell To The Wrecking Ball » INFRASTRUCTURIST

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:21:40 +0000

[...] other stations on this list, Michigan Central is still standing. But if the Detroit city council gets its way the station, which was the 1912 encore act by the same team of architects that designed NYC’s [...]

By: Trey

Trey — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:47:59 +0000

I am so glad they are tearing this building down. This structure Is filthy, nasty, abandoned and down right atrocius! Move On Detroit! PERIOD! In case you all have’nt noticed It Is 2009!

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 18 May 2009 01:35:59 +0000

Maybe they should think about the jobs that could be given by restoring it…. ::sigh:: I wish that they would realize the potential instead of trying to destroy the beauty that once was. Restoring this to its original beauty could be the turnaround the people of Detroit need. Maybe it could bring a little hope to the city.

By: Down with Detroit

Down with Detroit — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:01:50 +0000

All politicians are knuckle heads.

By: First Time to MCS

First Time to MCS — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:26:33 +0000

This past weekend was my first time to actually stand in front of the Old MCS. What a beautiful building with wonderful history! You don’t find inspiring buildings like that everyday. It actually has a power that draws people to it. The architecture is incredible and so amazingly beautiful. The building itself tells us a story of long ago and even not so long ago. It would be a crying shame to see this building demolished. Let’s restore Detroit to be the beautiful city it once was and let’s all work together to accomplish this goal. NO MORE EXCUSES CITY COUNCIL… DO YOUR JOB AND HELP US RESTORE OUR GREAT CITY!

By: Morgan

Morgan — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:34:36 +0000

Ok.. so casinos didn’t fix detroit. they made it worse.
Ok.. Tearing down a lot of detroit’s architectual history to build a bunch of new (awful) stadiums didn’t help detroit. god are those things ugly.
Ok.. wait, you want to build a highspeed rail to lansing.. what the fuck. i get that it’s the capital and all… but really? you been there? it doesn’t need a train… maybe a seperate bus lane or an hov lane.. chicago anyone? fuck.. new york?

what the hell man. BUILD STUFF IN THE HUNDREDS OF EMPTY LOTS ALL OVER DETROIT…

please you idiots, stop tearing structurally sound stuff down… it’s not that people want to live places other than detroit because there are abandoned buildings, they don’t want to live there because it’s crime riddled, it’s streets suck, there are no jobs, the taxes are astronomical, the city govt is corrupt, the cops don’t give a shit, the schools suck and on and on and on… try making a fucking plan and fixing the problem long term for once instead of trying to make a bunch of idiots happy and stuff the wallet of your buddy who owns a demolition company.

it’s like they hand out crack when you become a city offical.

By: The Square » Blog Archive » I AM YELLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Square » Blog Archive » I AM YELLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:03:40 +0000

[...] I was shouting because I CAN’T BELIEVE THEY ARE GOING TO USE STIMULUS MONEY TO TEAR DOWN THE DETROIT TRAIN STATIONONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, “I WANT IT [...]

By: Dan Qualy

Dan Qualy — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:45:55 +0000

I’m assuming the Detroit City Council was at lunch when President Obama announced his plan for a new high-speed rail system in America. Imagine coming TO Detroit and getting off that high-speed train and entering the grand Michigan Central Station as renovated! THAT’S the kind of first impression they need to give visitors coming to a city otherwise so grim!

While Detroit is one thing, my hometown of Minneapolis is another. Besides Detroit, I don’t think any other city in America has suffered so greatly from the shortsightedness in tearing down old buildings. I love my city, but I’m utterly ashamed when I see all the grand places in Minneapolis that disappeared in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

It’s 2009 - learn from the past! Please don’t make the same mistake!

PLEASE SAVE THIS BUILDING!!

By: Streetsblog » Today’s Headlines

Streetsblog » Today’s Headlines — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:33:30 +0000

[...] Detroit Pols Want to Tear Down Historic Michigan Central Station (Infrastructurist) [...]

By: Insanity in Detroit « Political Boulevards

Insanity in Detroit « Political Boulevards — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:52:55 +0000

[...] Not surprising, really, but have a look at this. [...]