

Image from drone camera coverage courtesy of Detroit Drone.

According to a report from the Detroit Free Press yesterday, Fernando Palazuelo the new owner of the Packard Plant complex is moving ahead with his plans to clean up the industrial remains. He is starting within the next few weeks to clear up debris and broken concrete around the old Packard administrative office building and the red brick bridge that crosses East Grand Boulevard.



Photo of the Packard Plant and bridge in the 1950s

After the initial clean up, his plans call for restoring the original four-story Packard Office Buildings and the brick bridge that crosses East Grand Boulevard. He has retained Albert Kahn Associates, the company that designed the original buildings to handle all of the architectural details.

Palazuelo plans on restoring some of the original structures and redeveloping the area for both commercial and cultural uses. He is hopeful that tax credits will be obtainable for preserving the historic site and brownfield clean-up assistance will also help with some of the funding. Plans for the rest of the site are unclear, but the developer has mentioned that a second phase will come later.



Packard Plant Number Ten under construction circa 1910.

We have not found any mention yet as to what will be the fate the remaining buildings on the complex that are crumbling and mostly well beyond any repair. We are hopeful his efforts are successful and a least a portion of the once famous facility can be saved. See our earlier coverage from last year where you can see an amazing video taken by a drone cam here. You can also learn more at the Detroit Free Press. The photos from the Rod Blood Collection are courtesy of The Larz Anderson Museum.