The sprawling, ruinous Packard Plant in Detroit saw new life today as 40 people took part in the inaugural Pure Detroit tour on Saturday.

That's a far cry from the 40,000 workers the automotive plant held at its height, but it's a start, said Dan Brennan, director of operations for Pure Detroit, which has started offering weekly tours of the factory on Detroit's near east side.

"There are a lot of future plans for the Packard Plant," he told the group. "This is not just about how it looks right now."

Hard hats fastened and cameras in tow, the group navigated concrete blocks and rubble as they explored the hollowed-out structure, tagged with graffiti and littered with everything from tires to forgotten props from Hollywood sets.

"This is bringing more awareness to the city's history," said Amanda Graziano, 32, who grew up in the Detroit area and was visiting from her home in Montana. "It brings a greater appreciation to all the city's gone through."

Duane Mezwa, 63, and wife Vera, 62, grew up in nearby Hamtramck and remember frequenting the long-shuttered A&P supermarket next to the Packard complex. Vera said this was the first time she had returned since moving away when she was 21 years old.

"It was so alive back then," she said, scanning the crumbling structures as her husband snapped photographs. "Now it's a ghost town. If I hadn't seen the street signs, I wouldn't recognize any of it."

The tour was led by Brennan and Michael Boettcher, who is an urban planner for Macomb County.

Much of the 1-2 mile walk was confined to the ground level outside of structures and many areas were coned or taped off due to asbestos and other hazards. However, the group was led onto the second floor of the 150,000-square-foot administration building being redeveloped into office space on the west side of the complex.

Arte Express Detroit LLC, the local holding company of a Peruvian developer, bought the complex in 2013 and has expressed ambitious plans for its redevelopment. With several tenants already committed, office space at the administration building could open in the complex as early as 2019.

Until then, Brennan said he intends to continue hosting tours every Saturday until the winter months and pick back up with them in the spring. The tour will eventually expand to other areas of the plant as the city and engineers clear it for safety.

"It's these types of projects that bring retail and training centers and attention to the neighborhoods," he said. "It doesn't happen overnight."