An ambitious and multifaceted development plan featuring housing, manufacturing, an indoor skate park and a techno music museum has been proposed for the site of the former Packard Plant factory in Detroit that recently was demolished.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Monday, Dec. 1, joined with Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield and the plan’s local developers — Mark Bennett and Oren Goldenberg — to announce the signing of a letter of intent with the developers and unveil the project, which would cover 28 acres on the southern half of the 40-plus acre property.
Many critical details, including costs and potential development subsidies, are still being worked out, but the development team could break ground as early as 2027 and finish in 2029.
Packard Park’s vision: Industrial, housing, inspiration
The overall project, called Packard Park, is described as a “public-private-philanthropic partnership” that will also include the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation and the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. or DEGC. Albert Kahn Associates — the namesake firm of the plant’s original architect — would be the new project’s architect.
“They are going to take a historic site and create a destination right here on Grand Boulevard,” Duggan said at the announcement, which took place in a heated tent next to the site on the city’s east side south of I-94 near East Grand Boulevard…