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The Metro: The life and legacy of the Packard Plant

✇WDET 101.9 FM
Cary Junior II

After decades of decay, Detroit’s historic Packard Plant could be on the road to redevelopment.

The city announced a letter of intent with a developer to give 28-acres of the site new life. The plant as a whole has been a significant structure throughout Detroit’s history. It has seen the heights of the automotive boom and the consequences of disinvestment and neglect. 

When auto manufacturing operations at the plant came to an end in the mid-20th century, another generation reimagined the space. So which moments deserve to be preserved in its next chapter? 

Dave Marchioni, the industrial and automotive curator at the Detroit Historical Society, and John Lauter, Packard Plant historian, revisit key moments throughout it’s history. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Support local journalism.

WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

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The post The Metro: The life and legacy of the Packard Plant appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: The ruin and rebirth of Detroit’s Packard Plant

✇WDET 101.9 FM
Sam Corey

To some, the story of the Packard Plant mirrors that of Detroit. Built in the early 1900s, the building was a major site of auto manufacturing in the city until the mid-1950s, when the plant closed. 

But that didn’t spell the end for the Packard Plant. The building continued to house industrial and commercial tenants into the 1990s, and was even home to some legendary Detroit raves. 

After a 2022 court order, large parts of the Packard Plant were demolished. What’s left are massive concrete frames and outer shells. No windows. No interiors. No machinery. Just structure. The site isn’t really a factory anymore. It’s a ruin. And now, two developers say they want to give that ruin new life.

What are the plans for the redeveloped plant? And what will it take to make those changes happen?

Developers Mark Bennett and Oren Goldenberg spoke with The Metro‘s Robyn Vincent about that and more.

 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Support local journalism.

WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.

More stories from The Metro

The post The Metro: The ruin and rebirth of Detroit’s Packard Plant appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

Detroit unveils proposal to redevelop part of Packard Plant into housing, indoor skate park, museum, and more

✇Detroit Metro Times
Steve Neavling

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Monday announced an ambitious plan to transform 28 acres of the long-abandoned Packard Plant into a mixed-use district with housing, manufacturing, and cultural space.

The post Detroit unveils proposal to redevelop part of Packard Plant into housing, indoor skate park, museum, and more appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.

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