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Below is a link to a Detroit News article about the completion of the demolition at the PMCC plant – only 2 buildings have been left standing. Be sure to click onto the video in the article from 2021. It will give you a “before” prospective.

A photo is attached – looking toward the NW, showing the intersection of East Grand Boulevard and Concord Avenue.

Very glad the Packard Motor Car Foundation is saving the Packard Proving Grounds.

detroitnews.com/story/business/2025/03/1 ... m=hero&utm_content=pdtn-e-nletter65

Thanks. Here is a photo from yesterday. The Packard Bridge spot.

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Sad to see but long past time to go. Are the buildings still standing those owned by others and can't be demolished under current laws or a long court fight or is there still some part of a grand scheme of resurrection in play and they were left untouched on purpose..

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Nice Buick! I see someone has good taste!

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The Detroit News article is paywalled, so it can't be read without a subscription.

There are actually more than the two buildings #13 and #27 left. Just across the railroad tracks is building #82, the 1927-28 aircraft engine building. That building is in great condition and is in active use for offices.

South of EGB the only thing left besides #27 is the row of small single floor sheds (buildings #47, 48, 49, 50, 90, and 91) along the railroad track that date to the mid-1910's. These are under private ownership and unless the City can seize them for unpaid taxes, they are out of their control. After the huge outcry created in the 1980's by the seizure of property for redevelopment into GM's Poletown assembly plant, Michigan cities can no longer use Eminent Domain to take land and buildings.

On the north side of EGB and east of the railroad tracks, everything between the #13 Administration Building and the #22 Merlin Engine building has been leveled. Both of the World War II engine buildings along Harper (and now the I-94 Edsel Ford Expressway) are still standing and are in active use. #22 is the home of The Display Group, a company that builds product displays for trade shows, auto shows, etc. The #84 building, which I believe is where the PT boat and other marine engines were built, is now housing the Integrated Packaging Corp. and Fontana Forest Products, both active businesses.

Buildings #83 and #85 are connected to the south end of #84, but are owned by the Catholic order of Capuchin monks. They have been built onto and expanded over the years, and now they serve as part of the headquarters for the Capuchin Soup Kitchen operations.

According to Mr. Pushbutton, there is one more Packard building left at the old plant site. That was the circa 1950 car shipping office and factory delivery building at Mt. Elliott and Medbury. That building appears empty, but it is secure and it looks like it has recently received some paint and other maintenance.

Speaking of upgrades, during yesterday's (March 12, 2025) tour of the area, we noted that the "legendary" (read: infamous) Packard Motel is now advertising on its sign that it is "Drug Free." Um, good luck with that...

But on a positive note, no one can deny that the whole area looks so much better now. You can see people starting to improve their houses, and urban farms are (ahem) sprouting up. Life is coming back to the area, which is no longer weighed down by the rotted industrial corpse of our dearly beloved Packard Motor Car Co.

As they say proudly in Detroit, Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus ("We hope for better things; it will arise from the ashes.)

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Sike

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