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Historic Packard Bridge Collapses
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https://www.freep.com/story/news/local ... lapse-detroit/2660893002/
This is NOT good. Edit: More here: https://wwjnewsradio.radio.com/article ... rd-plant-bridge-collapses Edit 2: The Packard Plant bridge over East Grand Boulevard in Detroit collapsed around 3 p.m. Wednesday. Joseph Kopietz, a member of Detroit-based Clark Hill's real estate group representing the 3.5 million-square-foot plant's owner, confirmed the collapse to Crain's Wednesday afternoon. Earlier Wednesday, according to Kopietz, some on-site construction crews reported bricks were falling from the bridge that crosses Grand Boulevard as part of the sprawling, blighted factory campus on Detroit's east side. Edit 3 From Crain's Detroit Business Magazine https://www.crainsdetroit.com/news/pac ... utm_content=hero-readmore Attach file:  (147.68 KB) (75.82 KB)
Posted on: 2019/1/23 17:01
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Re: Historic Packard Bridge Collapses
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To let that property fall into such disrepair should be a crime.
Posted on: 2019/1/23 22:16
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Re: Historic Packard Bridge Collapses
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As a former Detroiter this just breaks my heart
 I recall crossing that bridge during the National Meet in 1982.
Posted on: 2019/1/24 0:05
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Re: Historic Packard Bridge Collapses
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Here is a link to the Hemmings Daily coverage of the Packard Plant bridge collapse.
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/01/ ... -collapses/comment-page-1 Several years ago I wrote a story for The Packard Club (in their Packard Cormorant magazine) about a drive along Grand Boulevard-back when it really was grand. Back when Packard was still making cars in the Grand Boulevard plant. I said that for Detroiters back then, it was almost like partaking of a sacrament or rite of passage to drive under the Packard Bridge. And it was. My story about the Packard plant as I remembered it from my youth in Detroit, ended with a statement. In that statement I said that the mere thought of the Packard Bridge soon being gone would bring a stinging tear to my eyes. Some were quick to point out, that the bridge was still standing. But the wrapping of the bridge was just that. A false facade... a mask to fool the eyes into thinking the rotted ugliness underneath did not exist. Meanwhile. the bridge continued to deteriorate. And no one did anything about it, despite two entities who very well could have jointly saved this world landmark. Wishing about the bridge did zero to repair it. And the wrap just told people what they wanted to hear. It had nothing at all to do with reality. The present statements that "the city is taking the lead in clearing debris and providing safety" are clear evidence of the moronic stupidity and greed that created this situation in the first place. The people running Detroit ought to be ashamed rather than boasting of taking any kind of "lead." Taking the "lead" would have meant getting a structural engineer in there YEARS ago and making a deal to sell the entire bridge, if not the south end of the complex rather than to let it all sit and rot over some imagined great fortune to come. SHAME ON THE CITY GOVERNMENT. SHAME! The years have continued to click by and all of the stories about the comeback of the plant and renovation of the property and glowing reports of new tenants and re-purposing have come to... well I think you can see for yourselves. And now, as I feared, the magnificent Packard Bridge... an icon of old Detroit and the glory years of the American automotive industry is indeed gone. And I assure you... there ARE indeed stinging tears in my eyes.
Posted on: 2019/1/24 9:52
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Re: Historic Packard Bridge Collapses
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Sad indeed.
One wonders if the split ownership (title dispute?) of the bridge contributed to it's decay and ultimate failure. Or if the failure was end result of the steel scavengers who ravaged the site for years.
Posted on: 2019/1/24 10:05
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Re: Historic Packard Bridge Collapses
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That's unfortunate. I've never had a chance to visit Detroit and see what remains of the plant, but hope to someday. According to Hemmings, the new owner wants to rebuild the bridge. I guess we'll see what happens.
Posted on: 2019/1/24 11:18
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Re: Historic Packard Bridge Collapses
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Very say day for Packard lovers and Detroiters. The last real recognizable section of the landmark is gone now. I think the last real preservation efforts for the old plant are finally gone. I think its time to raze the rest of the structures and be done with it. Atleast the proving grounds are there to focus our efforts on.
An interesting link to a packard plate site: http://packardplantproject.com/news/
Posted on: 2019/1/24 11:42
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Re: Historic Packard Bridge Collapses
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Attach file: (135.87 KB)
Posted on: 2019/1/24 11:45
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Re: Historic Packard Bridge Collapses
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It is sad to see. It was on my bucket list to visit the plant in the next year or so.
On a different note, I would think a fundraiser of sorts could be made. I would buy an "Authenticated" brick from that plant. It may not make millions but maybe the PPG could use the funds? Just a thought.
Posted on: 2019/1/24 11:54
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[url=http://packardinf
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