WESTLAND, Mich. – If you are a Detroiter, you are well aware that the old Detroit train station in Corktown has been left abandoned for a very long time. It has remained decrepit and none of it has been renovated whatsoever. Outside of being used as a filming location in films like “Transformers,” it has remained a distant memory of what Detroit used to be. With so much history, those driving along Michigan Avenue have long wondered why nothing has been done to rehab what was once a stunning building. With Ford Motor Company looking to open operations once again in the city of Detroit, the automaker has seized upon the chance to not only make a big imprint on Detroit but also make old train station an inhabitable area once more.
During the week in which Ford celebrated its 115th anniversary, the automaker announced the acquisition of the Michigan Central Station. The purpose of Ford’s new Corktown campus will be to focus on the electric and autonomous vehicles as well as create sophisticated urban mobility solutions and services including public transit, parking, roads, and connected vehicles. Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford said the acquisition of the Michigan Central Station means something more to him.
“Michigan Central Station is a place that in many ways tells the story of Detroit over the past century,” Ford said. “We at Ford want to help write the next chapter, working together in Corktown with the best startups, the smartest talent, and the thinkers, engineers, and problem-solvers who see things differently – all to shape the future of mobility and transportation.”
Ford’s plan is to have around 1.2 million square feet of space in Corktown. About three-quarters of which will be split between the company and its different partners in business. Around 2,500 Ford employees, the majority from the company’s mobility team, will be moving into Corktown by 2022. There will be further space to allow for around 2,500 additional employees from different businesses and other partners. What remains of the 300,000 square feet will be used for the attraction of local shops and restaurants, plans for new residential options, and the restoration of the grand hall back to its original shape. Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett said he sees Corktown as representing the future of the information age for Ford.
“What Rouge was to Ford in the industrial age, Corktown can be for Ford in the information age,” Hackett said. “It will be the proving ground where Ford and our partners design and test the services and solutions for the way people are going to live and get around tomorrow, creating a Southeast Michigan mobility corridor that spans west from Dearborn to Ann Arbor, and east to Detroit.” Hackett believes this also could turn Detroit into the “mobility capital of the world.”
“This will be the kind of campus where the emerging economy thrives – a collaborative ecosystem of companies, educators, investors, and innovators,” Hackett said. “This is where part of our team will live and work as a part of this community, alongside the customers and neighbors whose lives we’re trying to make better.” To Ford, Corktown draws him back to his Irish roots of where his family first came from.
“Just as Dearborn does, Corktown holds a special place in my heart,” Ford said. “Henry Ford was the son of an immigrant. His father, William Ford, came over from Cork during Ireland’s potato famine. And Corktown was a destination for immigrants like him who came here with little more than hope. It was a place where you could reimagine what’s possible. That’s what we want to do all over again, right here in Corktown – to build tomorrow, together.”
As Ford takes their next steps toward a bright future, you might wish to purchase a new Ford vehicle for yourself. Imagine yourself driving down Michigan Avenue from Dearborn into downtown Detroit as you pass by the train station. It's an exciting time to be in Detroit and that means it's time for you to purchase a new Ford car. There are many great models, which North Brothers Ford can assist with. We will help you discover what it means to be a Detroiter all over again.
North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 855-739-2023, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!
