Mobility Brings Second Life to the Train Station

An enthusiastic crowd of approximately 5,000 people gathered at the Michigan Central Station last month for the much-anticipated announcement that the old train station would soon see new life under a new theme – Mobility.

Ford Motor Company recently purchased the Michigan Central Station and will be moving all of its Mobility team operations to its growing collection of Corktown properties. The Corktown campus will be an innovation hub for work on autonomous and electric vehicles and mobility solutions.

The Michigan Central redevelopment is an example of how the business sector and local government are working together to advance economic development in our region. SEMCOG’s Partnering for Prosperity: Economic Development Strategy for Southeast Michigan supports everything that’s happening at the train station through these strategies contained in the plan – advancing innovation and technology; educating our future workforce; and investing in transportation and critical infrastructure.

Ford Motor leadership has also emphasized that local community residents and businesses will be important partners in the redevelopment of the Michigan Central Station. A number of local government leaders offered their praise and support, including Governor Rick Snyder, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

Redevelopment of this historic building is anticipated to take four years. Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, is expected to be a major draw for a sought-after workforce of high-tech talent seeking urban environments. The space at Michigan Central Station will also be home to various entrepreneurial initiatives.

Train station development just the latest in shifting auto industry

At the 2018 North American International Auto Show in January, the rapidly changing automotive and mobility landscape was on display. This proposed redevelopment underscores the importance of mobility technology to automotive manufacturers as well as quality of life considerations needed to attract the corresponding workforce.

Ford views its Corktown operations as part of a mobility corridor that spans from Detroit through its headquarters in Dearborn, the American Center for Mobility at Willow Run, and to the University of Michigan and M-City in Ann Arbor.