By the time I arrived in Michigan and started working at SEMCOG, Michigan Central was already closed – a stark reminder of the serious challenges facing Detroit. The city has had its ups and downs throughout the last 30 years, but the station remained, a haunting reminder of more prosperous times.
After standing vacant for 34 years, Michigan Central Station was acquired and restored by Ford Motor Company. The 30-acre “Michigan Central” campus and station was initially announced in 2018 and slated to open by 2022. However, the pandemic and the extensive work needed to renovate the station delayed its reopening until June 6, 2024. On that evening a blockbuster concert was held, including appearances by local leaders and the showing of short films and storytelling that spotlighted innovation and culture from around the city and the region. People took notice.
In the time since the restoration was announced, the station has helped to change the face of Corktown, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, and is now providing a unique public destination worthy of its historical and cultural significance. And so much more is to come. In addition to distinctive retail and cultural installations, the station will also soon be a stop on Detroit’s Joe Louis Greenway, a recreational path that includes the Dequindre Cut and portions of the Detroit Riverwalk, uniting dozens of neighborhoods to create a more connected Detroit.
Next to the station, the renovated Book Depository has already attracted over 100 start-ups to the area, many from outside of Michigan. This has brought significant startup and venture capital activity to the city and state. This ambitious effort has required regional and community participation, starting with neighborhood meetings and growing to include public-private partnerships across the region.SEMCOG wanted to give community leaders across the region the chance to see firsthand this transformative and inspirational project that has potential for positive impact for generations. The entire project is much more than the restoration of an historic building. It creates a space for reimagining and revitalizing mobility innovation.
Our private tour started with Mark de la Vergne, Economic Innovation and Policy at Michigan Central describing the project vision. The group then proceeded to tour the station, where we saw a building that was once destined for demolition that has been returned to its original grandeur. The tour starts with video on a digital cube in what used to be the “ladies waiting room” at the train station. You then proceed to the main portion of the station where there is a timeline, outlining the history of the station. The next room includes brief vignettes about people who came through the station, worked at the station, or have some other connection to the building. There is a room with artifacts found and preserved during the renovation process, a poster room, an amazing AI experience that translates your spoken word into a pattern of lights. The outdoor area includes a park and walkway filled with beautiful flowers and plants.
Truly, Michigan Central is a symbol of collaboration and resiliency that will embolden transformative mobility for our region and the world.
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