In Wednesday’s (6/25) Detroit Free Press, JC Reindl writes, “Packard Plant buyer Fernando Palazuelo said today he would start preliminary work on redeveloping Detroit’s most famous abandoned factory next week and outlined plans for hosting a Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert among the ruins there this fall. The Peru-based developer said his company, Arte Express, will begin Monday to erect new signs at the 40-acre Packard site on Detroit’s east side and continue preparations for restoring the administration building that was once corporate headquarters to Packard Motor Car.… Palazuelo gave September as his target date for moving his company’s Detroit office into the Packard company’s old headquarters.… He described his ultimate goal as transforming the property into a modern, mixed-use development with light industrial and technology firms. Residential and cultural uses are also possible, he said, as is a charter school…. In the nearer term, Palazuelo hopes to have the property clean enough to host a DSO concert in September. He said he relishes the contrast of playing classical music among the industrial ruins. DSO spokesperson Gabrielle Poshadlo said that orchestra officials were given a tour of the site and were considering performing there in the fall, but no plans have been made yet. Palazuelo won the Packard Plant for $405,000 late last year in the Wayne County Treasurer’s annual tax foreclosure auction.”
Posted June 30, 2014
