Crusty Trucker Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 (edited) Decades after the last Packard automobile rolled off the assembly line, and five years after Peruvian developer Fernando Palazuelo announced a (failed) $350 million plan to turn the property into a mixed-use development, demolition of the iconic Packard plant will begin today in northeast Detroit. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/packard-plant-demolition-begins-today/ar-AA12oy2q?ocid=mailsignout&li=BBnb7Kz http://packardplantproject.com/history/index.html Note "factory" two tone paint. More pictures and info: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/detroit-begins-demolition-of-blighted-packard-car-plant/ar-AA12pzCp?ocid=mailsignout&li=BBnb7Kz Edited September 30, 2022 by Crusty Trucker (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
63RedBrier Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 From the photo above, it looks like the building may be demolishing itself... I guess when trees are growing on the roof, its time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 At one time the Packard club had a project to salvage and sell some of the trim and wooden panels from the exec offices. I wonder how that went... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt G Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 I have a few pieces of the panels you mention that were salvaged- acquired by a friend in Mi. and he sent to me as a gift because I have Packards, not large pieces but must have been the panels in an office wall. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass is Best Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 These were taken a few years ago. The building is even worse now. The Stone door surrounds were sold at an RM sale some years back 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 It's incredibly sad that the building was allowed to deteriorate into the condition it is now in, forcing it to be destroyed. Too bad a portion of the place where one of the legendary 'Three Ps' was designed and built couldn't be saved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted September 29, 2022 Share Posted September 29, 2022 I have about 15 bricks, 8 or so window frames, and a door I took from the site about 5 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plymouthcranbrook Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 Time marches on, sigh… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozstatman Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 These remnants of the Packard plant were "out the back" in the Dayton Packard museum when I was there in 2012. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 'bout time. Ben 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 6 hours ago, 63RedBrier said: From the photo above, it looks like the building may be demolishing itself... I guess when trees are growing on the roof, its time. It's been mostly vacant longer than it was fully occupied. Craig 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, zepher said: It's incredibly sad that the building was allowed to deteriorate into the condition it is now in, forcing it to be destroyed. Too bad a portion of the place where one of the legendary 'Three Ps' was designed and built couldn't be saved. Realistically, it is just an abandoned factory, and was more than likely obsolete when when then they merged with Studebaker. Yankee Stadium was torn down and there were tons of history in that building, but the building was falling apart from within, it too was obsolete. Being involved in estimate for the electrical demo, it was too far gone, and it was not from neglect. Edited September 30, 2022 by John348 (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 19 minutes ago, John348 said: Yankee Stadium was torn down and there were tons of history in that building, but the building was falling apart from within, it too was obsolete. Being involved in estimate for the electrical demo, it was too far gone, and it was not from neglect. The same was true of the very first McDonalds built here in Calgary. It held the distinction of being the LAST of the 'old skool' architecture with the slanted windows and golden arches above the roof, and more than a few wanted to see it preserved 'as original'. In the end, it was too far gone structurally, with all the water and drain pipes crumbling into oblivion, etc. A major reason it had to go was ADA compliance and fire codes. There was no way the building could have retained its original 1967 design hallmarks in order for it to comply with the latest building codes and safety regulations. Craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twisted Shifter Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 8 hours ago, zepher said: It's incredibly sad that the building was allowed to deteriorate into the condition it is now in, forcing it to be destroyed. Too bad a portion of the place where one of the legendary 'Three Ps' was designed and built couldn't be saved. From one of the articles in the original post: "Mayor Mike Duggan has said that some parts of complex might be saved for redevelopment." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 The automobile assembly plants were very specifically designed for volume mass production but are ill-fitted to any other re-purposing just by their sheer volume of space and construction methods. Reinforced poured concrete is notorious difficult to modify for other uses. Sure, loft apartments, but location also is a major factor and rarely are they in or near livable neighborhoods...especially not East Grand Boulevard now. Save and preserve the remaining cars and parts, document all aspects of Packard's history, keep the small remnants of the factory but let the rest fade into history. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 (edited) One of the most famous vehicles built went to moon, and now the building where the Lunar Module was built is a movie studio, talk about a piece of history being built in a building! At least there was a purpose Edited September 30, 2022 by John348 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass is Best Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 15 hours ago, zepher said: It's incredibly sad that the building was allowed to deteriorate into the condition it is now in, forcing it to be destroyed. Too bad a portion of the place where one of the legendary 'Three Ps' was designed and built couldn't be saved. The smaller special project shops are still buildings. It is possible that they can be saved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 Other than what was built there, and even they have no real historical significance, it's just another run of the mill old factory. Right now I'm guessing even the land doesn't have much value..........Bob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 11 hours ago, 8E45E said: The same was true of the very first McDonalds built here in Calgary. It held the distinction of being the LAST of the 'old skool' architecture with the slanted windows and golden arches above the roof, and more than a few wanted to see it preserved 'as original'. In the end, it was too far gone structurally, with all the water and drain pipes crumbling into oblivion, etc. A major reason it had to go was ADA compliance and fire codes. There was no way the building could have retained its original 1967 design hallmarks in order for it to comply with the latest building codes and safety regulations. Craig The very first McDonald’s is still standing and had a dedicated park area around it in Park Forest ( I think) Illinois. A western or north western suburb of Chicago. They don’t sell hamburgers or French fries any longer! dave s 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 3 hours ago, 58L-Y8 said: The automobile assembly plants were very specifically designed for volume mass production but are ill-fitted to any other re-purposing just by their sheer volume of space and construction methods. Reinforced poured concrete is notorious difficult to modify for other uses. Sure, loft apartments, but location also is a major factor and rarely are they in or near livable neighborhoods...especially not East Grand Boulevard now. Save and preserve the remaining cars and parts, document all aspects of Packard's history, keep the small remnants of the factory but let the rest fade into history. Above is 100 percent correct. And today with the new codes generic buildings cost 2/3 of new construction cost to properly upgrade. Special purpose buildings are a detrimental to many land holdings, and are almost impossible to repurpose. A sad fate of a once wonderful industrial machine. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 What a shame... I guess one good thing will come of it, all that ridiculous graffiti being destroyed in the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 3 hours ago, SC38dls said: The very first McDonald’s is still standing and had a dedicated park area around it in Park Forest ( I think) Illinois. A western or north western suburb of Chicago. They don’t sell hamburgers or French fries any longer! dave s Either it applied only to Canada, or maybe the last Mickey-D's still operating out of an original architecture building that was unmolested with updates to the building code(s) of the time. There was a car show held there the day before it officially closed, with reps from McDonalds Canada, and a filming crew for a commercial that was shown on TV for a time. Now, of course, its a new-style brick clad building with drive-thru, and far more dining area inside. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty Trucker Posted September 30, 2022 Author Share Posted September 30, 2022 F Y I ---- SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Before the Golden Arches, before the Happy Meal, and before the Big Mac. McDonald's was a barbeque restaurant that sat off business Route 66 in San Bernardino. Today, the original McDonalds location is still there, but now it's home to the Unofficial McDonald's Museum. ======================================================================= The oldest McDonald's restaurant is a drive-up hamburger stand at 10207 Lakewood Boulevard at Florence Avenue in Downey, California. It was the third McDonald's restaurant and opened on August 18, 1953. It was also the second restaurant franchised by Richard and Maurice McDonald, prior to the involvement of Ray Kroc in the company. The restaurant is now the oldest in the chain still in existence and is one of Downey's main tourist attractions. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrspeedyt Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 (edited) Edited September 30, 2022 by mrspeedyt driven by it for many years in a abf truck… (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 CT-You are correct, I was going by the corporate information. I knew he bought the McDonald brothers out or force them out depending on which side you talk too. Ray Kroc lived in Ginger Creek Illinois near my in-laws and built his house with arches all around the outside. He was a character to say the least but his wife got the house in the end. dave s The McDonald's #1 Store Museum[2] was housed in a replica of the former McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, opened by Ray Kroc in April 1955. The company usually refers to this as The Original McDonald's, although it is not the first McDonald's restaurant but the ninth; the first was opened by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California in 1940, while the oldest McDonald's still in operation is the third one built, in Downey, California, which opened in 1953. However, the Des Plaines restaurant marked the beginning of future CEO Kroc's involvement with the firm. It opened under the aegis of his franchising company McDonald's Systems, Inc., which became McDonald's Corporation after Kroc purchased the McDonald brothers' stake in the firm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 The McDonalds in Downey sits right next to a modern version of the fast food outlet. The original menu boards are still on display in the older one. At least they were the last time I went through there about 15 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 (edited) 44 minutes ago, zepher said: The McDonalds in Downey sits right next to a modern version of the fast food outlet. One can see why it was allowed to remain intact. As per this Business Insider article, it was, and remains a point-of-purchase 'burger stand' where those on foot can either eat outside, or inside an enclosed seating area & museum next door to it: https://www.businessinsider.com/oldest-mcdonalds-in-photos-signs-menu-history-2022-8#despite-the-familiar-name-its-almost-unrecognizable-as-part-of-the-chain-today-3 Being a walk-up burger stand, regulations would not have required public restrooms, where the sit-down restaurant next door will have them. The McDonalds here had a sit-down restaurant within the iconic original building, which required appropriate restrooms. With today's codes regarding ADA compliancy, less confining workspace regulations, and fire suppression in the kitchen area, it would have been impossible to conform with the original building footprint. Craig Edited September 30, 2022 by 8E45E (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted October 1, 2022 Share Posted October 1, 2022 (edited) 14 hours ago, 58L-Y8 said: The automobile assembly plants were very specifically designed for volume mass production but are ill-fitted to any other re-purposing just by their sheer volume of space and construction methods. Reinforced poured concrete is notorious difficult to modify for other uses. Sure, loft apartments, but location also is a major factor and rarely are they in or near livable neighborhoods...especially not East Grand Boulevard now. Save and preserve the remaining cars and parts, document all aspects of Packard's history, keep the small remnants of the factory but let the rest fade into history. Fisher Body Plant #21 is just as blighted as the old Packard plant, but never makes the news as much. Big difference is the former building owner who abandoned it in 1984 is still around making cars and trucks. We shall see how this latest endeavor for this ex-GM plant goes: Detroit's abandoned Fisher Body Plant No. 21 to become housing (freep.com) Craig Edited October 1, 2022 by 8E45E spellling (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prewarnut Posted October 1, 2022 Share Posted October 1, 2022 This is a time old problem due to the high taxes levied on urban real-estate - especially in locales that are not vibrant enough to produce enough $$$ in other ways for city hall. Up north the "neighbors" decided to torch my father's commerical building. He worked out a deal to lease the lot as parking for city workers which offset the taxes. Once that evaporated he kept insurance on the lot but wasn't about to pay taxes on land not producing income. A sale couldn't be brokered due to the location and the city eventually emancipated it 20 years later. Almost same here.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 My opinion the original Packard plant doesnt look like much left there worth salvaging. Although I would like to have a pile of bricks to make a sidewalk! Not sure how much truth or conjecture, but having been involved in the building industry for the last 45years and being 4th generation doing both residential and commercial work it is not impossible to fit out an 'old' building for modern use. Bringing a building 'to code' is not impossible and in fact is done all of the time. A small building such as what could be thought of as the 'first McD' would be quite simple in the grand scheme of things. Whether or not the cost associated is worth the end product is another issue. Kinda like restoring an old car! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Skelly Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 (edited) On 9/30/2022 at 11:15 PM, 8E45E said: Fisher Body Plant #21 is just as blighted as the old Packard plant, but never makes the news as much. Big difference is the former building owner who abandoned it in 1984 is still around making cars and trucks. We shall see how this latest endeavor for this ex-GM plant goes: Detroit's abandoned Fisher Body Plant No. 21 to become housing (freep.com) Craig GM sold the building and a subsequent owner went out of business. I will admit that GM did not maintain plant buildings as well as they should have. Detroit still needs to demolish or renovate thousands of homes and factories. Edited October 7, 2022 by Jim Skelly (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 4 hours ago, Jim Skelly said: GM sold the building and a subsequent owner went out of business. I will admit that GM did not maintain plant buildings as well as they should have. Detroit still needs to demolish or renovate thousands of homes and factories. Studebaker-Packard also sold the building and nearly all the subsequent owners it went out of business. The EX-Packard factory and EX-Fisher Body Plant #21, are firmly entrenched and stigmatized with the roots of their first owners. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdsbob Posted October 15, 2022 Share Posted October 15, 2022 Has the demolition actually started? Any photos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Skelly Posted October 15, 2022 Share Posted October 15, 2022 yes; Michigan begins demolition of the long-vacant Packard auto plant in Detroit | Fox News Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted October 15, 2022 Share Posted October 15, 2022 I will try to go downtown this week and get some pictures. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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