Now that everyone is working from home, what will happen to the "cool" office space in the Train Station that was going to attract all the young talent? Will anyone come to Detroit for that, especially when everyone at Ford seems to strongly prefer continuing WFH.
I am thinking it is going to sit partially finished for some time while they think of something different to do with it other than more unneeded office space. IMHO.
You're right.... I completely forgot about the RenCen, There was also the TH!NK golf cart business and the Chariot venture. I cant believe how much money we have p@ssed away on failed projects.
Let's not forget the RenCen
It cost $350 million to build and was sold in 1996 for $72 Million to Highgate Hotels. GM subsequently purchased it for "the right price".
https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/17/us/gm-buys-a-landmark-of-detroit-for-its-home.html#:~:text=The%20General%20Motors%20Corporation%20said,of%20five%20shiny%20glass%20towers.
That train station was the dumbest idea and waste of money in history. Ford can’t attract new talent due to the “old school” and adverse to change culture there. The train station needs to be demolished.
They're still going ahead with campus transformation to "attract and retain top talent" so there will be two monuments.
Ford spent close to $1 billion purchasing and renovating the building. Money well spent for Halloween purpose.
I refuse to work in any office in Detroit. I don't want to be taxed for my income any further, bad enough Michigan has an income tax.
Land Rover, Volvo, and Jaguar are doing really well without Ford leadership. I got a lot of stories about Jaguar under Bennie Fowler's reign.
@2zea+16xL3znk
LOL
great post :]
Billy is probably thinking "I just bought this piece of chit train station for 90 million and now this virus thingy happens....Rat F@rts and double t*rds!.... Maybe i can talk Matty's kid into buying it back". Matty's kid is thinking "sure, i'll give you 50 bucks for it". (sorry, couldnt help myself with the caddy shack reference)
Think about it.... we bought Land Rover, Volvo, Astin Martin, Jaguar, all those quickie oil change places, (and if I remember right, some junk yards) and sold them all for pennies on the dollar. We would be perfectly consistent in selling the train station for $50.
Apparently all the Millennials want to commute to Detroit, fight for parking and dodge the criminal elements because it is so cool.
I did the Detroit commute for two years before finding a better option. It was an interesting experience, but not one I want to repeat. Tried public transport but it was on the dicey side at the time.
I’d rather work from wherever I feel like being at the moment. Winter in Arizona, summer in Maine,
Spring in Georgia, Fall in Colorado. The old work mentality of herding the masses into a building has likely run its course.
Who the heck wants to take a 2% pay cut because of city taxes that Ford wants to sign you up for, and make the ridiculous commute into Detroit... all for the fabulous "privilege" to work in a building???? Especially now since the future of work looks more like work for a company, live anywhere. Tech companies are now telling people they can continue remote work after COVID. Who then would want to give that situation up and be forced to move to SE Michigan and deal with Detroit when they could pick and choose the perfect place they want to live to live their best life.
@1tmn+16xL3znk Now there's an interesting idea, if the Train Station had a Tesla sign at the top, I would consider working there.
maybe Ford will sell the train station to another auto company like the ren center.
TESLA would look good on it.
It is a Feel good gift to the City from Bill F. No one wants to go to or drive thru Detroit. I remember visiting a cool fusion restaurant (Takoy) on mi ave in the fall about 2 years ago in cork town. We had to park on mi ave about two blocks away the homeless people we saw in the shadows scare to you know what out of us. Food was great, never going bAck, good luck DETROIT smell ya later😜
It serves as a monument to the ego and foolishness of WCF. It doesn't matter who works there or even what the point is – the building and investment will continue because he wants it to.