Another hotel in Fords future. Who would stay here if they know the neighborhood. Call it “Ford Flop House”
Work at Michigan Central Station continues as Ford aims to use the historic site as a future mobility hub, but this is far more than just another office space. Rather, Michigan Central has seen a flurry of activity recently that includes drone delivery testing, the debut of the world’s first wireless charging road, the purchase of a historic church nearby and various other properties in the Corktown neighborhood, and the automaker even took time out to celebrate the Detroit Lions’ recent playoff win there, to boot. Now, it seems as if Ford wants to make at least part of the historic Michigan Central site a hotel as well, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Ford is reportedly seeking a zoning change that would allow it to use part of the site as a hotel, which isn’t currently possible as it’s zoned for heavy industrial use only, and doesn’t permit such structures. If this change is approved, the automaker plans to utilize the top two or three floors of the building to house a hotel, though additional details – including the possible brand and layout of that hotel – haven’t yet been decided.
Interestingly, FoMoCo chairman Bill Ford revealed the automaker’s intentions to add a hotel to Michigan Central last year, noting that the pandemic didn’t change that desire one bit, even if it did delay the automaker’s plans somewhat. The same goes for the site itself, which is expected to open at some point this year, though no specific date has been announced as of yet.
“So we’re taking our time there. We have to get the right one in,” Ford said last April. “We have a lot of people talking to us. We want to make sure we have the right one there that fits with the vibe of what we want there, and that we think has the longevity to stay there.”