Is a jail really what the city needs greeting incoming traffic at one of the main entryways to Downtown Detroit?
Answer: No
That's what Detroit real estate mogul Dan Gilbert asked Wednesday.
Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said Gilbert and Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores need to show Evans the money if he's going to move the unfinished jail project, though.
Gilbert on Wednesday rolled out conceptual renderings and hype videos for a new soccer stadium - and team - in Downtown Detroit.
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They want to build it right on Gratiot Avenue, at the site of the stagnant Wayne County Jail project that sits, charmlessly, across from the county courthouse near Greektown.
Source:
Jail site for Detroit soccer stadium will cost a pretty penny,
says county | MLive
I don't know the full details of the funding, specifically how much public money would be poured into what is essentially a private endeavor, but Wayne County needs a serious reality check. Their jail is massively over budget and nowhere near completed.
This proposed new development project is basically a "get out of jail free" card, no pun intended. It's the county's fault the project failed so far. Getting 20 cents on the dollar, even in their financially strapped state, is better than they deserve. Plus, they'll stop throwing money into the pit.
I don't live in Wayne County; if I did, I'd be actively campaigning for the executive team's ouster, starting with Evans.
I will put in the vote for the Detroit MSL franchise to be the Detroit Arsenal, obviously!
Filed under: Dan Gilbert, Development, Downtown, Gratiot, Greektown, MLS, Tom Gores, Warren Evans, Wayne County, Wayne County Jail,