Detroit's Old Packard Plant Going Vacant
17 11 10 - 21:17
How pathetic. How tragic. Once this building was an icon of Detroit's vibrancy, its robust economy, & the enterprising spirit of the people that live here. For decades now, it's been slowly decaying back into its base elements, just like the city around it.
Chemical Processing, the last tenant to occupy space & actually pay rent in the old Packard complex, is now throwing in the towel after 52 years & moving to the 'burbs. My only question is "what took you guys so long?" Scrappers have been tearing the building down around this stalwart little company, yet Detroit's finest did nothing. Power & Phone lines were cut & stolen so often, that they gave up calling the cops or the city for help. The roof leaked & the landlord did nothing but, that might be because the last landlord of record is in jail. Bums squat in the outer corners of the complex & start small fires to keep warm.
This small company's history goes back a long, long way with the now decrepit structure. Chemical Processing's owner, Bruce Kafarski's said his father and grandfathers worked on the line for the building's namesake company. After Packard Corporation shut down, Kafarski's family moved their business into the Albert Kahn-designed building & have been there over a half century. Based on the absolute lack of support from the city, I can't blame them for leaving. I'll bet the employees won't miss paying the additional City of Detroit Income Tax every week either.
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