Ford Aims to Lead the Future of Reinvention and Mobility in Detroit

Photo Source: Ford

When the Michigan Central Station was constructed in 1913, passenger rail symbolized Detroit’s booming role in the industrial revolution. Historical records demonstrate that the structure was the tallest station of its time. Decades later, in the 1980s, as the city’s train travel slowed and car ownership became ubiquitous, the station’s consistent use came to an end, but its abandoned remains still loomed as a reminder of the Motor City’s abrupt economic decline. Now, a $740 million renovation project spearheaded by Ford Motor Company aims to bring visitors back to the area by making the Central Station the focal point of a 30-acre mobility innovation district. With Ford in the driver’s seat, the at-risk project has been moving at full speed from the moment the automobile manufacturer took ownership of Central Station in 2018.

Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford, said the campus’ redevelopment is a sign. “Michigan Central will go from being a story about Detroit’s decay to the story about Detroit’s rebirth,” he claimed, a second act that will see the city become home to tech- and auto-centric jobs that will build the next generation of transport. “This will be the first tangible evidence that that vision is coming to life,” declared Ford.

A Layered Development Plan

Revealed during a community meeting in Detroit on November 17, 2020, the brand’s multi-year development plan for a mobility district in the city includes the restructuring of the Central Station, the construction of a yet-to-be-named new development, the modification of its adjacent Book Depository building into a learning center, and the restoration of the nearby factory. The structure that currently serves as a residence for Ford’s autonomous vehicle team. As a matter of fact, the ambitious effort earned the project a 2023 CoStar Impact Award for redevelopment of the year in Detroit, as assessed by real estate professionals acquainted with the market.

Effects on the Local Community

As mentioned, the company has spent roughly $740 million over the past four years redeveloping the area, including spending $90 million in 2018 to purchase the long-vacant, 472,000-square-foot Michigan Central Station for its new Corktown campus. The project represents the first major mixed-use expansion south of Detroit’s central business district in years, with the completed development also slated to bring more hospitality, retail, public amenities, and restaurants to the market in addition to office space for partners and Ford employees in innovation projects.

For example, Rohani Foulke, owner of Folk, a cafe and wine shop that has for almost a decade sat a 10-minute walk from the Central Station, is increasingly hopeful the project can bolster local businesses that have suffered, particularly during the pandemic. “We’re very excited about the project, really in the hopes that it helps bring some regular foot traffic into the neighborhood,” she said.

Collaboration with Google

Along with Ford, Google is one of the founding members of the Michigan Central Innovation District, where the union of the technological and automotive sectors can establish worthwhile synergies. The company announced a partnership with Ford in 2021, with the Google deal expected to help draw other technological operators to the project. As it stands in 2023, 50 high school students are already enrolled in a Google-sponsored mentorship program that will eventually work out of a laboratory in the updated train station.

Brian Boyer, who directs a new degree program in urban technology at the University of Michigan, believes that the Blue Oval’s efforts warrant recognition, but it is not enough to see Detroit as a vehicle hub. The city has much more to offer, and if you are in agreement with Ford’s initiative to propel Detroit forward, please visit Sunrise Ford. After all, we are here to help our customers discover their ideal automobile, whether it comes from our lineup of new vehicles or our large array of pre-owned vehicles. We have a vast collection for you to choose from.