This morning you are welcomed to join in a protest at the northwest corner of Clinton and Fourth Street from 7:30 am to 9:30 am.
The former Lake Shore and Michigan Railroad Freight Station is on the verge of being torn down to make way for… well, no one knows exactly what for – yet.
As you may remember, the former OmniSource buildings and blue wall were demolished last year after the property sat vacant for several years. Â The City had an option on the property – during the last year or two of the Graham Richard Administration, but the Henry Administration let the option expire and lost control of the property. Â This was the location for the North River Now Charettes conducted a few years back and has been the subject of development rumors for a possible water park, casino, IMAX, public park – almost an entire gamut of possibilities. Â It was also the attempt four or five years ago to lure multi-millions of dollars of investment from the Ray Krock Foundation (of McDonald’s fame).
Since then, the economy has tanked and all efforts at redevelopment seem to have stalled – key word, “seem”. Â There is currently a very viable proposal for the former freight house and land that would be a perfect fit for the property. Â I don’t think they’re ready to go public, so I won’t spill the beans, but trust me when I say it’s one of the most exciting proposals for downtown I’ve seen since Parkview Field/Harrison Square.
This exciting proposal can still become reality without the freight house, but not only would the reality be a little less because of the loss, but our community at large will have lost another historic structure needlessly.
If you have time, the protest is again from 7:30 to 9:30 am this morning at the northwest corner of Clinton and Fourth Street.
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