DETROIT – It's premium real estate overlooking Belle Isle and the Detroit River, but for nearly 10 years the Naval Armory on East Jefferson has been empty, serving as a favorite target for scrappers.
The city is once again trying to transform that building into the gem it once was.
From the outside, many can see what the Detroit Naval Armory once was and what it can be with a boatload of cash. Inside, photos from the website Detroiturbex.com show that the incredible woodworking and anything else of value has been stripped out of the armory, stolen by scrappers after the building was handed over to the city a decade ago.
The city is now looking to save the Armory, the place that trained military, hosted USO events and is where Joe Louis had his first fight.
The city is putting out "request for proposals," looking for developers to buy the Armory and breathe new life into it. It will be difficult and expensive.
The city warns developers that the entire electrical system has been stolen, pipes and radiators have been taken, a support steal has been removed and there is a partial roof collapse.
There are conditions: Buyers can't demolish it and the 1930 murals inside have to be saved.