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City of Detroit reassesses historic Packard Plant plans after Letter of Intent expiration

Developers said there was also a plan to build a cultural center and an indoor skate park on the site

Exterior of the Packard Plant, left, next to boarded up houses on Detroit's east side, Thursday, June 30, 2022. The factory built in the early 1900s turned out high-end cars into the 1950s. It was considered one of the city's automotive jewels, but now is among the nation's most notorious examples of urban blight. Parts of the 3.5 million-square-foot, 40-acre Packard plant complex will be demolished by the year's end. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (Carlos Osorio, Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

DETROIT – The city of Detroit is exploring alternative options for the historic Packard Plant site.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and her team announced on Thursday (March 26) that they’re exploring a broader range of redevelopment options for the site.

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“The Letter of Intent entered into by the prior administration had an expiration date of Feb. 11. The Packard Plant site is one of the few available City-owned large contiguous sites in Detroit. Consequently, the Sheffield Administration wants to take this opportunity to explore a broader range of redevelopment options for the site before moving forward with the proposed plan.”

Media Relations Director for the city of Detroit, John Roach.

Initially, it was announced that a large portion of the site would receive redevelopment for the long-vacant Pacard Automotive Plant, located off I-94 on Detroit’s east side, which opened in 1903.

Detroit officials and developers announced on Dec. 1, 2025, plans to redevelop the site into “Packard Park.”

The plan had involved reusing a portion of the existing building south of Grand Boulevard, adding a new 400,000-square-foot manufacturing building, and creating an outdoor public space.

Developers said there was also a plan to build a cultural center and an indoor skate park on the site.

“The project had been progressing just months after it was announced, but we understand that a new administration can have new priorities. It remains our vision, with our many partners, to preserve the legacy of the Packard site and bring jobs to the City of Detroit. We stand ready to help Detroit with this mission.”

Mark Bennett and Oren Goldenberg, co-developers of Packard Development Partners, LLC
Renderings of 'Packard Park' in Detroit (WDIV)
Renderings of 'Packard Park' in Detroit (WDIV)
Renderings of 'Packard Park' in Detroit (WDIV)
Renderings of 'Packard Park' in Detroit (WDIV)

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