Reporter | Li Yimeng Edit |
Ford recently used a series of renderings to show the outside world what would become around the restored Michigan Central Terminal once the project was complete.
Dubbed "an inclusive, vibrant and walkable transportation innovation district in Cocktown," the project stems from Ford's investment in a michigan central warehouse that is undergoing renovation following the company's purchase in 2018.
The project has been described as "an all-encompassing, vibrant pedestrian area in Corktown". In 2018, Ford invested in michigan Central Depot, and after completing the acquisition, the automaker is beginning to renovate and remodel it.
The area covers an area of 30 acres (121,000 square meters) and includes the 106-year-old Michigan Central Station, a library designed by Albert Kahn, a new building on the west side of the station, and The Factory, where Ford's new local function is located.
In May 2018, Ford Motor Company relocated 220 employees to Cocktown, mainly from the company's self-driving and electric vehicle teams.
Today, they work in the building at 1907 Michigan Avenue. The 4,180-square-meter building was converted from an old factory building called "Factory". During that time, the number of employees in Ford's self-driving car business unit has increased to 250.
Ford said the core of the renovation plan is "the use of a pedestrian platform pioneered by the elevated rails located behind the train station, the entire area is filled with new open spaces, connected to the surrounding buildings, and the community can walk on it at will."
The total development of the renovation plan took more than 18 months, including more than 100 hours of discussions with stakeholders in the city and community.
According to Ford, feedback from residents prompted them to add "public facilities, green spaces, trails, bike paths, public art, and open areas that can be used in 24/7 conditions." This ensures that the station's stunning views are not obscured, and that residents of Southwest Detroit have easy access to the area to enjoy the views, an important requirement for the community."
Residents also want to introduce retail, public spaces, and public amenities such as grocery stores and daycare centers.
Ford's move was seen as part of its "return to Detroit" plan. The veteran automaker, which originated in Detroit, has previously focused more attention on Silicon Valley, where technology research and development is concentrated, and its decision-making center has long been located in Dearborn on the banks of the Rouge River.
The investment in the Michigan Central Warehouse area is considered the most notable step in the above plan. The detroit Central Station in the region ended its rail passenger mission in 1988, with Ford Motor Company taking over the station from its owner, the Moroun family.
Real estate and construction experts say the restructuring of Michigan Central Station could cost Ford at least $300 million.
Ford executives said rebuilding their business in Detroit would help companies compete with Silicon Valley for young tech talent to develop cutting-edge technologies such as autonomous driving and artificial intelligence.
"Returning to Detroit meant a lot to us because it was from here that my grandfather began pursuing his dreams, and we will always be home." Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Company and a descendant of the Ford family, said at the time.
In fact, Ford is deeply rooted in Detroit: Henry Ford pioneered the famous Ford Model T at the Piquette Avenue Plant in the east of the city. The company also initiated the construction of the city's landmark, the Renaissance Center, which was acquired by rival General Motors and established its headquarters there.
Another reason Bill Ford is intimate with Cocktown is that the residents of the community are mostly immigrants from the same part of Ireland, just like their predecessors. He said the area offers Ford employees a stylish urban work environment, which is very different from the company's current executive-level product research and development center in Dearborn.
"What I love about it is that Cocktown makes newcomers quickly resonate with local heritage." Sherif Marakby, Ford's vice president of autonomous vehicles and electrification, said, "We see Cocktown as a huge growth advantage. It will increase people's interest in teamwork here from many aspects, both internally and externally. ”
Of course, the automaker did not terminate construction of Dearborn. In April 2016, Ford unveiled a 10-year plan to renovate the Dearborn campus and set a budget of $1.2 billion for it. One of the purposes of Ford's move is to expand its workforce. The company plans to double the number of employees working in Dearborn to 24,000. Ford Motor also renovated the Ford Global Headquarters complex, which includes the headquarters of the Ford Motor Credit Company.