RIP: Abandoned since 1958, Detroit's Packard Plant

Another sign of Detroit’s ineptness (ineptitude?) in that era… there was no plan for Tiger Stadium.

 

Memorial Stadium sat around for a long time too. But, IIRC, got to host the Ravens for a bit later.

And, cough, cough: RFK. I know, soccer, etc. Not exactly abandoned. But amazing how long infrastructure sits around - sometimes useful, often not.

I once saw plans for RFK to be turned into a park. I’ll have to check and see if the wrecking ball has swung yet. I don’t think so, but I haven’t been paying attention.

 

RFK is still standing and hasn’t been used in at least five years. DC United has its own new stadium down by Nats Park.

I know the RFK parking lot got used during the pandemic to make drive-throughs out of events that otherwise would’ve been held at the convention center.

I think it was supposed to be torn down in 2019-2020 timeframe — guessing it was delayed by the pandemic. Who knows when it’ll happen now. It’s supposed to be turned into a park and REC center.

 

RFK has been designated for preservation as the venue of the first SJ.com Gathering!

 

My uncle lived a block away. It was like watching a beautiful old church without a congregation go uncared for.

 

Hasn't RFK been mentioned as a possible site for a new Commanders stadium? IIRC, it's one of the few available pieces of land in DC proper for such a thing which might be why they never tore it down.

 

I was at Tiger Stadium’s final game
Tigers 8, Royals 2
Grand slam by Robert Fick
When they introduced Tigers greats before the game the guy we all thought was Gates Brown really was Ron LeFlore
As it turned out, LeFlore was arrested after the game for being delinquent on child support

 

It’s Snyder’s preferred location, but it’s federal land that’s only leased to the District for another 10-12 years or so. Only Congress can extend the lease, which I wouldn’t expect to happen any time soon.

 

I’m glad we could steer the conversation away from fucking Detroit.

Doesn’t look like anyone got my Blues Brother reference.

I actually want to visit the Detroit area and see things like what’s left of Willow Run, any Ford museums (JFK limo is around there - maybe Dearborn).

I’ve been to Detroit before, but strictly on business.

Also, one of the early nuclear meltdowns occurred near there (south, in Monroe), long before Three Mile Island - check out the book “We Almost Lost Detroit”.

 

The old Pierce-Arrow complex's administration building in Buffalo has been restored. But parts of the manufacturing buildings remain and the area resembles the Packard plant.

Pierce Arrow Factory Complex, Buffalo New York

https://buffalophotoblog.com/pierce-arrow-complex

 

The last year for Packard produced this (more like a Studebaker, really), and I can’t really think of an uglier car. Reminds me of a frog from the front. And double finned!

https://barnfinds.com/used-car-lot-packardbaker-1958-packard-wagon/