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Ford anticipates it will take three to four years to refurbish Michigan Central Station.
Thousands of people gathered in front of former depot to hear Ford's plans.
Ford Motor Co.
Sections of first floor lacking roof have been exposed to elements.
Deteriorating walls badly in need of paint, and more.
Brick and stone medallions still appear to be in good condition.
Bill Ford, executive chairman of the company bearing his name, says Corktown campus will be hub for working on autonomous and electric vehicles.
Roof over main entrance facing Michigan Avenue.
Age and neglect have left upper levels without decorative railings.
Bill Ford says he is proud to lead restoration of the station that welcomed tens of thousands of workers seeking jobs at Ford assembly plants.
Travelers arriving at station from streetcar stop outside building's eastern entrance would pass through this arcade on way to ticket lobby.
Like environmentally friendly roof atop sprawling Rouge assembly complex nearby, train depot roof has foliage as well.
Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett greets Ford employee Alessandra Carreon, who also owns a pizza restaurant in nearby Mexicantown.
Southwest side of station.
Messages and images projected onto ceiling of main lobby in station.
With Ford's help, train station soon will catch up with rest of Corktown's revitalization.
Visitors this weekend will have rare access to entire first floor of former train station.
Large sections of walls need total replacement.
South side of Michigan Central Station.
Detroit rapper Big Sean performs outside Michigan Central Station as part of Ford festivities.
First train left the station for Saginaw and Bay City, MI, on Dec. 26, 1913; that same day, first train arrived from Chicago.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says Moroun family, which also owns Ambassador Bridge, informed him Christmas Eve of impending sale of station to Ford.
Much of station interior resembles ancient ruins in Greece.
One of many crumbling walls needing to be fixed.
“Henry Ford was the son of an immigrant. His father, William Ford, came over from Cork during Ireland’s potato famine," Bill Ford says.
Bill Ford says station will include restoration of grand hall to original luster.
With 13-story office tower standing 230 ft., Michigan Central Station was world’s tallest rail station when constructed.
Bill Ford and Big Sean strike up bromance.
Pillars near former ticket lobby appear to be in good condition.
Corktown "was a place where you could reimagine what’s possible," Bill Ford says. "That’s what we want to do all over again, right here in Corktown – to build tomorrow, together.”
One of many ticket windows that served customers. As many as 4,000 travelers passed through Michigan Central Station at its peak.
Visitors stand in long line for chance to ride elevator.
“This will be the kind of campus where the emerging economy thrives – a collaborative ecosystem of companies, educators, investors, and innovators,” Hackett says.
Which will be more expensive, patching and painting Michigan Central Station or painting a year's worth of new Ford vehicles?
Ford plans to leave a positive mark on Corktown, starting with work from artist Joe Ferry from Street Side Murals.