The Detroit Free Press sat down for an interview with the Packard Plant's new owner, Fernando Palazuelo.
He told the Freep that he had to negotiate with former owners of the plant to get a free and clear title. Now that he has that, he says they'll start cleaning up the site in the coming weeks:
Palazuelo envisions restoring some of the original Packard structure and redeveloping it for commercial, industrial and cultural uses. He plans to apply for historic and brownfield tax credits to help pay for the project, which could cost up to $300 million and take decades to complete. He pledged to hire Detroit workers, including the scrappers who have been dismantling the factory ruins for years. “We are ready to pay a good salary,” he said. “We’re trying to get them working in the right direction with the Packard Plant.”
Palazuelo is also negotiating with an art gallery in Detroit that removed a purported Banksy graffiti art piece from the plant in 2010.
There has been much hand wringing over this particular piece of art. You can read all about the controversy from Michael Jackman at the Metro Times.
Palazuelo says he's talking with the art gallery today about the piece.
