Packard Plant redevelopment continues despite bridge collapse

DETROIT (FOX 2) - It's been an automotive land mark in the city Detroit since the Packard Plant opened in 1903, building some of that hottest cars in the world. 

But the last Packard rolled off the line in the mid-1950s, and although there were some businesses in this 2.5-million-square-foot structure, it's been pretty much vacant and deteriorating since the 1990s. 

The latest example of that happened Wednesday when a pedestrian bridge collapsed.

"For tours we would never take anybody across the bridge because we were told it wasn't safe, and yesterday kind of shows why," said Jacob Jones who conducts tours.

Luckily no one was hurt in the collapse. But on Thursday all night cleanup crews worked to reopen East Grand Boulevard.  But people have questions about the Packard plant. 

There are no plans to tear down the plant, said attorney Joe Kopietz who represents the owner. 

Attorney Joe Kopietz, represents Spanish developer Fernando Palazuelo, who bought the Packard plant in 2013, from the City, in a tax foreclosure auction for $400,000 and he promised to renovate the plant, it may take about 15 years.  

"The first phase of the administration building is geared toward office and potential restaurant tenants," said Kopietz. "Another phase will be a brewery restaurant, and they'll be a living and working space for artists."

Kopietz said that there are plans to possibly rebuild the bridge. But first comes the cleanup of the bridge which is expected to be done by Friday.