Preservation Matters

Listening to the radio before church this morning, I was saddened to hear that another American architectural landmark could soon be demolished. In April, officials in Detroit decided that the Michigan Central Station, with its marbled Beaux Arts lobby and eighteen story Empire tower was an eyesore deserving quick removal. The station has been abandoned since 1988, but was maintained for a decade in hope that some use could be found. The fact that it has deteriorated so quickly is testament to why preservationists want people occupying historic properties.

Now looted and defiled with graffiti and trash, Michigan Central Station still dominates the skyline of western Detroit, greeting drivers as they loop their way into downtown on the Fisher Freeway (I-75). In its day, the station greeted millions as they migrated north to take advantage of the industrial opportunities offered by the region through most of the 20th century. Granted, a restoration would require millions, but this historic structure deserves such treatment as it is a symbol for a city with a rich transportation history.

But these are very hard times for Detroit. Finding a benefactor in lieu of public funding will be difficult. If demolition comes, I suspect that city leaders will someday regret the decision in much the same way that an unsuspecting owner regrets trashing a valuable piece of art. These days, once a heroic structure like the Michigan Central Station is gone, it's gone for good. I hope wiser heads prevail.

Here is a link to the NPR story.

And here is some background history and views of this beautiful structure in 1987.