Will Ford relocate back from Dearborn to Detroit? (Warren, Highland Park: bankruptcy, construction)

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by goofy328

How many other cities are within Detroit? I didn't know about Highland Park. I've also heard that Hamtramck is another.

Just those two.

[kemachs]

Originally Posted by Arthur Digby Sellers

What are you talking about? Ford never "fled" Detroit. Their main headquarters, R&D facilities and biggest factory have always been in Dearborn.

Hey, relax. I was referring to them leaving the Renaissance Center when GM took it over. I know it was never their headquarters but they did lease some space. Sorry for the confusion...

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by kemachs

Hey, relax. I was referring to them leaving the Renaissance Center when GM took it over. I know it was never their headquarters but they did lease some space. Sorry for the confusion...

Ford in fact was the company that originally planned and financed the construction of the Renaissance Center. After the first phase of the construction was completed, they turned it over to the city.

[kemachs]

Originally Posted by 313Weather

No way.

Ford owns much of the land they're located on in Dearborn. From a purely business standpoint, it wouldn't make sense to abandon land you own for a lease.

Ford is definitely heavily involved in Detroit's affairs though.

I wasn't aware they owned that land, that makes pretty much confirms they'll stay put.

Cool bit about the history with Ford and the Ren. Center, apparently it was the largest private development of its time.. Would you say that Ford is still concerned about a comeback for the City of Detroit, despite their lack of a corporate presence in city limits? Are they known for philanthropy?

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by 313Weather

Ford in fact was the company that originally planned and financed the construction of the Renaissance Center. After the first phase of the construction was completed, they turned it over to the city.

Technically it was Henry Ford II. It was his brainchild and he personally lined up the financiers.

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by kemachs

I wasn't aware they owned that land, that makes pretty much confirms they'll stay put.

Cool bit about the history with Ford and the Ren. Center, apparently it was the largest private development of its time.. Would you say that Ford is still concerned about a comeback for the City of Detroit, despite their lack of a corporate presence in city limits? Are they known for philanthropy?

Definitely.

A couple things that come to mind that program where a car drive around delivering food around the city, then also Ford Field.

On one of its building, it has a billboard from the United Way reading "Ford Focuses on Making Greater Detroit Greater."

[313Weather]

Originally Posted by Arthur Digby Sellers

Technically it was Henry Ford II. It was his brainchild and he personally lined up the financiers.

Yeah, but a technicality, as he still did all of this through Ford Motor Company.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by Arthur Digby Sellers

What are you talking about? Ford never "fled" Detroit. Their main headquarters, R&D facilities and biggest factory have always been in Dearborn.

Not quite. In 1903 they were located entirely in Detroit in an old wagon factory.

The ren Cen was build and owned by a real estate division of Ford. A seperate company, but owned and controlled by the Ford family. To the best of my knowledge, the CIty never owned the ren cen and Ford did not turn it over to the City. They owned it until GM bought it in 2008.

Ford occupied quite a bit of the buildings for a while. I am nto certain whether they were evr the major tenant. You can come to the Ren Cen and take a tour and the guides will tell you all about the history of the complex from constrcution through today. I ahve not done it, but I sometimes listen in for a while and it is surprisingly interesting.

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Ford's World Headquarters has been in Dearborn since 1956. The Rouge factory has operated in Dearborn since 1917. The R&E Center has been in Dearborn since the Eisenhower administration.

Henry Ford was born and raised in Dearborn. Yes, Ford has had offices and factories in and around Detroit, but it has been a Dearborn-based company for many, many years.

[Retroit]

Would it help them build better cars? (I didn't think so.) Their job is to build cars, not to help a city revive its image. Moving a headquarters is a huge expense that doesn't help their business. Just ask GM!