Detroit’s battered train station gets a $900M facelift

The abandoned 18-story Michigan Central train station in Detroit—once a symbol of the city’s decline—received a $900 million makeover paid by Ford Motors.

The renovation involved significant labor and materials, including restoring 29,000 tiles and installing 300 miles of electrical wiring.

The building reopens tonight with a sold-out concert produced by Eminem, headlined by Diana Ross, Jack White, Big Sean, and more.

The train depot located in Corktown is now part of a 30-acre mobility innovation district. It will house Ford’s autonomous vehicle operations and Google’s Code Next Detroit program. These projects aim to transform the historic structure into a hub for future mobility innovation, creating thousands of tech jobs and spurring local economic growth.

The redevelopment marks a significant turnaround for Detroit, which has stabilized its finances and improved city services since its 2014 bankruptcy. Last year, the city’s population increased for the first time in almost 70 years.