Crain’s Detroit has reported that Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson is among the 59 people from across southeast Michigan and Windsor on Detroit’s Amazon bid committee.
Sources said Oakland County recently submitted the four regional landmarks to the Michigan Economic Development Corp., which is organizing Michigan’s bids for the Amazon headquarters. Two additional Oakland County sites were also on the submission list: a southern portion of downtown Pontiac and the Haggerty Corridor in Novi.
Grand Rapids is expected to submit its own bid for Amazon by the Oct. 19 deadline.
The Oakland County sites include:
- Northland mall: This 125-acre property in Southfield was home to the nation’s first regional shopping mall. The mall opened in 1954, closed in spring 2015 and was later bought by the city of Southfield. Demolition of the mall complex could begin as early as the end of the month and last until next fall.
- Pontiac Silverdome: The now-abandoned stadium opened in 1975 and has been used only sporadically since 2002, when the NFL’s Detroit Lions moved to Ford Field in Detroit. Its demolition could begin before year’s end.
- Old Kmart headquarters: This architecturally distinct building is located at 100 W. Big Beaver Road in Troy. It dates to 1972 and housed Kmart’s corporate headquarters until 2006. It is owned by the Forbes Co., which also owns the nearby Somerset Collection.
- The Palace of Auburn Hills: Opened in 1988 and was home to the NBA’s Detroit Piston until this fall. Its last event was a Bob Seger concert on Sept. 23.
Amazon’s request for proposals for cities interested in hosting the firm’s second headquarters has set of a bidding frenzy across the county. The company is presently headquartered in Seattle.
Article Appeared @http://www.freep.com/story/money/2017/10/13/silverdome-northland-palace-detroit-amazon/762903001/