Homeless Boats at the Abandoned Packard Plant-Detroit

    Newer Older

    During it's peak period ( the 1920's and 30's ) , over 40,000 people would work here in a single day. Shifts ran 24 hours ( 3 8-hour shifts ), and there were 2 huge department stores, 2 schools, a travel agency, and a grocery store built into the complex. When it opened in 1903, it was considered the most modern automobile manufacturing facility in the world. The plant closed in 1957 ( although parts of it are still rented out ). The plant complex covers 35 acres ( 3.5 Million Square feet ) . Homeless people have long used this building as a shelter, and there have been boats as well as an ambulance stored here for some reason. I did not have to go inside the building to get this shot - the entire wall has been "removed".

    schwartzray, BarbaraThomaz, HUTMACHER, travelr16, and 3 other people added this photo to their favorites.

    View 8 more comments

    1. DetroitDerek Photography ( ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ) 29 months ago | reply

      Anything metal disappeared from here loooong ago thanks to the scrappers.

    2. Band!to 24 months ago | reply

      And they are still doing it. Was shocked to see them on a forklift and using a huge industrial size torch.

      So any idea what is with the boats?

    3. DetroitDerek Photography ( ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ) 24 months ago | reply

      This whole section is in the process of being dismantled. The boats were stored here quite some time ago - some legitimately but most were "hidden", free storage. The problem was the storage was not secure, as they later found out.

    4. Band!to 24 months ago | reply

      LOL, as most were tossed out.

      Incredible place, did it solo today......but just like you said I certainly wasn't alone.

    keyboard shortcuts: previous photo next photo L view in light box F favorite < scroll film strip left > scroll film strip right ? show all shortcuts