AnnArbor.com is reporting that Ypsilanti’s Visteon plant has sold to Angstrom Capital Holdings, a division of Angstrom USA, a Taylor, Michigan-based supplier of “tubular parts” to the automotive industry. It’s estimated that Angstrom purchased the property for approximately $3 million, which is considerably less than had been sought for the 1 million square foot facility. There has been no word as of yet concerning what will be produced in the gutted former Ford plant, or how many people it will employ. Regardless, this is great news for Ypsilanti, and an encouraging sign that Michigan’s economy might finally be turning the corner. Thank you to everyone who was involved in making this happen. It’s a damned nice way to exit the decade.
[Now, can someone tell me how far the expected tax revenue generated by the plant might go toward offsetting the Water Street bills that are coming due?]
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I was concerned to read, however, that several buildings – some of which date back to the 1880’s – would be destroyed as part of the deal. While I understand that they were in pretty bad shape, it always pains me to hear that artifacts of our industrial past are being destroyed.
Pete Murdock on this subject at the end of the City Council meeting: “This is the best Christmas present for the city ever” I couldn’t agree more.
Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but didn’t we declare war on a country not too long ago because someone thought they might be manufacturing aluminum tubes?
Totally tubular, fer sure!
According to AnnArbor.com, there may be as many as 400 employees.
More:
http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/buyer-of-ex-visteon-factory-in-ypsilanti-will-use-site-for-manufacturing/
Wasn’t part of this plant one of Henry Ford’s original factories on the river, like the one in Northville that is now a mixed-use office building? If so, then the developer could make a good case for historic designation and a lot of money in state and federal tax credits (historic and brownfield) by incorporating those original buildings in his redevelopment plans.
She’s a beauty.
The article makes no mention of any tax abatements. I’m hope the omission is genuine. As the city wasn’t involved in negotiations, I suspect there were none from us at least. This is, indeed, an excellent Christmas present for the city.
Mark
Posted December 21, 2009 at 10:44 pm | Permalink
I was concerned to read, however, that several buildings – some of which date back to the 1880’s – would be destroyed as part of the deal. While I understand that they were in pretty bad shape, it always pains me to hear that artifacts of our industrial past are being destroyed.
No offense Mark, but they can tear down the Water Tower at this point if it will help my property value.
Seriously, tubes = terrorism.
No joke.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_aluminum_tubes
Property value?
Are you kidding? 400 long term jobs, a factory and all that goes with those two things VS. a few dusty old ramshackle buildings?!? Anyone concerned about the buildings…line up. You all get kicks in the private parts.
I don’t think anyone was arguing that the company shouldn’t come here, King Pinhead, so you can put aside your nut squashing fantasies. All that was said is that it would be a shame if it was an original Ford building that was slated for demolition. No one said to stop anything though.
Really Mark..?!? Save your tears for something more important. If it pains you so much to hear about “artifacts of our industrial past” being destroyed – move to Detroit or Pittsburg and you can start a 501 c(3). You can name the org – “saving crappy old buildings for no particular reason”.
Am imagining one of these “global” employee’s child becoming best friends with a child already living here, several times over, and other unlikely pairings, new stores, etc., that could result. So exciting.
I think I once mentioned an encounter at the P.O. with a woman who’d moved here from Mississippi to work at the Ford plant many, many moons ago. She said there were women working there who’d go out to the parking lot at lunch and sell their bodies, so to speak, so they worked two jobs–is how she put it. (She didn’t like it a bit.)
Yeahhhh… I’d rather not get kicked in the nuts for saying that I don’t like to see old buildings be destroyed. And, for what it’s worth, I didn’t suggest that the foundation of an old building was more important that jobs. I like 400 jobs, and I’d be willing to put up with a lot to see them materialize. It would be cool, however, if the buildings they’re talking about tearing down were first documented in some way. I used to be a historic archeologist, and that’s the kind of work that I did. We rarely stopped development, but at least we documented everything… So, go kick yourself in the nuts.
Merry Christmas.
There’s nothing saying that Angstrom USA won’t be applying for tax credits. In this economy any smart company is going to ask for everything they can get. I say you’ll see quite a few tax credit/abatement requests when they get to the renovation/build out phase of the building.
Yes, at the very least HABS/HAER documentation would be appropriate prior to demolition. There are always grad students in EMU’s Historic Preservation department looking for final projects (and some, like yours truly, who are commenting on markmaynard.com instead of finishing their own final project) that could tackle the documentation prior to demo.
When I said “kicked in the private parts”, I meant the arm. Geez! The arm, with it’s soft whispy blonde hair sprinkled across it’s forearm…the seductive curves of the elbows…the smooth gyrations of a supple wrist…mmmm…up over the rigid bicep, catching just a glimpse of the dark moist pit….
Tim and Edward, LET IT GO. You can do it. Do something else with your lives. Move on .
Knowing how dangerous they are, I don’t want aluminum tubes being made in Ypsilanti. I’m starting a group called No Tubes No Terror.
I would speculate that they may be moving their operations from Taylor. Angstrom USA LLC notes 35 non union employees and 8 engineers under “infrastructure” on their website. I will also guess that India and South Korea have to do with the raw production of stainless tubing. Remember, in Paula’s posting, the company stated that they may move “some of the 400 global jobs”.
Still, this is fabulous news and helps to explain the demolition discussion previously revealed by the city for the ACH site.
No Tim and Edward,
tubes = the internets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cZC67wXUTs
Hey Kingpin!
I googled Kingpin and Ypsilanti and found this among the first things:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59251577@N00/page2/
So tell me if that’s you or not cause if it is I’m gonna come up on stage and kick your balls through yur eye sockets at mittenfest.
Haw haw. I mean your elbows.
Oh, shit! An alias has be cracked… And balls and pits are about to be pummeled.
Not that I’m hoping to see anything happen, but I plan to be there at 9:10, January 2, with my camera, just in case.
Leadfoot…you better dip those big size 8 and a halfs in some titanium! To quote Jaws…”We’re gonna need a bigger “…boot.
Can’t wait for Mittenfest, though. I hope to see you all there. Hey…I’d take a kick in the nuts for a good cause….or the armpit….preferably the armpit.
That’s the spirit!
This is going to be an awesome Mittenfest ball-stomping!
Apparently not. Angstrom is selling the building.
From AnnArbor.com:
Read more:
http://annarbor.com/business-review/large-lot-next-to-former-ypsilanti-visteon-plant-listed-for-lease-or-sale-by-angstrom-usa/
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