Ford's Detroit Campus Receives $239 Million in Tax Breaks

Ford's plan to redevelop Detroit's abandoned Michigan Central Station into a tech campus received a major boost from the city.

1 minute read

October 22, 2018, 12:00 PM PDT

By Elana Eden


Michigan Central Deport

Linda Parton / Shutterstock

Detroit approved $104 million in tax breaks to subsidize Ford's adaptation of the old Michigan Central Station into a campus for autonomous and electric vehicle technology.

The $740 million, 5,000-worker campus is expected to generate a net benefit of $371 million for the city over 35 years, during which Ford will see a total of $239 million in tax breaks. Part of the deal is a community benefits agreement in which the company will invest $10 million in the Corktown neighborhood surrounding the abandoned station: $5 million for workforce training, $2.5 million for a city development fund, and $2.5 million for affordable housing

The agreement relies on several programs aimed at incentivizing redevelopment: the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act, Commercial Rehabilitation Districts, and Renaissance Zones.

Chad Livengood reports in Crain's Detroit Business.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018 in Crain's Detroit Business

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Street with parking protected bike lane and parked cars in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance

The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

July 8 - Willamette Week

Aerial view of Spokane, Washington with river in foreground.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package

Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

July 8 - The Spokesman-Review

Close-up on black and white "Bike Lane Ends" sign with bike logo.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane

The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.

July 8 - Houston Public Media

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA