Reports: Detroit City Council approves land transfer for Red Wings’ arena
By Michael Caples –
The Detroit Free Press has reported that Detroit City Council has approved a $1 land transfer of city-owned property to Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch – a necessary step forward for a new ice arena to be constructed in the city.
According to the report, the main road block in the deal being finalized was that there would be no guarantees of jobs for Detroit residents after the construction process was completed. City Council President Brenda Jones, Councilman James Tate and Councilwoman Raquel Castaneda-Lopez voted against the transfer, but that wasn’t enough to prevent it.
The deal called for 39 vacant parcels of land north of the downtown area to be given by the city for the proposed arena, which is a venture between Ilitch-run companies and the Downtown Development Authority. The arena would be constructed in the decaying Cass Corridor, and hopefully reinvigorate that part of Detroit.