City begins demolition of abandoned La Choy Factory bordering Joe Louis Greenway path

• Demolition of abandoned factory supports continued development of the Joe Louis Greenway
• City moving forward with aggressive commercial plan to address blighted schools and large buildings with $95M in ARPA funding
• City departments working together to strategically remove blight and build stronger communities

The City of Detroit has begun demolition of 8100 Schoolcraft, the abandoned La Choy factory bordering the Joe Louis Greenway path. This week, crews from Detroit-based Adamo Group began taking down all remaining portions of the majorly deteriorated structure. The approximately 100,000 square foot structure will be completely demolished within coming days and the contracted cost of demolition is $1.6M.

“We made a promise to residents and business owners across the city, to tackle the vacant structures plaguing their neighborhoods,” said Detroit Demolition Director LaJuan Counts. “Today, we are continuing to make good on that promise, addressing a major eyesore in the community by removing another crumbling building.”

Mayor Mike Duggan has prioritized blight removal across the city, moving forward with an aggressive commercial plan to address deteriorated schools and large buildings (non-residential properties). The abandoned factory is one of 100 vacant commercial structures Mayor Duggan plans to mitigate through redevelopment or demolition during his third term in office.

“Many city departments are working together to remove blight and bring real improvements to our communities,” said Brad Dick, Chief Operating Officer. “The demolition of this structure is a major step towards the completion of the Joe Louis Greenway, and we are excited to continue this transformational journey not only in this neighborhood, but throughout the rest of the city.”

The Joe Louis Greenway is a 27.5-mile path that will connect Detroiters in 23 neighborhoods to existing trails like the Dequindre Cut, the Detroit Riverfront, four other cities, and each other. Upon completion, more than 40,000 residents will be able to walk to the greenway within 10 minutes. It will also serve as a regional connector to five other cities including Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, and Dearborn.

Demolition of blighted commercial and residential structures play an integral role in the City’s targeted efforts to turn blight into beauty, fostering an environment for residents and businesses to grow and thrive. Mayor Duggan has pledged to address other infamous buildings including the Cadillac Stamping Plant, AMC Headquarters, Fisher Body 21 – and the Packard Plant, where demolition began last September.

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