Mayor Mike Duggan (DD file photo)
It's great to have a business-government partnership that works together to develop the city of Detroit.
At the same time, we have to make sure government doesn't give away the store without negotiating the best deal it can for taxpayers. Some critics say the city gave away far too much to the Ilitch organization and got too little in return when it comes to Little Caesars Arena on Woodward Avenue.
That being said, Mayor Mike Duggan says he's helping billionaires Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores lure a Major League Soccer franchise to Detroit, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Katrease Stafford writes:
Duggan's affirmation of support in bringing a MLS franchise to Detroit came hours after the announcement of a tentative deal between the city and Wayne County to swap the massive 1.4-million-square-foot former American Motors headquarters in Detroit in exchange for 11 acres of city-owned land needed to build a new criminal justice complex near I-75.
Gilbert's Rock Ventures offered to build a $520.3-million complex for Wayne County, in exchange for the unfinished Gratiot jail site and surrounding justice buildings.
Although the acquisition of the city-owned land was crucial in order to move Rock Ventures’ proposal forward, Duggan said the land swap is an entirely separate issue and not indicative of any progress made to build a soccer stadium at the unfinished jail site.
"I would not assume that at all," Duggan said in response to a Free Press question about the deal and stadium. "We need to get an MLS franchise but in my mind, this (the land swap) has nothing to do with a soccer stadium. This is a deal that is the right thing for the criminal justice center. Where the soccer stadium is located is a second question. We're pursuing an MLS franchise but there are a number of options for that, but I really can't say anything else."
-- Allan Lengel
