Berlin nightclub pioneer Dimitri Hegemann could team up with Arte Express, who own the disused Packard Plant on Detroit’s east side, for his new techno venue in the city.
Hegemann began talking with officials in Detroit to redevelop the Fischer Body Plant No. 21 into a techno club two years ago. It would appear he has now shifted his attention to the Packard Plant as a preferred site.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Hegemann is a potential partner for Arte Express, a firm owned by Fernando Palazuelo. In 2013, Palazuelo purchased the Packard Plant, an old factory site on the east side of Detroit.
The newspaper reports that the Packard Plant’s long discussed redevelopment could finally begin if a proposal for a 12-year freeze on the site’s current levels of property taxes is approved by the city council.
Redevelopment of the Packard Plant would be a 10 to 15 years endeavour, in four phases. Phases one and two are to involve the creation of modern office spaces and a recreational complex. The next two phases are focused on entertainment and cultural attractions including a hostel, artist work space, a spa, and Hegemann’s techno club.
Kari Smith, director of development for Arte Express, told the Detroit Free Press Hegemann would bring ‘a lot of young people from Berlin who are extremely interested in Detroit. Berlin, of all the cities I’ve been in, loves Detroit more than any other city.’
The paper also notes that Hegemann is still interested in securing a special designation that would allow the venue to serve alcohol past Michigan’s 2AM restrictions.
Most recently, Hegemann announced that his planned ‘Living Archive of Elektronika’ in Berlin would be hosted in the same renovated power plant that has been home to Tresor since 2007.
[Via FACT]
