good news for corktown

Not everyone there may agree, but it'll be good for the neighborhood and good for the city that the FBI will be getting a new facility built for them in southwest Detroit. The kicker is that it will be privately owned and leased to the federal government ($11 million/yr is the reported max rent that will be charged), meaning tax dollars will be generated by their presence, rather than the current situation, in which Detroit FBI facilities are in a federal building, on which no taxes are paid. Plus, even though the new location won't be so far from their current home, it will spread people out a little more, increasing opportunity for smaller accessory businesses like restaurants. To top it off, the two empty buildings on the site (previously used by the state) will be torn down and replaced with a tower, annex, and parking structure that should conform to new federal standards of appearance (MUCH improved) and environmental sustainability (still a ways to go, but improving, and better than the private sector).

Granted, the FBI won't fit seamlessly with the funkier, grassroots image of Corktown, but this is an opportunity to celebrate diversity, isn't it?