Detroit, the Packard Plant, Modern Art, and a drug dealer
Back in the day, Packard was on of the great American car companies, founded way back in 1899.
For years, they made great luxury cars, but they failed to keep up with the times, and by the end of the 50's, Packard was no more.
But its factory was. And still is for that matter. The massive Packard factory still sits derelict in the middle of Detroit. Has done for years. The city wants to tear it down, but they have no idea who owns it. Or they didn't, until recently.
It is, as you can see, an ugly symbol of the decay of Motor City. And so lawmakers tried to figure out who owned it, so they could tear it down. They knew it was owned by "Bioresource Inc" and the only person on that company's books is Dominic Cristini. Cristini is currently serving a prison term in California on drug charges, leaving the local government to try to decide how best to go about cleaning up the site.
In the meantime, a Detroit art gallery decided that it was going to remove a graffiti mural, and take it home. Not exactly sure what gave them this right, as it was not their land, and the artist did not seem to be involved in this:
"DETROIT — A company that claims ownership of the Packard plant in Detroit has sued a gallery over the removal of an 8-foot, 1,500-pound section of cinderblock wall featuring stenciled artwork and a message by elusive British graffiti artist Banksy.
For years, they made great luxury cars, but they failed to keep up with the times, and by the end of the 50's, Packard was no more.
But its factory was. And still is for that matter. The massive Packard factory still sits derelict in the middle of Detroit. Has done for years. The city wants to tear it down, but they have no idea who owns it. Or they didn't, until recently.
It is, as you can see, an ugly symbol of the decay of Motor City. And so lawmakers tried to figure out who owned it, so they could tear it down. They knew it was owned by "Bioresource Inc" and the only person on that company's books is Dominic Cristini. Cristini is currently serving a prison term in California on drug charges, leaving the local government to try to decide how best to go about cleaning up the site.
In the meantime, a Detroit art gallery decided that it was going to remove a graffiti mural, and take it home. Not exactly sure what gave them this right, as it was not their land, and the artist did not seem to be involved in this:
"DETROIT — A company that claims ownership of the Packard plant in Detroit has sued a gallery over the removal of an 8-foot, 1,500-pound section of cinderblock wall featuring stenciled artwork and a message by elusive British graffiti artist Banksy.
The Detroit News reports that Bioresource Inc. says in the lawsuit Tuesday in Wayne County Circuit Court that the mural taken by 555 galleries and studio could be worth $100,000 or more. The company wants the mural returned.
The founders of the art gallery 555 Arts, Carl W. Goines, left, and Monte Martinez, wrapping artwork by popular graffiti artist Banksy at the abandoned Packard car plant in Detroit"
The upshot of this seemingly legitimate lawsuit was that someone actually had to be named to represent the company. The name on the lawsuit wasn't Cristini's. Instead, one Romel Casab was behind the move. It had been assumed that Casab was tied to the Packard property in some, but officials had difficulty proving it. Casab, for his part, denies having any ownership of the property. That's somewhat predictable considering that if the city moves forward with its attempts to clear the property, Casab could be held accountable for the related costs.
And now gratuitous devastation porn:
The upshot of this seemingly legitimate lawsuit was that someone actually had to be named to represent the company. The name on the lawsuit wasn't Cristini's. Instead, one Romel Casab was behind the move. It had been assumed that Casab was tied to the Packard property in some, but officials had difficulty proving it. Casab, for his part, denies having any ownership of the property. That's somewhat predictable considering that if the city moves forward with its attempts to clear the property, Casab could be held accountable for the related costs.
And now gratuitous devastation porn:
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