The City of Pontiac and the owners of the Pontiac Silverdome say they have come to deal to demolish the former home of the Detroit Lions.
The announcement came in response to a suit filed in Pontiac's 50th District court. The city filed a nuisance suit over the condition of the property in February.
Mayor Deirdre Waterman says the time has come for the "iconic" building to go.
"The Silverdome was part of Pontiac’s glorious past. We’re still heading into our heydays with the revitalization of Pontiac, and, so, it’s time now to demolish the Siverdome, so that we can move forward with the best economic value for that land, in accordance with how Pontiac is moving forward as well," Waterman said. "We want something that meets the best economic value for that particular property. Now, that location is tremendous. It’s at the confluence for several freeway interactions. We’re in the center of Oakland County, a very prosperous county."
"We want to make sure that property is developed in a way that befits the revitalization that we have going on in Pontiac," she added. "There’s a lot of latitude in how it can be redeveloped."
Under the timetable for the Silverdome's demolition, property owners Triple Investment Group of Toronto - who bought the Silverdome in 2009 - have until May 12 to find and retain a contractor. They then have until June 9 to present a plan to the city, which includes the date demolition will begin.
The Silverdome opened in 1975. The Lions played football there until 2002, and the Detroit Pistons spent a decade playing basketball in the stadium.
"It’s just one of the relics of the past, it’s a part of our glory days. We loved when the Lions and the Pistons were playing there, but that’s not going to happen again," Waterman said. "I know that the owners had hoped to rehab it in certain ways, but that’s not going to happen."
"We have to prepare the property so it can be utilized, and not be the eyesore and the embarrassment for the city, like it is right now," she added. "We loved it, but it’s a relic of the past. It’s time to move forward."
