SAAC-MCR.NET Website for the Motor City Region of SAAC

Art Gallery || Carroll Shelby || Chili Recipes || Club History || Cobra Showcase || Drag Racing || Magazine || Photo Archive
Video Channel || Links || HOME

City of Livonia in race for Mustang Museum
By Tony Bruscato / Livonia Observer

Livonia, Michigan is in the running to become the home of the Mustang Museum, joining four other cities as top candidates for the $30 million car gallery.

Mayor Jack Kirksey and city council President Joe Laura both confirm Livonia is being considered for the site, along with Orlando, Atlanta, Indianapolis and Detroit/Dearborn.

"There are only a few rock-hard nameplates in the car industry," said Laura, a Ford Motor Co. employee who used to work on the Mustang. "They are Corvette, Camaro and Mustang."

Livonia officials are preparing information for the private corporation spearheading the project. They have until Monday, Dec. 15, to submit the data. A decision could come in January or February.

"This could become very significant and help put us on the map," said Kirksey. "I think we have a decent chance to get it."

Detroit and Dearborn have made the list of finalists for the proposed $30-million Mustang Museum. The two Metro Detroit cities were competing against Atlanta, Indianapolis and Orlando, Fla., for the museum, which will be funded heavily by Ford Motor Co., maker of the famed sports coupe. The winner will be announced in April. "We have identified these cities as having met all the criteria established by the site-selection committee," said Chris Hoverman, chairman of the committee. Dropped from consideration were Chicago; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Los Angeles/Anaheim; Charlotte, N.C., and Philadelphia.

The museum, which plans to open in late 2000, is looking for at least 30 acres of land to build a 100,000-square-foot main facility that will contain a variety of interactive exhibits, including live video links with the Mustang assembly plant in Dearborn. Detroit has offered sites in the northeast section of downtown, near Detroit Edison headquarters, and along the riverfront east of the Renaissance Center. Dearborn has proposed locating the museum on the grounds of the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, said John Coletti, vice-president of Mustang Museum Inc.

Dearborn already is scheduled to get an automotive museum, to be built by Ford Motor Co. across from Greenfield Village. It will highlight Ford products, and the processes involved in designing and building a vehicle. -- The Detroit News

"We have location, freeway access, restaurants, hotels, shopping and the attributes of Livonia on our side," Laura said. "I believe a city is gauged by its uniqueness of entertainment, and a museum of this caliber would certainly put us in a different class."

Orlando and Atlanta are warm-weather sites that would allow for year-round tourists. However, Kirksey and Laura believe southeastern Michigan is the sentimental choice because the Mustang is built in Dearborn. Furthermore, they believe Dearborn doesn't have the 30 to 40 acres needed for the museum, and that finding land for a good Detroit location could be difficult.

That leaves Livonia, with land at Middlebelt and Schoolcraft Road owned by Ladbroke Detroit Race Course.

The racetrack has been having financial problems. The city and Ladbroke have already drawn up three scenarios on how to use the land, whether or not there is racing at the site.

"It certainly would be a boost to the local economy," said Kirksey. "There are thousands of Mustang clubs that surely would make the museum a destination."

"It would be first-class family entertainment," Laura said. "Along with the museum, plans include theme restaurants, an amphitheater, a grassy area for car rallies, an IMAX theater, plus a 100,000-square-foot display area."

Ladbroke DRC general manager Bill McLaughlin said he was not aware of the Mustang Museum project, but believes that "when and if there's a concrete proposal, I'm sure I'll be contacted by the city. If we can develop any piece of this property, we certainly will work arm in arm with the city."

McLaughlin said he is still hoping for legislation that would allow video gaming at the racetrack so that it can better compete with casinos in Michigan and Windsor.

"Whatever we can do to make this site an entertainment complex would certainly be in our best interest," said McLaughlin. "We will work with the city to do whatever it takes to enhance Livonia and bring some traffic to this site."