Governor Engler steps into McLouth saga
The struggles at McLouth Steel were continuing, but would finally receive the attention at the state level. Michigan Governor John Engler commissioned a blue-ribbon panel in 1993 that would allow the steelmaker to partner with Thyssen Steel, and also awarded the company $5 million in a loan package. The partnership would last a little over a year before McLouth became interested in coming up with their own in-house solution to their financial difficulty.
North Drive under alert for pollutants
Since at least 1989 there had been rumors of land along Wyandotte’s North Drive being contaminated with chemicals. In the summer of 1993, earthen substances were officially discovered, and plans were made for complete cleanup of the soils, including placing the overall site onto the EPA’s National Priorities list. Originally described as Prussian Blue, a highly toxic chemical compound, both a later study as well as the EPA’s own survey classified the pollutant as cyanide. The cleanup would be ongoing in the neighborhood for several years to come.
Korvette City demolished at last
Ever since the closure of the second-generation Chatham store in the late 1980s, the former Korvette City Shopping Center in Southgate stood forelorn. The city was anxious to get the complex processed through their Dangerous Buildings Board, as holes in the roof provided access to squatters, who had set up living quarters and skateboard ramps.
Many small fires had been set in the store over time, and metals of most every valuable type had been stripped. Electrical components were laid bare, even though power to the building still had not been cut the entire time.
Finally in 1993, approval for demolition came through, and dismantling of the huge structure commenced that summer, starting with the west (Chatham) end of the building. The demolition was well publicized and occurred gradually, providing people with a time-warp glimpse into the second-floor Korvette offices, still decorated as they were in the 1970s. Once demolition was completed, the property would remain vacant until plans for the area’s second Super K-Mart were approved.
Bob-Lo Island sails into the sunset
After 95 years in business, Bob-Lo Amusement Park’s final day of business would be September 26, 1993. Residents (and even the new ownership, led by investor Michael Moodenbaugh) did not know this at the time, as plans were still in the works for a full 1994 season, complete with park refurbishments.
In spite of the Detroit and Wyandotte docks no longer providing access to the island, the ownership felt that numbers would go up following the improvements.
Moodenbaugh had entered into a partnership to keep the amusement park afloat at least the following two years. But before any of his efforts could get off the ground, he would be rendered immobile due to a serious auto accident.
His minority partners, who did not approve of the amusement park idea that Moodenbaugh championed, took advantage of Moodenbaugh’s incapacity and – in effect – doomed any chance Bob-Lo would have survived as an amusement park any longer. Within a couple months, a date for auctioning off island wares was set and publicized (as seen in flyer to left).
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